I have an issue with this quote: > Individual financial returns to college are the paramount consideration for most students. Almost all students say access to

I have an issue with this quote: > Individual financial returns to college are the paramount consideration for most students. Almost all students say access to a well-paying job is a primary reason for attending college. First, I don't think financial return is the near-universal case asserted here. People go to college for many reasons and some programs (as noted) have a terrible ROI. Why then would these programs continue to survive? Second, people have bought into this "follow your dream" meme and human ego is predisposed to thinking we're special and we'll be the exception so even with a terrible ROI, people don't think that'll be their fate. It's why people end up working as a barista after going $150,000 into debt to study theater arts at NYU. Third, 18 year olds who are making these decisions, like many people much older, simply don't understand financial consequences. I'm personally more interested in how much college ranking and/or debt affects ROI but I guess that's a separate question.