@ Spartan: True about one’s effort.
I have a dear cousin who just recently graduated from Michigan State and found a job after graduation at a Top 100 company. He majored in civil engineering with plans to leave within a couple of years to pursue a career in Silicon Valley where his brother works for Yahoo! (graduate of U of M in philosophy). I have other stories of family members and friends who have graduated from state universities and have found success in their careers, or went on to attain an advance degree from respected institutions. I have friends who attended small private institutions, only recognized within its region which are definitely non-elite and not ranked, that have careers in their major as well.
Of course there are stories of people who have washed out and are trying to figure out their lives, but that’s pretty much a given almost anywhere, but more at state universities.