Junky Funky, US college degrees are still highly respeted and soughtafter. That's why there is such an influx of students here. Couple of points.
While manufacturing has shifted to other countries, the main innovation, design still happen here.
Jobs to other countries have shifted beause there is cheap talent available at lower costs. Companies mostly shift because of costs not talen pool. Still companies have not transferred their core functions outside.
The highest growing sectors like technology and internet companies are all based here in US. Think intel, fb, google, ibm.
You cant compare cost of producing talent between us and third world countries, when expenses are higher the cost of education is higher.
Although i agree that the cost of education is getting out of hands here. More and more college students are taking 5 to 6 years to graduate, instead of traditional four years. Financial crisis has decreased funding, Hopefully the leaders will try to solve the problem in educational system.