"College has many merits but one of them isn't really the promised good job, good career, good life that many people believe it to be." I think its true that a

"College has many merits but one of them isn't really the promised good job, good career, good life that many people believe it to be." I think its true that a degree will not get you a job. But unless you can prove to be a complete superstar in your field you will severely narrow your choices for getting a job without one. Having a BA/BS even from a minor college is still a bar set by most HR groups. (the relevance of the degree aside). Note the BA, an AA which you get at community colleges generally aren't worth too much. But in regards to your friend paying 50K a year for a social work degree. Sure your friends daughter may not end up with a job where she can ever payback the 200K they're going to pay. But she sounds like someone who is going to try to make a difference in the world. Perhaps that means more then the amount she'll make in salary post-graduation.