The debate over whether college is a scam has become more prominent in recent years, especially with rising student debt and the introduction of Biden's student loan forgiveness plan. Critics of the plan argue that it doesn’t address the root problem: the continually increasing cost of higher education. As long as universities can keep raising tuition without accountability, they say, canceling student debt will only further fuel the cycle.

The Rising Cost of Higher Education
One of the biggest issues critics point to is the unchecked rise in tuition. By providing easy access to federally backed student loans, the government has, in effect, allowed colleges to charge whatever they want. There is no incentive for universities to keep costs down because, no matter how high tuition climbs, students will still take out loans to cover it. The fear is that forgiving student debt will only encourage schools to raise tuition even more, knowing that the government may step in again to alleviate the financial burden on students.

This system, critics argue, removes personal responsibility from the equation. If loans are easily forgiven, what’s to stop students from borrowing excessively, knowing that they might not have to pay it back? Some even go so far as to suggest that this could eventually lead to the end of the student loan system altogether.

Charlie Kirk's Take on College
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk addresses these concerns in his book The College Scam: How America’s Universities Are Bankrupting and Brainwashing Away the Future of America’s Youth. Kirk, who never attended college himself, has become a leading voice in questioning the value of traditional higher education. He argues that for most students, college is not worth the financial investment. Instead, only those pursuing careers in fields like medicine, law, or engineering should go to college. For everyone else, he says, technical training or entering the workforce directly is a more practical and financially sound option.

Kirk believes that the student loan system has not only driven up the cost of education but also created a bloated academic administration. Colleges no longer have to worry about whether students can afford their tuition, which has led to a reduction in accountability and an increase in spending on non-educational amenities.

Are Colleges Hedge Funds?
Kirk paints a picture of universities as institutions more concerned with their bottom line than with educating students. Many schools, particularly elite universities, have enormous endowments—Harvard's, for example, was over $41 billion in 2020—yet they continue to raise tuition year after year. Kirk refers to these universities as "schools with hedge funds attached" and questions whether students should continue to impoverish themselves to fund what he calls a corrupt system.

Does College Still Offer Value?
For many students, the idea that college is a scam is rooted in the notion that it no longer provides the same value it once did. While college was once seen as a guaranteed path to a good-paying career, the reality today is much murkier. A significant number of students leave college with degrees that don’t translate into job opportunities, and the financial burden of student loans often outweighs the benefits of higher education.

According to Kirk, four in ten college dropouts had a GPA of 3.0 or higher, which suggests that academic performance wasn’t the primary reason they left. Instead, they may have felt that college wasn’t worth the cost. Employers are also beginning to question the value of a degree, especially as higher education becomes more common and less specialized. Many companies now prioritize practical experience and skills over formal education.

The Role of Campus Culture
Another significant issue Kirk addresses is the political atmosphere on college campuses. He argues that universities have become breeding grounds for left-wing ideology, where conservative students are often marginalized or harassed for their beliefs. According to Kirk, many campuses promote "wokeism"—a term often used to describe the hyper-focus on social justice issues—that stifles free speech and encourages conformity to a particular political agenda.

For conservative parents and students, this presents a dilemma. Do they risk entering a college environment where their values will be challenged or, as Kirk suggests, should they skip college altogether and pursue alternatives?

Alternatives to College
Kirk offers several solutions for those questioning the value of a college education. For many students, vocational training or entering the workforce directly can be a more efficient and cost-effective path to success. He also argues that society needs to break the stigma around not having a degree. Many successful entrepreneurs, Kirk points out, never went to or completed college.

Furthermore, Kirk believes that donors should stop contributing to universities and instead focus on funding charities or other initiatives that can have a direct impact on society. He also calls for an end to federal backing of student loans, arguing that it only perpetuates the cycle of rising tuition and student debt.

Conclusion: Is College Really a Scam?
The question of whether college is a scam is ultimately a personal one, and it depends largely on a student's goals and financial situation. For those pursuing highly specialized careers, college may still be worth the investment. But for many others, the costs of higher education, combined with uncertain job prospects and the growing student debt crisis, make it a much riskier endeavor than it used to be.

Kirk's critique of the current system resonates with a growing number of Americans who feel that college is no longer the guaranteed path to success it once was. As the debate continues, more and more students and families are questioning whether college is truly worth the price—or if it's just an expensive scam.