Well, yummyfajitas did say, &quot;close to $0&quot;, not free. And I think you are forgetting about libraries. They offer Internet access and they are far cheaper than colleges.<p>Edit: In 2011, the cost for all libraries in the US was $11.5 billion.[1] In the same year, $483 billion was spent in the US on college education.[2] That&#x27;s a 42x difference. Granted, the uses and use-cases are different. But anyone who can go to college can, if they have the motivation, get the same knowledge for far cheaper.<p>Of course (excepting a few unusual disciplines like programming), credentials help one&#x27;s career more than knowledge.<p>1. <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.imls.gov&#x2F;assets&#x2F;1&#x2F;AssetManager&#x2F;FY2012%20PLS_Tables_21_thru_31A.pdf" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.imls.gov&#x2F;assets&#x2F;1&#x2F;AssetManager&#x2F;FY2012%20PLS_Tabl...</a><p>2. <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;nces.ed.gov&#x2F;programs&#x2F;digest&#x2F;d12&#x2F;tables&#x2F;dt12_029.asp" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;nces.ed.gov&#x2F;programs&#x2F;digest&#x2F;d12&#x2F;tables&#x2F;dt12_029.asp</a>