Why Did Enlisted Marines Often Have Degrees In World War Two.?

My father was a Chief Technician in the Australian Air Force - he was a qualified Electrical Engineer who in civilian life worked on the high tension transmission wires from power stations, but after a stint on Kokoda found himself on a place called Horn Island. Now having a degree he could have become an officer, but he thought that was stupid because then you were mostly a manager, and I think as a Chief Technician he actually earned more than junior officers. I have no idea what the equivalent is in the US Air Force - maybe Technical Sergeant. BTW its not a level in the current Australian Air Force. Anyway he often dealt with US soldiers, many of which were Marines. According to Dad Australian solders in general were not that positive towards your average American soldier for various reasons that culminated in the infamous battle of Brisbane - but that is another story. However Marines were a different matter - dad at least held them in the highest regard. One thing that really stood out for him was nearly every enlisted Marine he met seemed to have a degree. So much so he thought that might be a requirement to be a Marine and the reason they seemed a cut above. I now know it is not true you need a degree to be an enlisted Marine, so that leaves the question of exactly what is going on. Is this a normal thing for a Marine or, is it something along the lines of you got deferment while finishing your degree during WW2.