Elon Musk has stirred debate by claiming that traditional colleges have become more about social experiences and demonstrating discipline than actual education. He argues that degrees are no longer the primary gateway to knowledge, stating, “I think colleges are basically for fun and to prove you can do your chores, but they’re not for learning – You don’t need college to learn stuff – You can learn anything you want for free.” Musk suggests that the modern digital landscape has democratized information entirely.
Musk challenges the value of college…believes a combination of a smartphone, internet access, and AI tools provides a more efficient path to mastery than a four-year institutionpic.twitter.com/ZNIL2VHg94
— Rifnote (@viarifnote) February 15, 2026