It’s worse than you could possibly imagine. No, not anymore. I went back and finished a second degree last year for a small career shift, after about a 7 year gap after finishing the first (computer science).

The first time around I was kinda butthurt that most the material was crap I already knew from experience or saw online. But there was still a focus on the fundamentals and I desperately needed help with that. 7/10 experience. Still worthwhile, albeit a little expensive for the small value gained.

Second degree, mathematics. Because my company sucks and doesn’t understand that computers and math are the same thing. Whatever, I’m not paying for it let’s do it, sister school to my old alma mater so relatively similar to what I’m expecting anyways. Didn’t learn one thing new. No requirements for papers or anything beyond elementary school tier multiple choice work packets. No missed marks for poor syntax or grammar - because math isn’t a language so kids don’t need to be formal about it apparently. The only reason I passed is because I already knew the material. And considering the other students in my program, zero amount of learning occured. 2/10 literally the most pay 2 win experience I’ve ever taken part of or seen, and I played a mobile gatcha for two years. Two points because you do still factually win somewhat after paying, but we’re very quickly approaching the point where one can’t even do that.

Tl;Dr - after getting two degrees and seeing the situation firsthand twice now, I can confidently say that no degree from any modern US university is a valid proof of knowledge and skill. Every single one of them is either pay2win garbage, or nepobaby pay2win garbage. And I was tricked into getting two of them! I didn’t even pay for the second one, and it was still a massive scam!