Universities survived half a millenium being networking grounds for the upper class, and they will survive another millenium being networking grounds for the upper class

The last century will be a mere footnote in a case study of folly, where 100% of the university's problems came from dealing with the underclass at all with a side helping of federal funny money. It will be comedic relief amongst starry eyed business majors, waiting to satisfy a condition of their trust fund

The employment sector's decision to require degrees is mere happenstance and something that sector will need to reconcile on its own.

Someone should turn that comment into a Twilight Zone episode...

We wake up tomorrow to a world where universities never existed.

No cultivation of Copernicus, Newton, Einstein...

So we're stuck mostly with 1000 year old technology.