
Is College Worth It? (Plus, waitlists and marriage markets)
From It Turns Out by Kara Miller
May 15, 2026 · 40 min · Season 1 · Episode 15
About this episode
The episode explores the value of a college degree and its impact on success, waiting lists, and marriage prospects.
Is a college degree actually worth it, or do universities simply accept students who were already destined for success? Using a clever natural experiment - in an era when lots more folks doubt the usefulness of a college degree - University of Chicago economist Jack Mountjoy tries to figure out whether college really pays off. And for who? Plus, how does your life change when you get off a waiting list from an elite college? And how are your marriage prospects altered depending on your major? Subscribe to our Substack ! Did you know you can also watch the show? Subscribe to the show on YouTube!
People in this episode
Host: Kara Miller
Guest: Jack Mountjoy
Topics covered
- college education
- economic value
- waiting lists
- marriage markets
- success factors
Keywords
- college degree
- economic analysis
- waiting list
- marriage prospects
- University of Chicago
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: University of Chicago
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