> Isn't that like arguing that you can pick up programming knowledge on internet discussion boards cheaper than a degree program? Nah, it's more arguing that y

> Isn't that like arguing that you can pick up programming knowledge on internet discussion boards cheaper than a degree program? Nah, it's more arguing that you'd be better off learning by contributing to Open Source - then you'd get lessons and contacts for free instead of paying a lot of money to get. > The reasonable component in the price of higher education is about the quality of the interpretation and dialogue between yourself, the professor and the other students. $150 per class is a lot man, you can't just brush that aside. You can live on $150 for a whole week if you're frugal and live with roommates. And that's just one class. A day with four classes = $600 you're now in debt. That's a month of rent and cooked food if you're willing to slum it. Work on OSS, freelance, connect with people from the community - I say a month's worth of "living time" is worth a hell of a lot more than four classes.