Recently by Thomas E. Woods, Jr.: Not All u2018End the Fed' People Quite GetIt
Id like to quote this whole article from Yahoo News, and so I highly recommend you read it, but I especially like this passage, which considers how people might acquire knowledge in a world without the presumption that everyone should go to college. Why, wouldnt we all be ignorant? (Quite unlike the situation that prevails today, of course.)
In young adulthood, youd make friends, acquaintances and misspent-youth memories in the workplace, online and in service to community, cause and country. Thats where youd also acquire polish, a work ethic and a conscience.
Youd bring glory or ignominy to your family the old-fashioned way: through your contributions to society and your interactions with your fellows. The glory/ignominy die would not be cast when you were 17, by a letter of admission or rejection. Imagine.
Youd read, do problem sets and hear lectures as needed or desired in reading groups, at workshops, on the road, at community programs, at corporate programs, at museums and libraries and above all on the Internet. Youd study not to get a credential; youd study to improve your mind or acquire a skill, the same reason you go to karate, yoga or mandolin class.
If you happened to be the rare type who loves nothing more than to study liberal arts if you were scholarly and somewhat monastic by nature you might raise the money and enroll in an affordable college with some like-minded students and a good library.
Read How to Burst the College Bubble.