--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The obsessive focus on a college degree…" description: "\"The obsessive focus on a college degree has served neither taxpayers nor students well. Only 35 percent of students starting a four-year degree program..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/alex-tabarrok-17566_college_the-obsessive-focus-on-a-college-degree_221794.png" --- # The obsessive focus on a college degree has served neither… ![“The obsessive focus on a college degree has served neither taxpayers nor students well. Only 35 percent of students starting a four-year degree program will graduate within four years, and less than 60 percent will graduate within six years. Students who haven't graduated within six years probably…” quote by Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/alex-tabarrok-17566_college_the-obsessive-focus-on-a-college-degree_221794.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/alex-tabarrok-17566_college_the-obsessive-focus-on-a-college-degree_221794.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/alex-tabarrok-17566_college_the-obsessive-focus-on-a-college-degree_221794.png) > “The obsessive focus on a college degree has served neither taxpayers nor students well. Only 35 percent of students starting a four-year degree program will graduate within four years, and less than 60 percent will graduate within six years. Students who haven't graduated within six years probably never will.” [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Overemphasis on a four‑year degree creates waste for taxpayers and students, as many never finish on time. **In simple terms:** College degrees often cost more than they deliver. Key Takeaway Reevaluate the value of a degree. Themes education policy economics efficiency Mood critical analytical Type policy commentary When to use this quote - career planning - student loan decisions - government budgeting - higher‑education reform Key Concepts human capital opportunity cost public finance Questions to Reflect On - What would a more flexible education system look like? - How can students balance learning with financial reality? A Different Perspective Alternative pathways like apprenticeships may be undervalued. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [College degree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-degree/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Taxpayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxpayers/) ## Related quotes > [All the kids that I grew up with, in an almost idyllic environment - I've got to tell you, it was so wonderful -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/all-the-kids-that-i-grew-up-with-in-an-almost-idyllic-environment-i/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [I went to NYU for a year and a half, and I graduated from there and then years later went to Columbia for graduate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-holofcener/i-went-to-nyu-for-a-year-and-a-half-and-i-graduated-from-there-and/) [Nicole Holofcener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-holofcener/) > [My mother fiercely valued education. 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McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [We can't make a kid graduate. We're trying to get a kid graduated in four years, and yet play on the road weeknights, miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/we-can-t-make-a-kid-graduate-we-re-trying-to-get-a-kid-graduated-in/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [And then I graduate two years later, in 1998, with my class. And, since then I've been here in Houston for training basically. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-guidoni/and-then-i-graduate-two-years-later-in-1998-with-my-class-and-since/) [Umberto Guidoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-guidoni/) > [Sandy Koufax went to the same school as me. I graduated two years ahead of Sandy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-king/sandy-koufax-went-to-the-same-school-as-me-i-graduated-two-years/) [Larry King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-king/) > [At first, after my freshman year, it was kind of a joke, going into my sophomore year like, 'Hey, I wanna graduate in three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deshaun-watson/at-first-after-my-freshman-year-it-was-kind-of-a-joke-going-into-my/) [Deshaun Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deshaun-watson/) > [I went to college in Ohio, at Ohio University, and I graduated two years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-perabo/i-went-to-college-in-ohio-at-ohio-university-and-i-graduated-two/) [Piper Perabo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-perabo/) > [To be totally candid, it was really born out of a panic attack the summer between my sophomore and junior years, when I realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/to-be-totally-candid-it-was-really-born-out-of-a-panic-attack-the/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [Allow yourself to graduate, every five years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-guisewite/allow-yourself-to-graduate-every-five-years/) [Cathy Guisewite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-guisewite/) > [I wouldn't wish any specific thing for any specific person - it's none of my business. But the idea that a four-year degree is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/i-wouldn-t-wish-any-specific-thing-for-any-specific-person-it-s-none/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [Most green-collar jobs are middle-skill jobs. That means they require more education that a high-school diploma, but less than a four-year degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/most-green-collar-jobs-are-middle-skill-jobs-that-means-they-require/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) ## More by Alex Tabarrok > [A lot of people say that India has been held back by its democracy. 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