I disagree with idea that the original purpose of an education at an American elite university was a life where you wouldn’t work. The majority of the ivies were founded to train Puritan and Congregational ministers- so actually began with a truly “vocational” purpose. William and Mary in the south was the 1st founded for “the elite”. (also the only college in the south for most of the colonial era). I would argue purpose of elite liberal arts education has always been to help develop a “well rounded” individual … The whole idea of a “life of leisure” (at least for men- cult of domesticity aside- which is why a college education for women was very rare until about 100 years ago) is a very modern concept. For most of our history the “Protestant work ethic” (another legacy of the puritans) has been too much a part of the American character- especially in the northeast- home of the majority of elite colleges.