I'm afraid I am with the eye-rollers. You can't get a teaching degree at a community college (here anyway), but you can get a teaching degree at a 4-year state university for probably 1/3 the cost.
Here's the real question: Is a college degree from a small, private school worth THREE TIMES the cost of a degree from a state school? Is the college experience at a private school worth THREE TIMES more than a similar experience at a public school? Does a degree from an expensive school make you THREE TIMES the "educated and knowledgeable citizen" that you would be had you graduated from a state school? Does it make you THREE TIMES a better wife and mother?
I completely agree that college makes you a better person -- not a better person than those who didn't go, but rather, college makes you a better version of yourself -- it helps you become the best person you can be (wow, that sounds like the Army's slogan). I completely agree that the real value of a college degree includes intangible qualities as well as the ability to earn a larger salary at a job you enjoy. I don't think a degree is "wasted" even if you aren't working. But I don't see that a private school is THREE TIMES better than a state school -- especially if you have to borrow to obtain the degree.
Well for me, yes it was absolutely worth it. I graduated first in my high school class and I could have gone to any University of Massachusetts school system for free for four years under their program that waived school tuition for all valedictorians.
I had absolutely no interest in any public, state universities or college. Not the type of college experience I wanted, not places I wanted to live for four years, no thank you. When I was in high school I attended Harvard University in a special program for all four years and ended up with a year's worth of college credits. Going to Harvard while in high school taught me a lot about the importance of learning atmosphere, your fellow students, and the larger atmosphere of the place you would be choosing to go to college for four years. My mother was astounded when I came home and I told her flat out I would never go to Harvard for undergraduate school because it was a complete waste of money. Professors hated having anything to do with their undergrads, and undergraduate classes were HUGE and most students wouldn't even be able to tell you what their professors looked like. I knew going into my senior year that I wanted small, private, and liberal arts, and New England.
I don't regret for one second going to a school that cost 40,000 dollars a year by the time I graduated. It was priceless and worth a thousand times more than the experience I had at Harvard (which cost the same as the school I went to) or UMASS Amherst, which would have cost nothing.
Quite frankly, I didn't and still do not look at college as a "cost-benefit" ratio. I didn't choose to go to college so I make a million dollars, my plan was always to be a fulltime stay at home mother if I were to ever be blessed with a husband and children. I love children and social work and teaching were professions I wanted to committ myself to before and after having a family of my own. I went to college for the experience and for my own education, to stretch, learn, and grow myself. I took my education very seriously and out of a total cost of 144,000 dollars, I ended up paying 14,000 out of pocket and in subsidized loans. I currently have 5,000 dollars left to pay on my loans with a 2.5% interest rate.
Whether or not a college experience is "worth it" involves far more than just money. I could care less that I earned 20,000 dollars a year my first year out of school. I was doing what I wanted to do, what I loved doing, and I spent four years cultivating my educational passions in a place that was the perfect fit for me and the perfect challenge.
Some people don't understand that college is about more than money.
Worked in several factories during the summers that spurred me to keep going and do well! 
