Is college education worth it?

You don’t need a degree to get to the top

Question: Is college education worth it?
Position‹3 of 3: No, college education isn't worth it
Argument1 of 4›: You don’t need a degree to get to the top

Many people get to the pinnacle of their industries without ever setting foot in a university classroom.

The argument

Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin, Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, and Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, all got to the pinnacle of success without a college degree. They demonstrate that college degrees are not necessary for success and hard work, determination, and natural intelligence are more than adequate substitutes for attending university.

Context

Plenty of successful people get to where they are without a degree. If university degrees aren't essential, why pay the money?

Premises

[P1]Richard Branson, Bill Gates, and Steve Jobs all reached the pinnacle of success without a college degree. [P2] Their success shows that hard work, determination, and natural intelligence can substitute for a university education. [C] Therefore, a college degree is not necessary for success, and college is not worth it.

Counter-arguments

For every Richard Branson, there are thousands that are just as capable, just as intelligent, and just as hard-working that never rose to the top because they didn’t get lucky. While university isn’t necessary for entrepreneurial or business success, it definitely helps. Going to university significantly increases the possibility of career and financial success by exposing you to a successful, diverse population allowing you to build relationships with like-minded people that will contribute to your intellectual and creative development.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P3] Universities are not essential for success, but they increase the likelihood of success.