Asher Sisneros

Many people worry about the rising costs of obtaining a college degree, a problem that’s largely aided by the student loan industry. The worries are real. When foreign labor enters the picture, the problem gets worse. Americans who spent $100,000 on a degree can compete with cheaper foreign labor. Often, the foreign competition has degrees as well, forcing Americans to spend obscene amounts on college education just to keep up. Trade schools have boomed in popularity as plumbers, welders, roofers, and HVAC technicians can earn significantly more than college graduates, while the training is substantially cheaper.¹ However, not everyone is interested in those fields. The people interested in white-collar jobs do not need to fret because of the rising college expenses. There is a dirty little secret the colleges won’t tell you. 

For decades, the College Board has administered CLEP (College Level Examination Program) and AP (Advanced Placement) exams. These exams allow students to earn college credit while in high school. Students can prepare for the exam(s) by self-studying the material through textbooks on Amazon, enrolling in an online course like Study.com, or attending a class at their local high school. After passing a CLEP or AP exam, students can receive 3-12 or 3-5 college credits, respectively. There are 34 total CLEP exams and 38 AP exams to choose from, with the costs ranging from $50-$100 to take each exam. The $200 someone might spend to pass one CLEP exam—$100 for a textbook and $100 to take the test—translates to a semester of coursework for a given class. By taking multiple CLEP or AP exams, people can save thousands of dollars on their college education. But arguably more importantly, they can save time.

Mr. Bradley Fish is one of countless people who employed the CLEP strategy. He started taking the exams when he was fourteen and graduated college on his eighteenth birthday.² By strategically taking classes that aided him in finishing college quickly, cheaply, and effectively, he finished his four-year degree when most people were starting it. Mr. Fish won the race before it began. His B.A. in Business Administration cost him and his family less than $15,000. 

Anyone can achieve what Bradley Fish did if they have the motivation. Some may be older. Maybe they can’t graduate on their eighteenth birthday, but can they go to college for less than $15,000? Yes. Everyone can, but few will. 

College is a scam. The universities bask in riches as the American citizens are enslaved by student loans. There is a kink in their armor. Exploit it.

1.  A four-year bachelor’s degree costs $40,000 to $100,000, while trade schools cost $3,000 to $16,000. ↩︎
2. Bradley Fish’s story and the “wholesale college” strategy: https://www.ronpaulcurriculum.com/public/department128.cfm ↩︎