THE SENTIMENT DESK
As seen on the 24/7 Wall St. homepage on July 21, 2026.
A 17-year-old's post about their mother draining their college fund has ignited a Reddit firestorm over whether student debt for high-ROI degrees like accounting is still the path to upward mobility or a cautionary tale. The thread's 331 comments are split between those saying college remains the best escape route from rural poverty and those warning against the "college is a scam" narrative—with career-focused degree paths getting strong community backing.