I'm from Europe, and my electrical engineering degree didn't cost me a single euro. So with me, it was more question like "Is it worth the time? I could spend time on something much more interesting."

how so?

I'm from Slovenia, but I think most European faculties (colleges in Europe) don't charge students for degrees. We pay that through taxes. I hope that answers your question.

Most people in the US don't spend hundreds of thousands on undergrad education, just the people who blog about it a lot. I went to Iowa State. Tuition was about 1500 a semester, so 12k total, for a double degree in computer engineering and math. I'm totally satisfied with the quality of the education and social experience.

Only because of HECS. I'm a full fee paying computer science student, and it'll cost me upwards of $60K

Then compare the US to Europe. There education is viewed as public good, though it's slowly changing.

That's true. I didn't realise how large the disparity was.