It's also important to note that higher education is responsible both for education, and for handing out credentials. Tying these two together real screws over

It's also important to note that higher education is responsible both for education, and for handing out credentials. Tying these two together real screws over the student. Imagine if driving schools were the only ones who administered driving tests, and they required you to take two years of expensive classes, including numerous classes that had nothing to do with driving. Most people would take them simply because they had to, even if they saw little value in them. If you split these two - say, had a national assessment and credentialing program that didn't require a college education - I bet most students would find much cheaper, better, and quicker ways to learn than college.