Can AI Replace College? Here’s What Happened When I Tried It
The cost of college keeps going up — but what if your teen could build a real education using AI? What if they could learn the same material, gain career connections, and skip the student loan debt? What if AI could replace college?
As a professor, engineer, and homeschool dad, I wanted to find out. Could artificial intelligence really replace a college degree — or at least the experience of one?
1. What College Really Offers
After years of teaching at the university level, I can tell you that college provides three main things: a plan, accountability, and credentials.
That’s the framework most universities sell. Students get a structured path, motivation through grades and deadlines, and a credential at the end.
When I used ChatGPT and Coursera, I realized we can now build those same components ourselves — and often better.
- ChatGPT gives the plan — customized, sequenced, and complete.
- Coursera provides structure and even credentials with its verified certificates.
- Accountability can come from mentors, peer groups, or family — all simple to set up.
2. The Experiment: Building a Full College Experience
I didn’t just ask for a course list.
I asked ChatGPT to build me an accounting degree plan that matched what I’d get at a major university — including coursework, networking, and real-world opportunities.
It broke everything into levels — basic, intermediate, and advanced — mirroring how real universities structure degrees. Then, for each subject, it linked to actual Coursera courses taught by accredited schools.
But what impressed me most was what came next. I asked for everything else a college experience includes:
- Networking opportunities — connecting with other students through LinkedIn groups and online communities.
- Internships — platforms like Forage and virtual project programs to get experience.
- Career development — how to translate what you’re learning into freelancing, side work, or entry-level jobs.
- Mentorship — ways to find professionals willing to review your work or offer feedback.
What I got was a roadmap to self-education with outcomes, not just a list of courses. AI effectively replaced the guidance, structure, and career direction of a university — only faster, cheaper, and entirely customizable.
3. The Future of Learning Is Already Here
Could AI give me a degree? No. But could it give me everything that makes a degree useful? Yes.
When we combine AI’s planning power with platforms like Coursera, we can design personalized paths to mastery in any subject — without debt, without bureaucracy, and without waiting.
For homeschoolers, that’s a game-changer. We can teach our kids not just what to learn, but how to design their own learning.
And that starts with the basics — learning to think clearly and logically.
4. Why This Matters for Homeschool Families
If your child learns how to learn, they’ll never be stuck.
Homeschoolers already value personalized, flexible learning—and that’s exactly what AI makes possible at a higher level. With today’s tools, students can design their own “degree,” mastering real-world skills, earning certifications, and connecting with mentors long before college age.
Instead of paying for a one-size-fits-all education, AI lets homeschool teens build a custom path that fits their goals and budget—proving that meaningful learning and career preparation don’t have to come with student debt.
Start that Journey
If you’d like to start that journey, begin with the foundation — mathematical thinking teaches critical/logical reasoning.
That’s what Algebra and Geometry do — they train the mind for problem-solving and self-learning.
These aren’t just math courses; they’re the foundation of independence in any field.
Explore our Geometry and Algebra courses at AskDrCallahan.com.
FREE Resources Just for You
🧠 Below, download your ChatGPT prompt just like I talked about in the video. It’s a two page PDF.
How AI Can Help You Build Your Own College Degree (Even in High School)
📚 FREE Resources – download our 5 free PDF resources we developed just for you.
