Getting an undergraduate degree from an actual university (not your for profit, online or technical schools) has the ability to transform your growth process, discipline, responsibility management and habits for many students.To me, it also shows drive and long term planning skills and puts you in social circles where you just get exposed to more. What you learn in the classroom is only a fraction of the college experience. Many folks can get similar skills and make higher income too, but those are more likely exceptions.
I don't know where people get this idea that college is some obstacle course that teaches people character, discipline and how to be a good person. That's some bullsh#t and moreso a lie.
I went to an "actual" college/university with regionally ranked programs. One of which being their business program, which I studied in. For the first two years, I loafed at the highest degree. Missing weeks of class at a time, partying and generally not giving a f#ck. Then in my junior and senior years, after receiving several letters warning that I may lose scholarships/grants, I turned it on and hit the Dean's List every semester through graduation.
Not necessarily because college built character. But because I didn't want to lose money for school, which would have ended in me having to hear my family rip me a new one for years to come.
People put 2 on a 10 when it comes to college and personal development. Most of the people who graduated from college were the same people they came in as.....they just had a college degree when they left.
A college degree is like a Driver's License. Like a DL tells the DMV you're authorized to drive per passing a test, a college degree tells employers you're authorized to work in a cubicle instead of flipping burgers.
Peace