College and further education has become its own virtue signal. "look at me I have sunk X hours into this futile activity to prove my employability." the quality of said education doesn't matter anymore (hence the move away from merit and grades).

This logic is also why, if you have almost ANY period of time being NEET you are by default likely blacklisted, trashcanned at interviews. Which then leads to you devaluing your labors worth by taking apprenticeships, agency work, or debasing yourself for a $8/hr job by offering to work a month's "probationary".