Being college educated doesn’t mean you are smarter than someone who isn’t. Agree or disagree?

Question

I have noticed some people equate being further educated with being smart. “I would never want the father of my kids to be uneducated.” College educated does NOT mean more intelligent. I have found that the only thing being college educated actually means is that you are more likely to align with the establishment.

contentious · Accepted Answer

Your education level is not equivalent to your IQ. Education is about gaining credentials for specific fields which indicate that you are knowledgeable about a certain topic which is of interest to potential employers. Intelligent people may or may not want to work for others, it all depends on their personal goals. If you are intelligent but born into less than ideal financial circumstances, then you will likely pursue a higher education in fields that can yield a high income. If you can figure out how to make money out of nothing or you come from money and your family is willing to bankroll your pursuit, then education is relatively worthless, given that you can read all the books people read in college for free in your leisure time and you don't need to interview with anyone and impress them with your credentials. In that case the only reason to attend college would be to gain credentials for specific licenses if your interests are in those fields of work.

Chazmatazz269 · Accepted Answer

Having a degree is all about following rules. Any moron can get a degree of any kind just for showing up every day and doing as they’re told. There’s absolutely no need for intelligence or critical thinking in higher education anymore. In fact, it counts against you.
Have you learned about the Grievance Studies Affair yet?
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00491241211009946

https://youtu.be/kVk9a5Jcd1k?si=uwNxoovPu1Hvm_MB

I kind of posted those backwards. The video is kind of a teaser. If you are interested in learning more, there are dozens of internet articles and youtube videos that you can consume to learn all about the affair. That particular article is kind of the piece de resistance.

PretzelBeanie · Accepted Answer

It's doesn't mean you're smarter, but it does mean you're more educated. You have literally been educated more than them. Usually, by 4 years. But there are plenty of reasons besides "not being smart enough" that someone would not get or complete a college education, so no, just having a degree doesn't automatically mean you are smarter than someone who doesn't have one.

It more often just makes you better equipped and knowledgeable about your field of study than someone who is uneducated in that field. For example a writing major would usually be more knowledgeable and experienced in writing (and more well read) than someone without that college education. That doesn't make them smarter, but it does make them better equipped. This makes the biggest difference in pursuing a career in a particular field.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Some of the smartest people I've ever met are college educated, some of the stupidest people I ever met are college educated. Usually the stupid ones are the ones that are quick to whip out their college diploma and insult others because they didn't go to college. They will throw out insults or say things like others lack education or have a low iq if disagreeing over something.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

Define what you mean by "smart." If you are referring to the ability to learn and assimilate new material , that is an ability which cannot be taught. If "smart" refers to the pool of knowledge that a person has acquired, then college educated people generally have a large fund of knowledge.

OneViewpoint · Answer

Agree. Having a degree is about more than intelligence.

Desire. Do you want a degree? Some just want to get into a career now!
Access. Can you afford it? Some can't.
Culture. Has no one in your family ever gone on to higher education? Do you even see it as an option. Do you know what it means to your life.
Freedom. Do you have commitments that prevent you from pursuing a degree? Unplanned pregnancy. Family members who need you. Health issues?
Brains. Yeah, somewhere in there is intelligence. Did you struggle in high school?

And yes, I can confirm that there are barely functional idiots with a BS, MBA, or PhD. They can take a test in a controlled environment with the best of em. But, they cannot connect the dots in a fast paced real time world while interacting effectively with a diverse group of other people. In a word, they are clueless.

Effably · Answer

It is a split answer.

Being more learned, which presumably with higher education you are, makes you intellectual. Being intellectual does not mean you are intelligent. Just like having experience does not mean you are wise.

However. While a higher education does not serve as a guarantee of higher intelligence there is a very significant link between educational level and intelligence. If we IQ tested the entire population the smartest people would likely not be highly educated. But if we tested by background, the highly educated would dominate the tests.

So yes it does not mean someone is smart. Absolutely not. But if made to bet, betting that someone with a Masters is smarter than average is a pretty solid bet.

DonaldDarko · Answer

An illiterate man could have a higher IQ than a college professor but it would be rare. Probably there are men like that on Sentinel Island or such places. The main problem is that being high IQ and educated won't help you if you are not sane. Crazy cancels out smart basically. That's why you see MAGA rednecks out doing college students. The red neck's instinct works just fine even if his intellect is low. but the student, half the time is bat shit so he can't function.

DrPepper12 · Answer

PhD = Piled higher & deeper 💩

A credential of any kind Just confers content knowledge or skills, in no way does it denote intelligence let alone wisdom.

Everyone I worked with was either master's degree or double masters and/or doctorate and let me tell you some of these people were absolute fucking morons. Wouldn't trust them with the recipe for ice cubes...

Jackblue · Answer

That is true: Edison, Franklin, Tesla, Gates, Altman, Zuckerberg they didn't finish college and some of them never even attended. School too often focuses on limiting rather than encouraging independent thinking and great minds often can't handle it.

beefcakebradybatson · Answer

Another trope from the Billy Bobs, Bubbas and Beckys who can barely count to 20 without removing their shoes.( As "The Economist Magazine" wrote, anyone who meets an Ivy League student soon realizes their intelligence, though even the smartest can often be foolish and/or gullible.)

thatgirl2000 · Answer

I absolutely agree. I just watched a video a test group study. They had six individuals of random backgrounds. The third smartest was a highschool student in the military. The least intelligent, was the one with the PhD and master degree.

Kelley1 · Answer

On average, the college-educated are more intelligent. However, there are exceptions. In my opinion, the top ten percent of non-college people are more intelligent than the lower ten percent of college-educated people.

AviatorTom · Answer

Intelligence is not determined by how many degrees one has.

College has the benefit of increasing one's experience, and hence, improving one's knowledge (typical in a specific area), but it does little to change one's intelligence.

HighValue · Answer

Out of the people I have worked with over the years, I have known plenty of bus drivers, maintenance, and grounds workers that were more intelligent and logical than many of the teachers and administrators I have worked with.

BonzoInBitburg · Answer

The only reason to get a college education is if you want to be an employee. A degree will get you a job interview. You'll get a lot further learning from a mentor than a professor.

purplepoppy · Answer

You won't get into college if you're not smart but many smart people choose not to go to college. Put it this way, would you trust someone who isn't smart to repair your car or sure your house?

slatyb · Answer

Having a college degree doesn't mean someone is educated. There are ignorant people with degrees and educated people who dropped out of high school. But on average...

loveslongnails · Answer

I agree that a "college education" doesn't mean you're more intelligent than the next guy. So is this the latest maga talking point for why education isn't important? Sounds like it.

exitseven · Answer

There are plenty of people with useless degrees that are total morons.

Anonymous · Answer

I'm college educated and most of my intelligence doesn't come from my degree

your degrees are still worthless if you think there are more than 2 genders and the world is gonna end in 2050 due to global warming

Anonymous · Answer

Agree. When I was in grad school, a couple of my friends didn’t even know what a “contingency plan” means…

Alex-Snow · Answer

I'm in college and I do not think it makes me smarter than those who are not. But it makes me more knowledgeable in some specific areas.

Anonymous · Answer

Most intelligent people actually did go to college, but you're mostly right...

There are some people who are not intelligent, and they still got a degree (usually by political connections, or by bribing the professors).

msc545 · Answer

Being college educated means you are probably more intelligent than someone who isn't, but the education does not make you more intelligent - genetics does.

FunkyMonkee · Answer

Considering today's college students? HELL YEAH!!!

Anonymous · Answer

One of the most incompetent coworkers I've ever worked with had a master's degree.

Twalli · Answer

Trump has one, and he's an idiot.

Jennz6 · Answer

Charlie Kirk did not have a college degree

Richardjd · Answer

College has nothing to do with it

RedInnocent69 · Answer

It’s indicative, but certainly not definitive

noohair · Answer

100% correct...

Being college educated doesn’t mean you are smarter than someone who isn’t. Agree or disagree?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Being college educated doesn’t mean you are smarter than someone who isn’t. Agree or disagree?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

We're glad to see you liked this post.