> … world-class researchers …

These people can’t possibly be at every university, let alone colleges, community colleges, or technical schools.

> … rote memorization and bad classes …

Not every school will be good. There are at least three post-secondary schools within driving of me that take the minimum required curricula as a script and offer nothing more than the bare minimum required to get certification, accreditation, and receive that sweet state and federal budget money.

I can’t imagine how someone with a good or great post-secondary education is confused that this would be the situation for millions of students.