Will AI Make College Unnecessary?

A parent reflects on whether saving for college is wise given AI's potential to disrupt higher education. The author notes that over 25% of US college students consider tuition a poor investment, and 40% of graduates aged 22-27 hold jobs not requiring a degree. Pew finds 70% of Americans think higher education is heading in the wrong direction. While some like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman suggest his own child might skip college, most experts predict the system will endure due to its credentialing function. Economist Bryan Caplan argues college primarily signals employability rather than teaching skills. The author observes that public trust in higher education has declined sharply: in 2013, 74% of 18-34-year-olds said college was very important; by 2025, only 35% did. AI may accelerate this trend, potentially leading to a winner-takes-all scenario where elite schools survive while others close.