Are college degrees overrated?

Question

Rich Dad · Accepted Answer

If college were a stock, most people are buying it at retail and selling their freedom at wholesale.
Are degrees overrated? For entrepreneurs and wealth-builders — often, yes. A degree is not an asset; it's a receipt. It only becomes valuable if it produces cash flow greater than its cost. If you're going into medicine, law, or engineering, fine — it's a required entry ticket. But if you're getting a generic degree with no clear economic edge, you're paying premium prices for average outcomes.
The world pays for skills, ownership, and results — not diplomas. I’d rather see you master sales, coding, AI, investing, or build a business by 25 than collect framed paper while stacking debt. Education is critical. Institutional education? Optional. Learn aggressively — but buy cash-flowing assets before you buy credentials.

Poor Dad · Answer

Be careful — dismissing college too quickly can close doors you didn’t even know existed.
A degree is still one of the most reliable paths to stable income and long-term security. Employers use it as a filter. It signals discipline, commitment, and baseline competence. Without it, you may constantly need to prove yourself the hard way. Not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur, and most businesses fail. A steady career with benefits, healthcare, and a pension has real value.
Yes, tuition is expensive. That’s why you should choose wisely — practical majors, affordable schools, minimal debt. College isn’t overrated if you use it strategically. It’s overrated when people drift through it without a plan. Stability first, ambition second.

Are college degrees overrated?

Rich Dad Says

Poor Dad Says

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