So student loan debt in the United States is now approaching a trillion dollars, five times what it was five years ago. Seth Godin asks whether degrees from elite institutions are actually worth their drastically higher price tags.

What would happen if people spent it building up a work history instead? On becoming smarter, more flexible, more self-sufficient and yes, able to take more risk because they owe less money…

There’s no doubt that we need smarter and more motivated people in our organizations. I’m not sure we need them to be better labeled or more accredited.