Mike Rowe trashes college degrees, says Harvard grads are taking their 'degrees off the wall'

[Anonymous]

Higher education has traditionally been hailed as a crucial stepping stone to success, but TV personality Mike Rowe argues this belief is now out of date.

The host of “Dirty Jobs” recently added to the backlash against Harvard University, an institution once renowned for academic prestige that has been rocked by allegations of antisemitism and plagiarism.

“What is happening? Donations are drying up, graduates are taking their degrees off their wall because they no longer resonate with pride — they’re shameful,” Rowe stated during a Fox Business interview.

However, his skepticism of academia extends well beyond Harvard to a “collective delusion” about the worth of a college degree. Here’s what Rowe has to say about a shorter, cheaper, safer road to wealth.
owe clarified his use of the term “shameful” in a followup interview with Fox.

“I'm not saying that there's anything inherently shameful about getting [a four-year college degree], but I do think from a PR standpoint, something really interesting has happened,” he explained.

Rowe argues the traditional perception of a college degree — once a testament to one’s intellect, wisdom and knowledge — has drastically deteriorated.

“That connection no longer exists in the minds of many millions of parents,” Rowe said.

Instead, he believes, many parents now view a college degree as a mere commodity, mirroring the transactional attitude many universities have adopted toward their student “consumers.”
These days, the cost of a four-year college or university degree can be incredibly steep, making it unattainable for some. Rowe was particularly harsh on tuition hikes that continued even during the pandemic.

“New York University raised its tuition during Zoom classes. At some point, you've got to look at the people who are paying the bills,” he said. “It's almost like they're being dared, right? It's like, how much further will it go?”

The average annual cost of college in the U.S. — inclusive of books, supplies and living expenses — stands at $36,436 per student, according to the Education Data Initiative. That number has more than doubled since the turn of the century.

“The collective delusion surrounding the primacy of a four-year degree is tipping. And when it falls, it's going to go splat,” he concluded.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/shameful-mike-rowe-trashes-college-120400100.html

[Anonymous]

This is such BS. Most public figures who tell their followers that you don’t need college send their own kids to expensive colleges.

The trick is finding AFFORDABLE college. How disingenuous.

[Anonymous]

The beautiful thing is that is that no one is required to get a 4-yr degree if they don’t want to. If Rowe doesn’t want to pay for Harvard or an ivy he doesn’t have to. It’s really not complicated. Harvard has plenty of applicants applying for a limited number of seats. They will be OK.

[Anonymous]

Who?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The beautiful thing is that is that no one is required to get a 4-yr degree if they don’t want to. If Rowe doesn’t want to pay for Harvard or an ivy he doesn’t have to. It’s really not complicated. Harvard has plenty of applicants applying for a limited number of seats. They will be OK.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anyone watch Mrs Maisal? You know character who was chubby hillbilly comedian who went home to her townhouse w a butler? That’s Mike Rowe.

[Anonymous]

He’s absolutely right. At this point most people are just paying for a piece of paper, not an education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He’s absolutely right. At this point most people are just paying for a piece of paper, not an education.

That’s not what the data says

[Anonymous]

I'm loving this. Most kids go to college to drink beer, be promiscuous, and mope around. No problem if the parents can write a check for that, but a tremendously wasteful burden to a lot of kids.

[Anonymous]

Fact still remains that majority of jobs require a college degree. Even EA/"secretary" positions now often list it as a requirement for the job, when 20+ years ago that was not a thing.

So unless your kid is interested in the Trades, a college degree is the best path forward to a good paying career. And even if you go into the trades, a 2 year business degree can be helpful because I don't know many 45yo+ working in the trades who don't wish they could be "running the business"/not be doing the physical labor for 8+ hours a day. Those jobs can wear on your body as you age. AA in business just might set you up to be managing/running the business.

So the key is getting the degree at an affordable rate. That means with minimal debt, especially if you know the first 5 years with your degree will be "lower paying" and for some majors will never go "high pay" unless you switch careers (think social work, education and even things like PT---a 3 year Doctorate is required yet you will max out at $100K in most areas, except VHCOL, yet many spend $200K to get the degree, so if you plan that route, undergrad needs to be Debt free or close to it). If you want to be a teacher, great, we need awesome teachers. But don't go into major debt to get your degree. Figure out where you want to teach, go to school in that state and do your student teaching there and get certified in that state. Do it as cheaply as you can at a decent school---there are many in most states that are great and affordable. Life will be much easier when your starting salary is $45K if you don't have $80K+ in student loans hanging over your head.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, Mike Rowe is such a a blue collar worker; People, he is a presenter / actor playing a blue collar worker.

From Maryland and he "graduated from Overlea High School in 1980,[1]: 28  where he excelled in theater and singing.[7] He then studied at Essex Community College.[7] In 1985, he graduated from Towson University[8][1]: 28  with a degree in communication studies.[9]"
From Wikipedia

I think the trades are great, and you can make a lot of money and have a good life if you are talented in them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fact still remains that majority of jobs require a college degree. Even EA/"secretary" positions now often list it as a requirement for the job, when 20+ years ago that was not a thing.

So unless your kid is interested in the Trades, a college degree is the best path forward to a good paying career. And even if you go into the trades, a 2 year business degree can be helpful because I don't know many 45yo+ working in the trades who don't wish they could be "running the business"/not be doing the physical labor for 8+ hours a day. Those jobs can wear on your body as you age. AA in business just might set you up to be managing/running the business.

So the key is getting the degree at an affordable rate. That means with minimal debt, especially if you know the first 5 years with your degree will be "lower paying" and for some majors will never go "high pay" unless you switch careers (think social work, education and even things like PT---a 3 year Doctorate is required yet you will max out at $100K in most areas, except VHCOL, yet many spend $200K to get the degree, so if you plan that route, undergrad needs to be Debt free or close to it). If you want to be a teacher, great, we need awesome teachers. But don't go into major debt to get your degree. Figure out where you want to teach, go to school in that state and do your student teaching there and get certified in that state. Do it as cheaply as you can at a decent school---there are many in most states that are great and affordable. Life will be much easier when your starting salary is $45K if you don't have $80K+ in student loans hanging over your head.

I am not agreeing with Mike Rowe...but, there are tons of headlines of companies no longer caring about a degree vs. showing they are qualified for the job. You can decide you don't believe Deloitte, Google, etc....but publicly they are claiming a 4-year degree is no longer required.

Here are several recent articles:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/college-degree-job-requirement/
https://www.intelligent.com/nearly-half-of-companies-plan-to-eliminate-bachelors-degree-requirements-in-2024/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/yourmoney/consumer/article-12806053/companies-ax-college-bachelors-degree-requirements-walmart.html

[Anonymous]

Mike Rowe s a blowhard. I can barely stand him when he hosts a show.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He’s absolutely right. At this point most people are just paying for a piece of paper, not an education.

Yes - and it's one thing if a college degree guaranteed a job right after graduation, but unfortunately, it does not - even if the student went to a selective school. What is guaranteed after you graduate is that you (or possibly the parents) will have student loans to pay. Also, a lot of Gen Z's seem to be suffering from mental health issues - so going away to college immediately after high school may not be the best choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He’s absolutely right. At this point most people are just paying for a piece of paper, not an education.

That’s not what the data says

What data? This is a subjective assessment (i.e. an opinion as to the current quality of college education and the resulting intrinsic value of a college degree)