The thing about some of these institutions you've named is that they make it possible for a student who has been working to continue to work, focus on some sort of degree program, and finish without letting his family starve, rather than the quality of education obtained there on average. I've seen some really bright people come out of those schools, but I'm not persuaded their quality reflects the quality of those institutions.

I think this is it: someone that, whithout a degree, is a good engineer, get refused a job by one of those companies that read diplomas rateher then resumes. They then get a degree from one of those places which does not makes them any better but makes them employable but the afrementioned companies.

Erik