There exists a big connection between college degree attainment levels and the economy. One thing to point out is the U.S. is NOT like other wealthier developed countries. Let's discuss the college degree attainment levels in the U.S. What expected effect will it have on the individual, and on the future of the country? How much should the society be pushing and encouraging college education levels to be higher? Is the U.S. doomed to become poorer and more like a Third World nation? I would say the two seem to be correlated, but which one is the cause and which one is the effect? Is the country going to become poorer because fewer people are getting college degrees, or are fewer people getting college degrees just an indicator of the underlying change in the economy? Here are some other threads to read: Why fewer Americans are going to college (posted in Education section, July 17, 2023) Percent of Americans who actually have a college degree (posted in Education section, March 20, 2020 ) U.S. college attendance is falling (posted in Education section, April 3, 2018 ) Younger adult generation shows higher suicide rates amid rising financial pressures (posted in Economics & Trade section, July 17, 2023 ) Here is one opinion article to stimulate some discussion: Low college enrollment threatens to cause long-term consequences (hechingerreport.org) "The dire consequences of fewer people going to college--for them and for society" "Another million adults have stepped off the path to the middle class" Some additional threads: Americans' IQ Declining for First Time in Almost a Century, Study Finds (posted by Steve N, in Political Opinions & Beliefs, March 14, 2023 ) "Not Sending Their Best": World Map of IQ Drop Due to Immigration (posted in Global Issues section, June 23, 2018 )