But as a college education became more and more standardized through the ’80s and ’90s, employers needed new means of differentiation and distinction. In practice, this means even more reliance on the perceived prestige of a college—but also a newfound demand for graduate degrees. It’s a classic case of a time-worn phenomenon: Once an elite experience is opened to many, it’s no longer elite, and another cordoned area is created to redraw the lines of distinction.
