Is College Even Worth It Anymore? The Truth Will Surprise You

Everyone's asking the wrong question about college.

The real question isn't "Is college worth it?" It's "Is $200,000 in debt worth it?" And the answer to that is hell no.

I've watched brilliant students turn down full scholarships at great state schools to attend "dream colleges" that'll bury them in debt for decades. Meanwhile, I've also watched students strategically use college as a launching pad to build million-dollar businesses.

College can be an incredible investment. Student debt is almost always a terrible one.

Here's how smart students are getting the best of both worlds—and why your approach to paying for college matters more than where you go.

The Debt Trap Everyone Falls Into

Let's get the scary numbers out of the way first:

• Average student loan debt hit $39,075 in 2025

• Total cost of college (including opportunity cost) is around $180,000

• Only 52% of college attendees say the financial benefits outweigh costs

• About 25% of college graduates never see positive ROI at all

But here's what those statistics hide: The students drowning in debt made fundamentally different choices than the ones thriving.

The difference isn't intelligence or work ethic. It's strategy.

College Success vs. College Debt: Two Different Games

The College Debt Game:

• Borrow $50,000+ per year for "brand name" schools

• Study majors with poor job prospects because "follow your passion"

• Graduate with no real-world experience or marketable skills

• Spend 20+ years paying off loans

The College Investment Game:

• Choose schools based on ROI, not Instagram aesthetics

• Pick majors that align market demand with personal interests

• Build businesses and gain experience while in school

• Graduate debt-free or with minimal, manageable debt

Guess which game most students are playing?

The Smart Students I Work With

I work with students who treat college strategically, not emotionally. Here's what they do differently:

Sarah turned down NYU's $80,000/year film program for her state school's communications degree. While her classmates were posting artsy campus photos, she was building a YouTube channel about college life. She graduated debt-free with 50K subscribers and immediately launched a coaching business for high school students. First-year revenue: $180,000.

Marcus could have gone to an expensive private school for computer science, but chose a solid state university instead. He used his savings to learn advanced coding bootcamps during summers and built three apps before graduation. Google hired him at $150K starting salary and zero debt.

The expensive school students? Most are still paying off loans and working entry-level jobs.

Why College Is Still Valuable (When Done Right)

Don't get me wrong: I'm not anti-college. I LOVED my experiences at community college and studying abroad. The data shows clear benefits:

• Higher lifetime earnings: $1.2 million more than high school graduates

• Lower unemployment rates: Half as likely to be unemployed

• Network effects: Access to professors, alumni, and ambitious peers

• Skill development: Critical thinking, research, communication

• Credibility: Still matters in many industries

But here's the key: These benefits don't require debt.

The Anti-Debt College Strategy

Smart students follow a simple rule: Never borrow more than your first year's expected salary.

Want to be a teacher starting at $65K? Your total college debt should be under $65K. Want to be an engineer starting at $100K? Keep debt under $100K.

But honestly? Even better strategies exist:

Strategy 1: The State School Power Play

Top state universities often provide better ROI than prestigious private schools. Georgia Tech consistently ranks #1 for ROI, and it costs a fraction of similar private programs.

Strategy 2: The Community College Bridge

Complete general requirements at community college, then transfer. Same degree, 50% less cost. Nobody asks where you took your first two years of classes. I am a testament to this strategy.

Strategy 3: The Scholarship Hunt

There's literally free money sitting unclaimed. I know students who spend more time choosing Netflix shows than researching scholarships. That's backwards.

Strategy 4: The Work-Study Hustle

Use college as your business laboratory. Start your content creation, consulting, or service business while you have low living expenses and flexible schedules.

The Creator Economy + College = Ultimate Combo

Here's where it gets interesting: You don't have to choose between college and entrepreneurship.

The most successful students I work with do both:

• Katie studied marketing while building her TikTok following to 100K+

• David used his business courses to legitimize his dropshipping knowledge, then scaled to $50K/month

• Jessica combined her psychology degree with her Instagram growth to launch a successful life coaching business

They used college to gain credibility and connections while building real businesses on the side. Best of both worlds.

When College Definitely Makes Sense

College is almost always worth it if:

You're in a regulated field: Doctor, lawyer, engineer, teacher and you need the credentials. No way around it.

Someone else is paying: Full scholarships, military benefits, wealthy family? Take it. Free education is always a good ROI.

You have a clear, high-demand path: Nursing, computer science, accounting. Degrees that directly lead to good jobs with reasonable debt-to-income ratios (as long as you like what you will be doing).

You're using it strategically: Treating college as a four-year business incubator while gaining valuable skills and connections.

When College Is a Trap

College becomes a wealth destroyer when:

• You're borrowing more than $50K total

• You're studying something with poor job prospects just because it's "interesting"

• You're going to college because "that's what you're supposed to do"

• You have no plan beyond "get degree, find job"

• You're choosing schools based on campus aesthetics or prestige

The Real Alternative Is Not To Skip College

Most "college vs. entrepreneurship" debates miss the point. The real choice isn't education vs. business. It's:

Smart education decisions vs. emotional education decisions.

Smart students:

• Choose affordable schools with good job placement rates

• Pick majors based on market demand + personal interests

• Start businesses while in college to gain experience and reduce debt

• Graduate with marketable skills and minimal debt

Emotional students:

• Choose schools based on prestige or campus life

• Study "passion" subjects with no job prospects

• Graduate with massive debt and no real-world experience

• Spend decades paying for four years of "finding themselves"

Your Move: The 4-Question Framework

Before making any college decision, ask:

1. What's my total debt load going to be? (Including living expenses and opportunity cost)

2. What's the realistic starting salary in my chosen field? (Not the best case—the average case)

3. Can I start building real-world experience now? (Side businesses, internships, content creation)

4. Am I choosing this path strategically or emotionally? (Honest answer only)

If your debt exceeds your starting salary, you're playing the wrong game.

The Bottom Line

College can be an incredible investment. The connections, skills, and credibility are real. Many of the highest-earning people I know have degrees.

But debt is almost always a terrible investment. It compounds against you, limits your options, and turns college from a launching pad into a ball and chain.

The goal is to be strategic about it.

Choose schools you can afford. Pick majors that lead to jobs or passions you can monetize (you can make a career out of anything today!). Start building businesses and gaining experience immediately. Graduate with minimal debt and maximum opportunity.

The best students don't choose between college and entrepreneurship. They use college to accelerate their entrepreneurial journey.

Ready to build your business while in college? Join my community of student entrepreneurs who are turning their education into acceleration, not debt. We'll show you how to monetize your skills and build multiple revenue streams before you graduate.

Click here to book your free strategy session and learn how to graduate with a degree AND a profitable business.