To be more precise, the name of the institution on the degree matters for only a handful of universities. If you don't have one of those names, it doesn't matt

To be more precise, the name of the institution on the degree matters for only a handful of universities. If you don't have one of those names, it doesn't matter which name you have. If the kid isn't getting in to one of the prestige-brand schools, the parents and counselors are correct--many of the public universities and lesser-known private colleges are essentially the same. But there is also a third tier, composed mostly of community colleges, correspondence schools, and for-profit "nationally accredited" colleges. That credential might not be enough to pass by all gatekeepers. Different universities occupy the top tier for different industries. For instance, in software, MIT counts, but in politics, it doesn't. It's not really the quality of the institution, but the strength of the brand, and the nepotism by alumni. And it's the people you met that can pry open an opportunity for you later. We don't live in a meritocracy. You still have to know someone who knows someone.