The problem with degrees is that the degrees are awarded by the same people who provide the tuition. A more obvious conflict of interest would be hard to find.

The result is a whole stack of hoops to jump through combined with a very low standard of education. (Ever noticed "academics" who use a lot of words uniquely defined for their courses and other buzzwords, but actually write very poor English?)

If assessment for degrees was separated from the sale of tuition, the cost of getting a degree would fall through the floor. Also, (predominantly) men who have skills equivalent to degree studies (like computer experts) would be able to obtain qualifications on the basis of assessment rather than on the basis of being enrolled at college for minimum periods of time.

One of the reasons more degrees are being sold (and I do regard the matter as being primarily one of selling) to women is that the current system is not based on merit, it is based on conformity to arbitrary standards. This would not be possible if assessment was anonymous (candidates unknown to those doing the assessment) with standards explicitly stated.