The Case against Education: Why the Education System Is a Waste of Time and Money

by Bryan Caplan

Tiger Moms and Dragon Dads strive to place their kids in “top schools.” How much does your alma mater’s rank matter? Research is oddly mixed.75 The consensus point: where you study is less important than what you study. As some early researchers said, “While sending your child to Harvard appears to be a good investment, sending him to your local state university to major in Engineering, to take lots of math, and preferably to attain a high GPA, is an even better investment.”

Higher education is a good deal for Excellent Students even if they despise school. For Good Students, though, deep-seated hostility makes higher education a close call. The flip side: College is a so-so deal for Fair Students who truly love school. Otherwise, higher education for Fair and Poor Students is a hail-Mary pass. Unless they get lucky, they can better prepare for their future by getting a job and saving money. The master’s degree, finally, is an okay deal for Excellent Students who adore school. Everyone else, beware.