The conventional wisdom that going to college is good for everyone has been under heavy fire for several years. In this Gaston Gazette piece we find that notion criticized by leftist writer Anya Kamanetz. She points out that large numbers of young people who enter college don’t graduate and points to lack of academic interest and preparation as a main reason.

The story tries for “balance” by quoting NC State economics professor Mike Walden, who says that college is still “worth it.” The trouble is that neither students nor college programs are the same. For some students, the learning that college fosters is very valuable. For many others, however, there is little learning and little lasting benefit aside from the possession of a piece of paper saying that he met the degree requirements. In a market glutted with people having college credentials, that isn’t of much value.

The fact that’s missing from this article is that large numbers of college graduates are employed (if they’re employed at all) in jobs that don’t call for any academic preparation — jobs like airline flight attendant, aerobics instructor, theater usher and so on. They don’t get paid a premium just for having a diploma on the wall.

A college degree is rather like investing in a house. For some people it’s a good idea, but for others, it’s foolish.