For any purchase I like to ask people, <i>&quot;Is this an investment, or is it a hobby?&quot;</i>. It applies to anything from houses (usually a decent investment) to cars (usually a poor investment but often needed as part of an investment in a career to commute), and even a college education.<p>If you&#x27;re independently wealthy [1] or your family will take care of you, viewing college expenses as an enrichment experience (akin to a trip to Europe) is just fine. If you see it as an investment with future earning returns, then its cost efficacy must be examined rigorously.<p>[1] I know a HS dropout programmer (a BSD guy) who&#x27;s now independently wealthy and studying math in France as a hobby.