Stossel
The College Scam
S6 E20 May 28, 2015 60m TV-PG
MY TAKE: Congratulations Class of 2015! You probably wasted up to $200,000.
IS COLLEGE NECESSARY? People talk about the importance of college. Politicians encourage people to get a college education. President Obama proposed making community college "free". Sen. Bernie Sanders wants to make tuition at four-year public colleges and universities "free"! But "free" just means taxpayers pay. Why should they? Should everyone go to college? No! For a lot of students, college is a scam.
ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5th GRADER? Do college students get their money's worth? I quiz recent graduates of expensive, top level colleges to see if they answer questions that are part of today's 5th grade curriculum.
Here's one question a lot of people get wrong:
During which war did Francis Scott Key write The Star Spangled Banner?
a. Revolutionary War
b. Civil War
c. War of 1812
d. World War I
Most people assume the answer is A. But it's actually C.
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESSES: I weigh in on the best and worst commencement addresses of 2015.
THE COLLEGE ALTERNATIVE: Peter Thiel pays people NOT to go to college, to start a business instead.
GOVERNMENT LOAN SCAM: Government's student aid has created a tuition bubble. The price goes up because government pays. Some colleges spend that money on things like rock walls, and a "Day Spa."
IS COLLEGE NECESSARY? People talk about the importance of college. Politicians encourage people to get a college education. President Obama proposed making community college "free". Sen. Bernie Sanders wants to make tuition at four-year public colleges and universities "free"! But "free" just means taxpayers pay. Why should they? Should everyone go to college? No! For a lot of students, college is a scam.
ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5th GRADER? Do college students get their money's worth? I quiz recent graduates of expensive, top level colleges to see if they answer questions that are part of today's 5th grade curriculum.
Here's one question a lot of people get wrong:
During which war did Francis Scott Key write The Star Spangled Banner?
a. Revolutionary War
b. Civil War
c. War of 1812
d. World War I
Most people assume the answer is A. But it's actually C.
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESSES: I weigh in on the best and worst commencement addresses of 2015.
THE COLLEGE ALTERNATIVE: Peter Thiel pays people NOT to go to college, to start a business instead.
GOVERNMENT LOAN SCAM: Government's student aid has created a tuition bubble. The price goes up because government pays. Some colleges spend that money on things like rock walls, and a "Day Spa."
Where to Watch The College Scam