Elon Musk on Why We Don’t Need Colleges: ‘Learn Anything You Want for Free’

In this RedState article, Ward Clark argues that Elon Musk’s skepticism toward higher education reflects a growing reality: access to knowledge is no longer controlled by universities.

• Musk’s central point is that people no longer need college to learn because nearly anything can be studied online for free.
• The article frames universities as having lost their historic monopoly on access to knowledge.
• Clark acknowledges that self-education requires discipline, and that colleges can still provide structure for students who need it.
• The bigger question raised is whether expensive institutions should still be necessary when information is freely available.
• Clark argues that higher education has become increasingly broken, expensive, and less focused on producing marketable skills.
• The piece contrasts Musk’s view with former Tesla executive Valerie Capers Workman, who recently defended the value of a college education.
• Clark is skeptical of that defense, suggesting many modern degrees do little to prepare students for useful work.
• The article concludes that in an age of abundant free information, employers may be better served by those motivated enough to learn independently.

Read the full story: https://redstate.com/wardclark/2026/05/23/elon-musk-on-why-we-dont-need-colleges-learn-anything-you-want-for-free-n2202631