What is college for?

1. . A university is an institution that provides a degree, which is a credential or screening device for the economy and for society? Or
2. . A university is an institution in which people acquire the knowledge they need for a particular job? Or
3. . A university is an institution in which people acquire the knowledge they need to be a citizen? Or
4. . A university is an experience where you acquire a capacity to be a lifelong learner (because most of the knowledge you acquire will be obsolete within a few years and the jobs of tomorrow will not be the jobs of today)? Or
5. . Something else?
   

All are important but lifelong learner is new and maybe the most important