Tech CEOs say skip college as Virginia explores shorter degrees

• Critics warn those CEO-backed programs may train young people for a particular role or company without setting them up for success elsewhere.
• These programs are also highly selective, and often attract students who were likely to succeed regardless.

State of play: Musk, Karp and Thiel have each suggested that four-year degrees are not worth the investment.

• Thiel's Palantir created the Meritocracy Fellowship, which calls for students to "skip the debt" and "skip the indoctrination" in favor of a four-month "Palantir degree."
• The Thiel Fellowship pays people to build projects and startups for two years instead of attending college.

Reality check: Americans are still heading to college after high school in droves, data shows, despite a dip in confidence in higher education.

Meanwhile, Virginia is exploring a three-year bachelor's degree, joining a growing national push to shorten college.

• The pilot program is expected to launch in 2028.