> muddling through one way or another grants the salary paper that makes it easier to have success in the rest of life

True [1]. I'm not debating the individual incentives. (I wasn't clear about this.) I'm just not convinced a college graduate who muddled through is worth 75% more to an employer or society than a high school student who muddles.

> a sufficiently motivated and capable person is capable of achieving success with or without a college degree

For a binary measure of success, yes. A successful person empowered with a peaceful, rich society and challenging college experience will do better than one without.

[1] https://www.minneapolisfed.org/article/2025/what-happened-to...

I agree with everything you said here :)