In the mid-1960s, half the adults did not have a high school diploma. Today, in many metro areas, one half or more of adults have at least a Bachelor’s degree. In some ways, the Bachelor’s degree is the high school diploma of 65+ years ago, and the Masters degree has become the Bachelor’s degree of the 1970s. Paradoxically, about half of workers with college degrees say they are doing work that does not require a college degree. One thought is the college degree became a filter for employers – to weed out candidates when they receive a large number of applications. It’s a quick screening test in a competitive job market.
