Is college worth it anymore?

Daily Debate #565: "Is college worth it anymore?". You are arguing AGAINST the motion. Your opponent: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

I don't know

Look, "I don't know" means you're not convinced college is worth it, right? So let me hit you with this: college graduates earn a million dollars more over their lifetime. That's not nothing. What would actually convince you it's worth the cost?

I don't know

Okay, so you're genuinely undecided. Here's the reality: college isn't just about money—it's about access. Without a degree, doors close. With one, they open. What specific concern is actually holding you back?

Look, that "doors open" line assumes the doors are worth walking through. Four years and $100k later, I'm competing with every other degree-holder for the same jobs. The real advantage went to my parents' generation. Now it's just debt and a crowded field. That's not access, that's a trap.

You're describing a real problem—credential inflation—but you're missing why it happened. Employers didn't suddenly stop valuing degrees. They started *requiring* them because everyone got one. So skipping college doesn't liberate you from the trap, it locks you out of it entirely. You can't outrun the herd by refusing to run. What's your actual alternative that beats a degree?