Ivy league colleges? Yes 
Community colleges? No

A good education, experience, a nice suit, a good attitude, a polished resume, and a solid work history are all still trumped by having a friend whose father is the vice-president of personnel.

Nope

Its the story we are constantly told when we are still in high school or any k-12 educational experience...the more education, the higher the pay scale.  I'm here to say that that is the biggest load of BS in the world.  Higher education has never been synonymous with a higher pay bracket.  It is what one DOES with that education that is the true measure of whether the college experience is worthy or not.  The only scam about it is really the price of going to college is ridiculous along with the extra things needed (textbooks, etc.) Now if you are to mean that someone without higher education is going to do better than someone who does, that's not what I'm driving at. Yes, there are examples of people, in true rags to riches fashion, that rose up to make it big without having lots of formal higher education, but that is the exception to the rule.  In truth, it really just depends on the person's background and capabilities, because I'm of the opinion that college is not for everyone.

For the general part, no. But not for all. Still, for the majority, having a college diploma can get you farther. Not only because of the social status by attaining one (though that is sadly really a factor) but for the stuff you learn in the uni.

There jobs that do require you to have a college diploma.

Good luck getting anywhere with a high school diploma.

                    Good luck getting anywhere with a high school diploma.

                   

               

Regardless of education, social status and actual skill there are 2 things that really decide whether or not you'll be successful. Luck and timing 

Republicans.

                    @Susanoo: People are still thinking with the mentality that you can just finish high school and jump into some full-time job. About 20 years ago you could, due to the auto-industry being at an all time high. That time is dead, jobs are disappearing at an alarming rate, and many, many new jobs that open up require various degree's from University's or College's.  Unless you have a genius IQ and you pull something out of your ass, you're not going to have many openings.

                   

               

@Deranged Midget said:

                    Good luck getting anywhere with a high school diploma.

                   

               

Certain jobs don't even need a high school diploma that are only available to a select few.  As for the thread, your on the mark.

I would think it's only the case with some colleges. As for me, I don't really see colleges/universities like the Art Institute or the Academy of Arts as being rip-offs.  

Ivy league colleges? Yes Community colleges? No

@Deranged Midget: I know we got hundreds of talented actors stuck working at Denny's because some famous producer's kid wants to be a star or Paris Hilton wants to rape our eyes again with another attempt at acting 

                    @Susanoo said:

@Deranged Midget said:

                    Good luck getting anywhere with a high school diploma.

                   

               

Certain jobs don't even need a high school diploma that are only available to a select few.  As for the thread, your on the mark.

                   

               

He is right here. Many jobs still give people over 60K a year without so much as a diploma. You really just have to be smart about how you make your money. One doesn't even need office work to earn that much. Many of the world's billionaire never made it past college.   As for college degree, for some jobs its not necessarily about the pay than about contributing to society. Like teaching or civil service or being a doctor (though doctor's usually get paid a lot) or nursing. Not all people are looking to make money. It's all about what gives them better satisfaction. For example a helicopter pilot requires very high aptitude and skill and formal training as such (college degree). Yet the pay isn't a lot. At the same time the helicopter is the hardest machine to fly.

                   

               

                    @Susanoo: I know plenty of people with college degrees working minimum wage jobs probably just as many as those without them I will agree that having a college degree makes it easier to get the better jobs but it in no way guarantees anything  and not having a college degree won't necessarily prevent you from getting a good job either. 

                   

               

I think scam is a bit strong;  a college degree is very much worth it. But it is certainly a hustle and, first and foremost, a business. Don't forget that, new college entrants.

for me and in my country (Philippines)   if you graduate college it is guaranteed that you will have a better job and make more money........... majority of the high school graduates in private and public schools go to college..................  it is also an opportunity to go abroad

I wouldn't say college itself is a scam, but the illusion that you need a college degree to do certain jobs is. The problem is twenty years ago you didn't have the job market flooded with college graduates, now just about any place that is hiring knows there are out of work college kids who can't get a job in their field so they want those people over people who have actual working experience.
 
As an example about a year ago I applied at a place as a quality control for pipe fittings, mostly the job was doing hydro static tests on vales and the fittings themselves. I did that for four years in the navy and when I was taking the tour I noticed a lot of the same equipment I used then. Well the department head I was talking to was telling me that he wants to get someone with real life experience because the last few college kids he hired didn't know anything and about fifeteen minutes later a girl with an engineering degree walked up to us to ask him how to measure the circumference of a pipe. My jaw nearly hit the floor, needless to say I didn't get the job and the guy told me because his boss wants someone with a degree.... it didn't matter if there was an applicant with practical experience.
 
Well that's enough for my little rant.

I wouldnt say its a scam.  I enjoyed school for the most part but they will do almost anything to suck money out of you.  They'd charge for the air if they could.  I don't think that college is the key to a happy life, an education is though.  Getting a bachelors degree is more about social status than anything else.  We look down on electricians, plumbers, and mechanics because careers like those don't require a degree.  College isn't for everyone, there's nothing wrong with a trade. 

profit schools are a scam. just go to a community college where ur not cramming to take tests about material your probably not even learning

profit schools are a scam. just go to a community college where ur not cramming to take tests about material your probably not even learning

I got a job that paid 50% more than minimum (to start with) without college/university.  I make as much as the college/university grads.  What did I do?  I volunteered there for 2-3 years before being hired.  I'm sure that's not going to work for all jobs, but it did for me, and I don't have any debt.

i am not saying that there are not jobs that require a college education and diploma but lets be honest if you take all the college graduates with bachelors, college diplomas and compare their annual income with the rest of the united states people how much more are they making are they all being hired more than some one else?
 
I think education is important so i believe in college on an academic level and think it is needed for some jobs but the U.S. isnt some advance society where the job market has room for everyone to work at a white collar job and make more than they are worth for everyone coming out of College or University.
 
It is ludicrous to think that the job market is going to pay the majority of college graduates over 30-50 thousands a years let alone 100+ K.
 
I think we need to spread ourselves out and stop with this status BS of a college degree is important when there are jobs that need doing that can and does pay 30-100k if some of us were to roll up our sleeves and do them.
 
 
someone said good luck getting a good job with a high school diploma. i think the word good was thrown in as well, what the hell is considered "good" ?
 
this is the condescending attitude we need to get rid of, i have family who did not go to college and get a degree who made millions and run their own business all it took is hard work and dedication starting at the bottom.  these are family members who came from another country and could barely speak english and they made money b/c there are jobs that need doing that they were willing to do.
 
my cousin makes over a 100k a year and is an independent contractor for flooring and he is only 23.
I too made good money as well and was certified in various construction fields, i took courses paid for by my company and government while having hands on experience. 
i also at the time had more knowledge then the kids in college courses taking chemistry, and geology. 
 
Now aside from that you dont need College to work  XP window and vista either for an office job but know how to work the programs which one can learn hands on and would be more efficient than spending years in college just to end up where some other person without college ended up with a few weeks or months of hands on training and willingness to learn.

College isn't a scam but I can't say it did me any better at this point in my life than not going.

again i am not saying that their are not jobs that require college education since there will people to be hired.
but how many college student graduate a year and how many jobs are waiting for them and what is the starting wages compared to everyone else?
 
this is what needs to be answered but seems to be constantly ignored for the few who do get high paying jobs that required their diploma to get but it sure isnt the majority.
 
I also think that you had a specific goal in what you wanted to do and in what field but many college kids today go and major in the most irrelevant thing and think they will be hired wherever they go b/c they majored in business or what have you never thinking ahead.
 
i've known two guys who got a business degree just so they could end up working at target and macy's as a store manager. : /
another is a car salesman.

.  i've known two guys who got a business degree just so they could end up working at target and macy's as a store manager. : / another is a car salesman.

the thing is that the college propaganda skews the kids world view with promises of high paying jobs with the truth being far from it.
if a 100 thousand kids graduate each year how many jobs are they all goin to have and how much are they goin to be paid?
 
A diploma isnt even a requirement were many will end up like store manager, car salesmen, office clerk... if they had focus on a particular job many could make more money then they could with a general college education.
 
i am a firm believer on union apprentice programs, trade schools, hands on training education..
 
I myself took a couple of college courses to get my certifications and i only went for like two months 2 to 3 days out of the week while working and being paid.