The college value debate

So what if students don't get a job in their major right away?  No one guarantees that.  But they are citizens, neighbors, and eventually parents all the time.  College is a place to acquire the knowledge needed to become an effective citizen. 

Rather than focus only on a "practical" major only, broaden the view to discover how to make better decisions, choices, analysis - all requiring judgment.  No matter what technical knowledge one acquires, a decision always must be made, and it is often not self evident.

Consider that after you complete 30 credit hours of business, or accounting or computer science, what will a student select for the remaining 90 or so credit hours?  with the many options offered in college, students can obtain their preparation for a career and for citizenship at the same time.

The narrow and stale debate over college's value should stretch to include all of the intrinsic ways life enhancement can occur.  College can even be seen as a rehearsal for deliberative democracy on the way to adulthood.