It proves you’re willing to conform and participate in modern society. Without a degree (and the associated student debt), you come across as suspiciously free-thinking and unchained. 90% of corpo jobs is “fitting in” AKA professionalism work culture. Degrees also help gatekeep industries to the “truly committed” - can’t have people switching industries whenever they feel like it.

Imagine a world where employees can just… quit? At any time? And they have many available employment prospects? Unthinkable.