The parent is not wrong unless you uncharitably pounce on their use of the word "only" as absolutely literal. As you have.

So, “only” was figurative? Why was it used? The entire sentence would have been better without it. Or you’re wrong. Somewhere in there.

And if you didn’t get a job right out of school would you have been homeless and hungry or could you just have moved back in with your parents? If you hadn’t gotten a job 5 years out of school that would have allowed you to support yourself would you be homeless or hungry?

I told both of my sons that I wouldn’t pay for a degree that would be less likely to lead to a decent paying job. When my youngest graduated from high school, I was working for BigTeh but I made it abundantly clear that a colleges sole purpose was to be gainfully employed.

> I made it abundantly clear that a colleges sole purpose was to be gainfully employed.

That's not true at all, though. An education has loads to offer beyond a bump in your wages. Do you really think knowledge is worthless unless you can make money with it?

Do you need to get in tens of thousands of debt to gain that knowledge?

You'll earn the money back with the increased wages a university degree affords you.

I never said knowledge was the only purpose of a degree—that'd be as ridiculous as saying "gainful employment" was the only purpose. It has multiple uses. This should be obvious.