Paying hundreds of thousands for a degree that teaches no real skills is a bad deal, and the debt left behind is fueling real anger among young graduates.

• A $400,000 education is only worth it if it leaves you with skills someone will pay for.
• Graduates who borrowed heavily for degrees that don't translate into work end up angry and stuck with the payments.
• That anger is understandable: many were sold a promise that the degree alone would pay off.
• The counterpoint is that opportunity in the U.S. is still better than most places, but the degree by itself does nothing.

Outlook: Expect more young people to weigh cheaper, skills-first paths as the cost of a traditional degree keeps outrunning what it delivers.