Employers can only require those degrees because lots of people have them. Lots of people have them because we subsidize them. If we didn't, they would hire people without them. If you have any respect for employer posted job requirements you probably haven't read the listed requirements for the job you have now. If SWE doesn't actually require a degree, and I know it doesn't because I don't have one, then neither do 95% of jobs out there.
> If SWE doesn't actually require a degree, and I know it doesn't because I don't have one
There's a lot embedded in here that for political reasons I'm not going to get into.
Back on the subject, I will just saw the GA university system regents disagree with you about the purpose of the GA university system. Successive state legislatures and governors have broadly supported, over many decades, their view of the purpose of the system.