Higher education is one of the next bubbles to pop. Prices have outpaced inflation for years and while the net present value of a college education is still positive, there is a lot more leverage and it depends upon the choice of area to study. Nothing can go on forever.
There is a separating equilibrium where top colleges are doing well. Mediocre and even well thought of colleges are experiencing enrollment declines. To see where higher education is going, look at the recent George Washington announced shrinkage. Rather than dumb down admissions in the face of declining demand, it is taking the incredibly difficult step to reduce enrollment and maintain quality. It seems to me they are getting ahead of an issue that will effect even a top 50 liberal arts college like GW.
As a former academic, I would also not recommend you become a professor unless you are very, very smart and publishing novel research comes easy. While the victim studies fields seem to require idealogical purity, most hard fields (including economics require) real talent. I am a Ph.D., a NSF award winner and was one of the top students in my undergraduate public Ivy University (UNC) with tons of awards-I was shocked at the level of talent in my field and if I had to do it over again, there are really only 4 or 5 Ph.D. programs worth attending, not the 10th best like I attended. Law school economics apply here.
No sour grapes here either. The math and stats I learned in my degree allow me to make a very good living, one I could not earn without years of training. I got paid to leave academics.
Colleges are also becoming increasingly politically correct and if you have a real passion for making students better rather than enabling their victimhood, you will run into problems.
Add to this that despite our supposed state of white supremacy, many bright foreign nationals desire to live here and one of the few clean ways is to get an academic position. Academics is vastly oversupplied and colleges exploit it all day long as 75% of teaching is done by low paid adjuncts. For a group who bleats about income inequality, they create it better than anyone.
Become a high school teacher. The problem is getting on with a school district where parents still give a crap about their kids. Become a track coach who doesn't overtrain kids and teaches them hard lessons about winning and losing. This is a no brainer.
In light of recent developments and the dynamics of education, recommendations for future professionals may be more relevant. It is important to evaluate your interests and passions, and look for opportunities that match individual abilities and goals. You can be useful not only in the classroom. My father was a high school teacher and additionally found his calling in writing essays. If this topic is close to you and you would like to participate in a project that helps students, learn useful tips and tricks, you can get info here.