Tesla CEO Elon Musk questions college education system, says practical skills more valuable than college degrees

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, who boasts a net worth of $242 billion, recently said that "college is overrated." He made this statement while sharing a video of himself on X, where he expressed his views on the declining value of traditional education.

The video comes from his first solo event supporting Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential campaign held on Oct 17, which was aimed at encouraging voters in the Philadelphia suburbs to register and vote early.

During the event, Musk noted that many individuals spend years in college, accumulating debt without acquiring practical skills.

"I think the value of a college education is somewhat overrated. Too many people spend four years, rack up significant debt, and often don't come away with useful skills they can apply afterward.”

While Musk has degrees in Physics and Economics, he strongly thinks that a four-year degree is not necessary for success.

He emphasized the value of practical skills, recognizing that hands-on vocations such as electricians, plumbers, and carpenters are far more important than some academic degrees.

"I have a lot of respect for people who work with their hands, and we need electricians, plumbers, and carpenters, and that's a lot more important than having incremental political science majors," he said.

"I think we should not have this idea that in order to be successful, you need a four-year college degree. That is simply not true," he added.

This is not the first time Musk has expressed skepticism toward traditional education. In 2019, he said that a college degree was not essential to work for Tesla, his car and energy company.

In fact, Musk tweeted, "You don't need a college degree to work at Tesla."

At the Satellite 2020 conference, Musk went on to say, "You don't need education to understand stuff. Everything is basically free."

He recognized that, while college is necessary for socialization, it is not the only way to learn.

"I think colleges are basically for fun and to prove you can do your chores. But they’re not for learning," he said.

Musk isn't the only tech giant who questions the value of a college education. In an interview with musician Dua Lipa, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that a degree is not essential to working at the company.

"We hire people from all walks of life," Cook remarked, emphasizing that the organization prioritizes talents and experience over formal schooling.

He emphasized that many Apple employees have unusual educational backgrounds, including those who code without a formal degree.

Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, also shared his thoughts on this matter, pointing out that in India, cultural norms frequently place a higher value on education than on real-world experience.

He clarified that had he persisted in his academic endeavors, he most likely would have obtained a PhD and made his parents pleased, but he would have missed out on practical chances.

Rather, his choice to seek real-world experience brought him to the top of one of the biggest corporations in the world: Google.