I didn't go for a career. I went because it was important to my mom that I go because no one in my family had.
There is a level of maturity you gain that bridges high school and "the real world" IMO. Obviously there will be exceptions to the rule and people who are already self sufficient coming out of HS. Who already had jobs, managed their finances, their space etc.
But more often than not, you're going to get help from your parents because they're there. Every day. In college, they're not there every day. So you kind of have to take it up a notch.
I could feel that I came out of college a different person. But I was a little unhinged in NY in HS and probably needed the change of scenery. But I would say even under different circumstances, the end result is the same.
Plus having your own room with no parents and all them females.....priceless.
It's all going to be relative to the person but from what I see around me in relatives/peoples that didn't go or didn't finish, the **** pays off in the end.
A lot of those people are not in debt because of just their loans. They're in debt because they don't know how to spend responsibly. Same reason people go into too much debt when they get married.
People in general spend their money on dumb ****. I cleared out my student loans in a timely manner. But that's how I operate. Outside of a mortgage, I don't have a drop of debt anywhere.
I'd rather pay some **** off quick than pay interest on anything.