What Derek Thompson thinks about education

@derek-thompson · 27 positions · On ppll ↗

Writer and podcaster; co-author of Abundance with Ezra Klein and a staff writer at The Atlantic from 2008 to 2025.

Derek Thompson did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

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Only Derek Thompson on education. See everyone on education

1 dated position, 2026, in their own words. Our reading of what Derek Thompson has said — not written or endorsed by them.

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1. 11 Sept 2026

   Our readingThe financial payoff from a college degree has stopped growing and may be declining.

   Their wordsThe value of a degree is in question, as tuition costs have increased in the last few decades while the college premium-the expected benefit from getting a diploma-has flatlined and possibly even declined in the last few years.

   ↗Why Harvard's Dean 'Encourages' Students to Use AIderekthompson.org 1st of 2 in this piece