While I understand the need to have this type of conversation in our current society and economy, I think it is sad that we need to discuss the merits of going to college on a economical basis. Ideally, I think the goal of college is to further education in a specific field. Reducing it as a opportunity for return can be counter-productive with the goals of it on the long term. Of course, this is ideally speaking, the real world doesn't function like that and there is a need for a return both on a individual and societal level.