One important function of Higher Education (High School and College) is to develop a rich store of Concepts.
Here in lies the importance of higher eduction, particularly general education. It is our nature that we will develop concepts and they will effect how we see the world.
Hence, it becomes critical that we help each person to acquire the most complete and finely developed system of concepts possible. This is the goal of higher education, and particularly General Education.
The more concepts we have about the world, the more in depth we will see the world. After you have been to college and meet someone who never got through high school, (or majored in Tropical Agriculture) you will sense a gap in your conversation with that person.
Typically, (unless they are self taught and avid readers) they will see world issues in dichotomous degrees of black or white.