4 ms·

The literal answer is, because there are too many college graduates. The US educational system, and society's view of education, is still rigged for a mid-20th-

The literal answer is, because there are too many college graduates. The US educational system, and society's view of education, is still rigged for a mid-20th-century rose-tinted view of the future that never came to pass, and was never going to.

seanconaty 13y ago
Yup. Just because more people are getting degrees does not mean that there are enough jobs that require/compensate for having a degree. But this apparently isn't changing anyone's behavior yet, so the education bubble continues to grow.
- LandoCalrissian 13y ago
  Are you saying that my degree in underwater basket weaving won't get me a job?
  - cobrausn 13y ago
    It's not that simple. Your degree in electrical engineering might not get you a job depending upon a number of factors, where once it was considered a sure thing.
    - djKianoosh 13y ago
      I have a hard time believing that someone that averages a B in electrical engineering from any 1st or 2nd tier school can't get a well paying job somewhere in north america.
      - cobrausn 13y ago
        I have some anecdotal evidence to suggest otherwise, but that's somewhat irrelevant. Perhaps electrical engineering was a bad choice. A business degree then? Used to be a good path into middle and upper management, is now a requirement for stable office work (or so it seems to me).
jared314 13y ago
There is a difference between getting a college degree and obtaining credentials required to gain an amount of income and security. Two generations ago, they were almost the same thing. With automation, commoditization, increased college graduation rates, and changing economic situations, the effort required to obtain the same relative level of credentials has gone up. First it was a bachelor's degree. Then, you were nothing without a masters degree. Then came the MBA boom. Now we have startup incubators and aqui-hire.

seanconaty 13y ago

Yup. Just because more people are getting degrees does not mean that there are enough jobs that require/compensate for having a degree. But this apparently isn't changing anyone's behavior yet, so the education bubble continues to grow.

LandoCalrissian 13y ago
Are you saying that my degree in underwater basket weaving won't get me a job?
- cobrausn 13y ago
  It's not that simple. Your degree in electrical engineering might not get you a job depending upon a number of factors, where once it was considered a sure thing.
  - djKianoosh 13y ago
    I have a hard time believing that someone that averages a B in electrical engineering from any 1st or 2nd tier school can't get a well paying job somewhere in north america.
    - cobrausn 13y ago
      I have some anecdotal evidence to suggest otherwise, but that's somewhat irrelevant. Perhaps electrical engineering was a bad choice. A business degree then? Used to be a good path into middle and upper management, is now a requirement for stable office work (or so it seems to me).

jared314 13y ago

There is a difference between getting a college degree and obtaining credentials required to gain an amount of income and security. Two generations ago, they were almost the same thing. With automation, commoditization, increased college graduation rates, and changing economic situations, the effort required to obtain the same relative level of credentials has gone up. First it was a bachelor's degree. Then, you were nothing without a masters degree. Then came the MBA boom. Now we have startup incubators and aqui-hire.