From the "a picture is worth a thousand words" archives, I'll add a few words and let this rest.
I've noticed that over the last several years, before and after our recent recessionary times, it has become fashionable to question the return on investment of a college education. There seems to be some validity to the question, particularly in light of some of the more innovative "college educations" that are currently available for sale.
Although I haven't always been the best student I can be, I have always valued education, and I think a degree has value beyond the simple ROI it brings in terms of enhanced wages. As a technology manager, I also hired more than a couple of non-degreed professionals into serious, professional technical roles. Generally speaking, they were very smart and very capable, two things a degree doesn't guarantee. However, everything else being equal, it's nice to know that the person you're hiring has shown the fortitude and persistence to get his or her butt out of bed every day(ish) to get to the end of that sometimes grueling road. That matters, and getting a degree acts as a signal to potential employers that has nothing to do with intelligence, and often little to do with specific knowledge. It's not the only signal, but it's a powerful one. I think these numbers from the excellent CalculatedRISK blog bear that out.
