Those fresh college graduates now are the very kids the article talks about, unable to make the adjustment to not being the center of someone's universe. When they were kids, kids were the most valuable. When they're fresh college graduates, fresh college graduates are the most valuable. I think we all know what tune they'll be playing when they hit 30.

College grads are babies, they're just a bit older.

Valuable maybe not but they do represent the peak of societal sunk cost which we won't be recouping.

20 years into your career we've recovered a lot of that invested value, whereas right out of college is near or at the point that the handover of civilization between generations actually happens.

You're right that we don't want the world running around full of fresh college grads however since they are college grads we can say with much greater certainty that they'll be successful as opposed to having no idea with a baby or toddler.

I strongly agree that we need a healthy mix. However, for fresh college graduates there is more time left to pay off the investment we made in them as a society. In fact I believe they will be at their most productive a little later than that. But they get there as they get older.

Edit: Typos

Meh... I don't think there is really much difference from your average fresh college grad and your average non-college educated 22 year old.

I guess from an economical sense college is expensive but... I don't know... how many college grads actually use their degree?

I think the more important question is how many college grads actually benefit from their education (modified words italicized). A degree in, say, forestry should still be useful for someone working in sales because of the experience dealing with diverse opinions, processing new information, and studying a range of subjects.

This is anecdotal, and not a very controversial opinion, but many people in my family and group of friends are sociology majors. After watching them grow and knowing them pre and post degree, I can without a doubt say that education is beneficial. What you learn is unimportant. Becoming acquainted with the process of learning is the true benefit of education.

I agree that the college angle adds unnecessary assumptions to the argument. It would probably be easier to agree on "young adults ready to enter the work force". Especially given the tremendous value many drop outs are adding.

Well, they're probably the broadest group with the most quantifiable potential for adding economic value to society.