[GratefulCitizen]

Part of the problem with the whole college issue is the deception that a higher salary leads to wealth.
Not necessarily.

Besides student debt, there are other things to consider:
What is the cost of living/commuting/ancillary costs where you have to work?
How much of your time is actually required?
Are you "owned" by a salary arrangement? (the proper term for salary is "overtime exempt")
Does the lack of spare time cause you to substitute money where you could spend time?
Does the workload have a negative effect on your health? (a big deferred cost)
Does the lack of spare time prevent you from working a second job?
Will your career pressure you to pursue an expensive lifestyle?
And the big one -- make more, get taxed more.

It doesn't matter how much you make.
What matters is how much you keep.

Not running at your financial redline allows you to buy things when they're cheap.
Being at a financial redline (perhaps caused by student debt and listed questions) causes you to miss opportunities, costing you yet more.

Because of taxation, money not spent is better than money earned.
All the focus is on income rather than expenses.

Income is not that same thing as accumulating capital.