In a recent interview with comedian Theo Von on his podcast, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg offered a blunt critique of the modern college system, questioning its relevance in preparing young people for today’s evolving job market. The remarks add to a growing chorus of skepticism from tech industry leaders about the role and value of higher education in an increasingly skills-driven economy.

"I'm not sure that college is preparing people for the jobs that they need to have," Zuckerberg said when asked whether he believes college is still necessary in today’s world. "There's a big issue on that, and all the student debt issues are really big issues. The fact that college is so expensive for so many people." He did offer the idea that college has its place as a means of living on one's own, away from one's parents, while they learn to be an adult. However, the CEO added that the massive debt people often graduate with doesn’t make sense for many. 

Zuckerberg, who famously dropped out of Harvard to build what would become Facebook, now helms Meta Platforms (META), one of the most influential tech companies in the world. His skepticism is consistent with a broader ideology seen among Silicon Valley founders — one that prizes real-world experience, iterative learning, and self-direction over formal credentials. The sentiment isn’t new, but it resonates louder at a time when student debt is a national crisis and college costs continue to climb.

"If it’s not preparing you [for] the jobs that you need and you’re kind of starting off in this big hole, then that’s not good," Zuckerberg continued. "I think that there’s going to have to be a reckoning."

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A Familiar Critique, Now from the Top

Zuckerberg’s comments echo similar views from other tech figures like Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk and Palantir (PLTR) co-founder Peter Thiel. Thiel, in particular, has criticized universities for being bloated and outdated, going so far as to offer young people money to skip college and build startups instead. While Zuckerberg hasn’t advocated for abandoning higher education entirely, his remarks reinforce the idea that colleges are struggling to keep pace with the labor demands of today’s tech-driven world.

This critique is especially relevant in areas like artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and software engineering — fields where practical skills, online certifications, or coding boot camps often matter more to employers than a four-year degree.

Meta’s Shifting Focus and Market Performance

Zuckerberg’s comments arrive amid significant shifts within Meta. After a turbulent 2022 that saw stock prices plummet due to costly investments in the metaverse, the company rebounded in 2023 and 2024 with a sharper focus on AI and operational efficiency.

Meta’s LLaMA (Large Language Model Meta AI) initiative has drawn attention as a key pillar of the company’s future plans, positioning it to compete with AI leaders like OpenAI, Google (GOOG)(GOOGL), and Anthropic. In tandem with these efforts, Meta also underwent several rounds of layoffs and restructured internal teams to streamline costs — moves that ultimately helped restore investor confidence.

As of Q2 2025, Meta stock has regained substantial value, buoyed by strong ad revenue, expanding AI integrations across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, and ongoing development in the mixed-reality space. The stock is sitting just 14% off its highs as investors weigh the overall impact of tariffs and the ongoing trade war’s impact on major tech names. 

A Broader Conversation

Zuckerberg’s interview may not shift education policy, but it underscores a growing disconnect between academic institutions and the needs of the modern workforce. With student loan debt exceeding $1.7 trillion and college tuition outpacing inflation, more Americans — especially those in tech and entrepreneurial fields — are reconsidering the traditional education path.

His warning of a potential “reckoning” suggests that public discourse around college reform is far from over. Whether it results in structural changes to the U.S. education system or a continued rise in alternative learning pathways, one thing is clear: when one of the most powerful voices in tech raises red flags, the ripple effects are likely to follow.