Over 59 Years, Investing Has Been Safer Than College

 

Why Over 59 Years, Investing Has Been Safer Than College

For decades, American culture taught one message:

“Go to college. Get the degree. Take on the debt. It’s the safest path to success.”

But time has revealed a harder truth — one backed by statistics, history, and nearly six decades of market performance:

Investing — especially in broad, diversified markets like the S&P 500 — has been more predictable, more consistent, and in many cases more financially rewarding than the college-debt gamble.

That doesn’t mean college is bad.
It just means the idea that college is “the safest” option hasn’t aged well.

Let’s break down why.

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1. The S&P 500 Has Never Had a Negative 59-Year Return

In fact, over every 20-, 30-, 40-, 50- and 59-year rolling period, the S&P 500 has produced positive returns — often massively positive.

Why?

Markets are volatile in the short term…
…but over long periods, the U.S. economy grows.
Innovation grows.
Profits grow.
Dividends grow.

History shows a simple truth:

Time in the market has always beaten timing the market.

Meanwhile…

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2. College Debt Doesn’t Guarantee Anything

The traditional narrative says:

• Borrow tens of thousands of dollars

• Spend 4+ years in school

• Graduate with a degree

• Land a great job

But real-world outcomes look very different:

• About 40% of students never finish the degree at all

• Millions graduate into jobs that don’t require a degree

• Starting salaries frequently don’t match the debt load

• Student loan payments delay investing, homeownership, and retirement

If investing rewards consistency…

College debt punishes it.

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3. Investing Compounds — College Debt Drains

Imagine two 18-year-olds:

Student A: Takes on $40,000 in loans

Graduates at 22…
Pays off debt until age 35…
Begins investing later in life.

Student B: Invests $250/month starting at 18

Never touches student loans…
Never pauses contributions…
Lets time do the heavy lifting.

After 59 years?

Even at a modest 8% long-term return:

• The investor retires wealthy

• The borrower spends half their early adulthood digging out of a hole

The difference isn’t talent…
or discipline…
or intelligence…

It’s compounding vs. consumption.

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4. The Market Rewards Participation — College Only Rewards Completion

You can invest $10, $20, or $50 and start growing wealth immediately.

You cannot attend college and get any financial return unless you:

1. Finish the degree,

2. Get hired in the field,

3. Earn more than your debt costs, and

4. Continue progressing for decades.

College requires multiple points of success to pay off.

Investing requires one:

Stay invested.

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5. The Real Risk Isn't Volatility — It’s Waiting

College teaches us to delay life for 4 years.

Debt forces us to delay it for 10+ more.

Investing teaches us the opposite:

Start early. Let time do the work.
Especially over a 59-year horizon — where the data is undeniable.

If you had started investing $200/month in 1965, you would have retired a millionaire… without ever needing student loans.

That’s why…

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Over 59 Years, Investing Has Been Safer Than College — Financially and Emotionally

College can still be the right path — for certain careers, passions, or callings.

But the idea that it’s the “safe” choice?

That belief is outdated.

Long-term investing has shown:

• More consistency

• Less risk

• More predictability

• More wealth creation

• More freedom

Because unlike debt…

**Investing pays you back.

College asks you to pay first — and hope later.**

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Final Thought

If the goal is financial security…

If the goal is options…

If the goal is freedom…

Then starting early with investing — even small amounts — has historically offered a clearer, safer path than the uncertain world of debt-funded education.

Because over 59 years?

The market has always rewarded those who participate.

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Disclaimer

The information provided in this content is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. I am not a licensed financial advisor. All investing involves risk, and may include but not be limited to loss of principal. Always do your own research or consult with a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions.