That's a mighty big thread there MM...
I can suggest one thought only...
Let us recall together how many hundreds (or thousands?) of times in the past twenty years or so we have heard and seen political/cultural/economic/academic "leaders" admonish us folks that the VERY best thing EVERY American child should deserve is (ta da!)... a "College Education"
"Step out of Poverty!", "Raise Yourself Up!", "Break From Your Past!", "Be All You Can Be!"...
I been there, done that...seen it done and been endless times, guaranteeing nothing except dollars for universities... and maybe once in awhile, a true Patriot or good and noble person... IF they had it in their heart from the git.
Eh?