Do 4-year degrees still make sense 10 years from now?
I have had this debate with friends a lot over the last year. Some think nothing changes. Some think everything changes.
My view: the future of degrees could be "K-shaped".
On one side, degrees from top schools may become even more valuable because:
- signaling still matters
- elite peer groups still matter
- demand may rise for people who can outperform, direct, and collaborate with AI well
On the other side, many average colleges may face real pressure from AI, changing employer expectations, and alternative paths to skills.
For a lot of people, especially those without financial cushion, the more compelling path may increasingly be:
- micro-credentials
- internships + apprenticeships
- portfolios of real work
- skill stacks that lead more directly to income
A few things feel increasingly likely:
- learning becomes lifelong
- AI enables hyper-personalized education
- the value of many degrees as just a piece of paper declines
- programs that build durable, real-world skills matter more
- great teachers become more digital and more global
One thing that may change more slowly: the belief, especially in India, that college is automatically the "right" thing to do simply because it was the right thing 20 years ago.
Curious what you think: Will 4-year degrees become more valuable, less valuable, or just split more sharply by institution and outcomes?
PS: Education is an area I care deeply about. I believe both Radish.build and QuantYog can have a meaningful positive impact over the decades ahead.