Good thoughts here. My career was also in education, where my doctorate opened door to positions I could not have secured without it. However, the relationship between coursework and necessary knowledge for success in a job was less direct that I though it would be. My educational costs were well worth the financial rewards of higher positions, but too often costs are not directly related to economic advantage.

Success at college does, however, imply a kind of self-discipline required for success elsewhere. Yes, that's somewhat idealistic, since too much of success in America is just as dependent on whiteness and social class. The rich pass their social status on to offspring regardless of the ability of the offspring in most cases. The demise of the middle class demonstrates this today. Sending your kids to college gives them a leg up on life-long learning compared to high school grads in most cases. But decent vocational programs can produce strong results as well as college does, as long as you pick the right vocational programs. Learn to be a welder--not many jobs here, but worth the cost of the vocational programs. Likewise for plumbers and electricians. Perhaps for most skilled labor jobs if you live in an area with unionized skill labor. Down south? No dice.

Thanks for your thoughts.