Reports reinforce value of college

Watch television for any length of time, and you'll see the ads.

Taking advantage of the struggling economy and those fighting to get by on entry-level jobs, for-profit schools promise quick training for good-paying jobs.

A PBS Frontline segment found that a college nursing program in a California for-profit presented diplomas to graduates who had never set foot in a hospital.

Another student in Dallas found her school had never acquired the proper accreditation, leaving her with a useless doctorate and $200,000 in student debt.

A North Carolina television reporter compared it to "subprime goes to college."

Workers obtain Pell Grants and federal student loans from Sallie Mae, as well as high-interest private loans, but when the jobs they have been promised don't pan out, borrowers are stuck with bad paper.

This is not to say things will necessarily be easy for McCook Community College graduates accepting their diplomas this Friday. The job market is tough, and going on to complete a four-year degree or beyond is still a challenge, of course.

But MCC and its parent Mid Plains Community College organization are a better choice, staffed by qualified, caring instructors and staff, and offer one of the best educational bargains in the United States.

The recent commitment to a new events center here and health center in North Platte ensure that the experience will only grow better.

We've written time and time again about what a valuable asset McCook Community College is to Southwest Nebraska, and how anyone who hasn't attained a college degree is missing a great opportunity by not taking advantage of it.

With another class graduating Friday and the summer term starting soon, perhaps now is a good time to invest in yourself by obtaining a degree or upgrading your job skills.