[rektide]

It feels really hard to pull apart that those who would get a degree are probably folks who'd push themselves higher up market anyways.

Going to college is a self-selection towards achievement. Of course those who self select towards elite achievement will do better. I don't think we can, but if we could ask this question of are self selecters - college or no - making more money, I don't think college would be as clear a win. But it's near impossible to split up & categorize the non-college bound would be elite achievers from the rest of non-college bound.

Also college is just so the default path...