[lotsofpulp]

> A degree can be a valuable signal to employers and also be a terrible waste of time and resources. It can be both at once.

Sure, but it answers the question of why a degree is “needed”, and that is given the supply and demand curves for labor, the suppliers of labor need it to compete with each other.

> It would be better if we found ways to let young people get into white collar and middle class professions without spending $100K and four years of their lives.

Really simple, remove all taxpayer funded (including guaranteed) education loans, and any special bankruptcy protection they might have.