i'm in my mid 30s and my generation was taught that a good option might be going to community college for 2 years and then transferring, because of the reduction in cost by basically 50%, and to keep loans to a minimum if possible.

this recommendation was always weighed against the 'freshmen experience'.

i think the demographics and expectations of the college-bound is what has changed, not necessarily the advice. getting a good paying job after school was an amazing achievement, even for top schools like university of california's top campuses, not something expected as normal.