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leftstreet

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8. Critical thinking concludes college is too expensive

Reply to SheltieLover (Reply #2)

Fri Nov 28, 2025, 03:14 PM

Yesterday

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SheltieLover rollin74 Bravo Duck fujiyamasan Prof. Toru Tanaka BeerBarrelPolka Arazi CoopersDad

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Poll: In a dramatic shift, Americans no longer see four-year college degrees as worth the cost [View all] Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Yesterday OP

Given the outrageous cost of the tuition I can see why they would think that. drray23 Yesterday #1

but community colleges in general have many more classes relevant to various 'trades', Jack Valentino 2 hrs ago #88

There goes critical thinking skills, right out the window SheltieLover Yesterday #2

Exactly. They will know zero history, have zero writing and critical thinking skills,... hlthe2b Yesterday #5

They will be gullible milestogo Yesterday #14

Not to mention history & civics! SheltieLover Yesterday #15

Critical thinking concludes college is too expensive leftstreet Yesterday #8

You don't need a four year degree for any of that fujiyamasan 19 hrs ago #22

Critical thinking is really a more advanced skill. Happy Hoosier 11 hrs ago #32

4 year college should be free. SSJVegeta Yesterday #3

I have a MS PCB66 11 hrs ago #38

Yet they are statistically more likely to make better decisions and vote the right way SSJVegeta 10 hrs ago #42

I don't know PCB66 7 hrs ago #71

Trust me Ive known a lot of really deluded highly educated people too SSJVegeta 5 hrs ago #76

It's easier if you can get people to want being poorly educated. Turbineguy Yesterday #4

Anti-intellectualism is a cornerstone Happy Hoosier 11 hrs ago #33

Yes, you can fool some of the people all of the time. thought crime 4 hrs ago #81

Can he get us a discount?? The Madcap Yesterday #6

Ummmmm...... Lovie777 Yesterday #7

The leaders running the USA into the ground Progressive dog Yesterday #11

Oh, They Teach That ProfessorGAC 12 hrs ago #29

I like to ask my economics colleagues if they have figured out tariffs yet Redleg 8 hrs ago #51

Beauty! ProfessorGAC 8 hrs ago #58

I was fortunate to have some good econ professors in grad school Redleg 8 hrs ago #59

Good To Hear ProfessorGAC 7 hrs ago #65

You want to improve your life and get somewhere, but it's survival-of-the-fittest up top bucolic_frolic Yesterday #9

I can relate to that DFW 16 hrs ago #26

About time someone realized most 4-year degrees are worthless Lettuce Be Yesterday #10

Yes indeed and it is a rational conclusion given the current moniss Yesterday #12

I don't know what a college degree is worth in the age of AI newdeal2 Yesterday #13

$1.5 Million Johnny2X2X 11 hrs ago #34

So far, AI can't really replace thinking. Happy Hoosier 11 hrs ago #35

There is job loss already newdeal2 10 hrs ago #43

In the age of AI, a Math degree is Golden-$$. thought crime 4 hrs ago #82

Congratulations, Higher Ed. You've priced yourself out of students! intheflow Yesterday #16

Prices are out of control... Happy Hoosier 11 hrs ago #36

Decreased state and federal funds... róisín_dubh 10 hrs ago #44

Yet, blue states don't seem to be any cheaper than red states n/t MichMan 8 hrs ago #61

Yes. I did mention Federal funding as well. róisín_dubh 2 hrs ago #87

That's 100% true in the state of Wisconsin. Greybnk48 8 hrs ago #62

Thank you! I used to work at a community college, and that was the case there. raccoon 7 hrs ago #66

That means that people do not understand murielm99 Yesterday #17

seeing how many college-educated people are complete idiots Skittles 19 hrs ago #23

C's get degrees. Happy Hoosier 11 hrs ago #37

Unlike Lake Wobegon where everyone is above average MichMan 1 hr ago #89

We're about 20-30 years late on this one Sympthsical Yesterday #18

+1 leftstreet Yesterday #19

Yes, What Trump is doing is wrong but I have a hard time supporting JI7 17 hrs ago #25

And it's an important distinction Sympthsical 13 hrs ago #28

I think you're wrong here.... Happy Hoosier 11 hrs ago #39

Yup, especially the last part. róisín_dubh 10 hrs ago #45

What's your disagreement specifically? Sympthsical 9 hrs ago #46

People need to be realistic JI7 Yesterday #20

There's no free lunch here fujiyamasan 19 hrs ago #21

Okay, there is no comparison mr715 8 hrs ago #56

I never would have gone to college forty years ago. Jacson6 19 hrs ago #24

Corporate and anti-intellectual propaganda marches on JCMach1 13 hrs ago #27

Yes. This thread alone includes enough content for a whole book on why this is true and how it happened. Iris 7 hrs ago #70

100%, with no dissing of trades. JCMach1 5 hrs ago #75

I worked at what people call a trade school - often called technical colleges now Iris 5 hrs ago #80

It doesn't help when the K-12 education is so lacking, that colleges have to offer remedial classes MichMan 12 hrs ago #30

You know who does think it's worth it? Johnny2X2X 11 hrs ago #31

Absolutely true, IMO Happy Hoosier 11 hrs ago #40

Just disturbing to me the anti college rhetoric that has taken hold Johnny2X2X 10 hrs ago #41

Agreed Prairie Gates 9 hrs ago #48

THIS Iris 8 hrs ago #54

What's hilarious is that the degrees now considered "useful" are the ones that were only recently invented Prairie Gates 9 hrs ago #47

I think you've simplified what the business disciplines are Redleg 8 hrs ago #52

You're absolutely right...it's unfair to have the discipline you work in Prairie Gates 7 hrs ago #68

Well said Iris 8 hrs ago #60

"I have a nephew who received a BA in Philosophy who works at a Total Wine and More store." Jedi Guy 9 hrs ago #49

Everybody has an anecdote about some student with a French poetry degree Johnny2X2X 8 hrs ago #50

It's not the degrees themselves that are useful, but the habits of mind that the holders of the degrees have developed Iris 8 hrs ago #63

Well yeah. Johnny2X2X 8 hrs ago #64

GenX got jobs with these degrees without internships and co-ops Iris 7 hrs ago #69

Not this Gen Xer Johnny2X2X 6 hrs ago #72

I think collleges are more intentional about internships and co/ops now Iris 6 hrs ago #73

Agree Johnny2X2X 6 hrs ago #74

I know this was starting to happen with teaching in the early 90s Iris 5 hrs ago #79

There were no internships in my profession and Boomers JCMach1 5 hrs ago #77

My kids have college degrees and they aren't making much ALBliberal 8 hrs ago #53

If we reduce everything to dollars mr715 8 hrs ago #55

If you take 2 years tuition and plunk it in Tech growth stocks bucolic_frolic 8 hrs ago #57

Just making the argument for Free Public Colleges JCMach1 5 hrs ago #78

If a student wants to attend an out of state college charging $60k a year tuition, taxpayers should have to pay it ? MichMan 3 hrs ago #84

As someone who has spent more than a little time in college classrooms... WarGamer 7 hrs ago #67

A better poll question as AI and Data Science grow in importance: Is a Math degree worth the cost and effort? thought crime 4 hrs ago #83

The Dumbing Down of America... BH liberal 3 hrs ago #85

It is hard to digest when it causes so much debt and even without college debt, salaries are still not great for most themaguffin 3 hrs ago #86