College used to be the golden ticket. Now it’s a $1.7 trillion debt trap for millions while only 3% of careers actually reward the degree with higher pay.

Jerremy Alexander Newsome and Dave Conley rip apart the myth: exploding admin costs, profit-driven schools, bias against non-degree paths, and why trades and on-the-job training are quietly eating college’s lunch. No sacred cows survive.

Timestamps:

• (00:00) College Wrap Up – cold open on the real ROI
• (00:47) Introduction and Overview
• (01:00) Questioning the Value of College – the numbers don’t lie
• (01:52) Exploring Alternatives to College – trades, apprenticeships, self-taught
• (12:46) The Bias Against Non-Degree Holders – how HR filters kill opportunity
• (15:13) Trade Schools and Other Career Paths – where the money actually is
• (26:38) The Student Debt Crisis – scale and who profits
• (29:31) Industry Collaboration in Education – what works when companies train
• (30:32) The Changing Classroom Experience – Zoom U vs 1995
• (33:28) Rising Costs and Administrative Inflation – where your tuition really goes
• (34:56) The Profit Motive in Education – universities as hedge funds
• (40:00) Student Loan Forgiveness Debate – moral hazard vs bailout
• (51:29) The Future of Jobs and AI Impact – degrees about to matter even less
• (55:10) Advice for the Next Generation – what parents and kids need to hear
• (59:42) Final Thoughts on Education Reform

📢 Solving America’s Problems Podcast – Real Solutions For Real Issues

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