I have zero interest in continuing a pointless discussion with such entrenched positions.

I got most of my education paid for by the milatary.

The way you suggest (2 years community college – with transferable credits) then transferring to a state college for the balance is the only way I could finance my children’s education. 2 years of Community College at approx. $1200/semester and the balance at a Salem State College at approx. 6K/Year (through Stafford Loans) because FAFSA only considers my total salary (my wife hasn’t worked for an income since we married) and doesn’t consider my basic living expenses (according to Kerry Healey, I’m over-housed) even though I live hand to mouth – no luxuries/vacations or dining out (OK maybe 5 or 6 times a year.) I’m not complaining as I am still able to provide my kids the opportunity.

If college is a necessity (which I question) to maintain a strong competitive state/workforce then it should be funded by the state as is K-12. The problem with college today is the 400 year old paradigm that most higher education still maintains. I could have dropped out of high school my junior year and have essentially the same intellectual knowledge and ability from just surviving with no college whatsoever. If I were to recommend a lucrative career path to anyone today it would be to pursue a vocational trade as they are valued far more than we engineers and those jobs can’t be outsourced. The apprentice concept (now practically obsolete) served society exceptionally well.

College is still necessary to train specialists and the primary/secondary education curricula needs to be revamped as well. Parochial school curricula minus the religion would be a good start but a Mastery system is what’s really needed i.e., no one gets promoted from a subject until a mastery of that subject is demonstrated – no matter how long it takes. The mechanical model of promote whether or not the student has mastered the subject matter at that grade level is largely an economics driven decision (although it is ostensibly to avoid poor self esteem) has resulted in a poorly educated largely ignorant populace of 20-50 year olds (many with college degrees!) A college degree only says that someone managed to toe the line for 4 years and pass by some means and nothing about the quality of either the graduate or the education received.

It all boils down to individuals, those who desire an education will get one college or not and those who are avoiding real life or attempting to find themselves can buy some expensive time to do so. In my experience of working in the high tech industry for almost 30 years, I have seen useless workers with or without college degrees and brilliant, innovative workers with or without degrees. The cachet of a BS or other degree may impress a hiring manager but if you can’t do the job you won’t last.

So, maybe, I take back my previous statement.

Still, I don’t think one can step out of University with a degree in hand and walk into a job. It wouldn’t hurt to encourage kids to think a bit about their pocketbooks while they are planning their educations.

I am not offering it as opinion,but as fact. I know people who have gone that route and are quite happy. No need to pay 40k a year for a private college.

As I said before college is a choice not a right. So really I dont think anyone should complain. I didn’t mean to single you out specifically, but it was your post that I was responding to.

Another thing, at most state colleges if you are eligible for financial aid you will recieve it. I know people who have paid little or nothing to go to college. If you fill out the FAFSA form you can find out what your eligible for. If you are not eligible it is because you or your parents are already making a nice salary.

I reread your post. Sorry I just dont see any real validity to your statements. Other than the fact that college cost more today than it did decades ago. No suprise there. pretty much everything costs more today than decades ago.If you think the cost of college is high, try comparing the cost of an average house in todays market to the same house a couple of decades ago. Now that is something to complain about.

If you want to attend a private college than it should be up to you to foot the bill. Also you can join the service and get most of your education if not all, paid for by uncle Sam. No need to complain. I never read in the constitution or bill of rights where it said anything about a college education,or what the cost should or should not be.