What is the "purpose" of higher education?

This is a helluva good question. Once upon a time, I thought I knew. I'm not so sure anymore. Our institutions of higher education have been perverted into indoctrination centers and I can't see any downside except that people who attend them come away with a complete lack of ability to think for themselves. They possess no common sense. Now, before you dismiss me as some old crackpot, let me assure you that I am. I've seen too much to avoid being old or a crackpot. I lived in Colorado at a time when the state considered allowing people who had studied law in a legal practice under the tutelage of a practicing lawyer, to take the bar exam and become licensed attorneys. The law schools made sure that went away. I've seen doctors fresh out of medical school who need nurses to teach them the ropes of practicing medicine. The truth is, that people learn professions by practicing them. That's why they're called medical practices and legal practices. Meanwhile, engineering students are taught engineering on the job. Their degrees seem to prepare them for that profession as practiced in another age, long ago, when their professors might have been engineers. Shall I go on? Naw. That's enough for now. In all my years, I hoped for much from college grads and learned to expect little. Hopefully they could read. Many couldn't. Better yet, read for understanding. That was really rare. Research. Debate. Cipher (you know, basic math) The scientific method? Good luck finding that. History? Civics? Not one iota.

Being a BA or MA is usually the key to get a job in a corporate setting. A PHD is normally of value, if seriously applied. The ability to research subjects and evaluate them is what separates them from other which results in advancing in a corporate structure. There are exceptions. I have hired all sorts of education levels, the PHD is the only one that was able to pass me up, on occasion. Most of them were arrogant self centered A-holes.

The main reason is to provide a person with everything needed for a successful career path in the future. In university, you learn a lot and acquire many skills, such as time management, communication, problem-solving, and so on. I think that higher education is still very important. I always wanted to be a student, and it's harder than I thought, but I have no regrets at all. When I have some problems with writing, for example, I use https://edubirdie.com/pay-for-essays and it always helps me out. And I work on my skills, and I know they improve. And I also met a lot of good people, which is also good for the future. Connections are so important now.