I inherently believe that this is a U.S.-centric thing as a few commenters mentioned. Specifically a degree in the U.S. is held as a way to advance your career

I inherently believe that this is a U.S.-centric thing as a few commenters mentioned. Specifically a degree in the U.S. is held as a way to advance your career prospects first and it's value is often marketed as a trade off of get X dollars in debt but make Y dollars more in your career on average. So a lot of that attitude becomes I am taking this class to check boxes to get a piece of paper which says I'm worth more in the job market. I am a graduate student but understand the jadedness, especially because I had to retake virtually the same class multiple times because it wasn't "as rigorous" for this specific major as I changed majors a few times (and had to get one of those approved for a different major). But because a lot of people see it as a way for getting a better monetary outcome college in the U.S. is often treated more like a vocational school I feel so the extra "B.S." one has to go through feels like a particular waste of resources. I enjoyed college but, I very quickly understood that its only purpose wasn't to enhance my education as I sat through multiple classes that were nearly identical to previous all because I had to check a box. And generally I felt classes moved to slow and would have been much happier studying on my own, but courses often forced my attendance. Though I am a bit unique in my ability on that admittedly.