Well, truth be told, there are a lot of students who take out loans expecting to find good jobs and then they graduate and cannot even find a job paying enough to live off from. How are they to pay back their loans? Kids have been sold a bill of sale - and they are really just kids who have no real knowledge of finances. Parents have little knowledge themselves or they wouldn't also be in hock up to their necks. Buy now and pay later...

Well, your acquaintance sucks. But, that's not the majority. I think most do want to do the right thing. We pushed our kids to field which they would enjoy and also make a good living. One just graduated from college in May (engineering) and got a great job working for a military contractor. The other is working on a PhD in engineering.

There are majors to explore and then there are majors which aren't worth the paper and ink they are written upon. Then, there are decent people who need the money and shysters like your friend. You can't lump everyone together.

Besides, prison really should be for those who are a danger to society and not deadbeats. It costs less to pay welfare than house them in prison.