My dad used to tell me that if I wanted to amount to anything, I had
to go to college.  He provided the means, and I went.  But I have to
say I was disillusioned with the whole experience.  As near as I can
tell, all I learned in college (that had any real, lasting value,) was
how to learn.

Now I don’t discount the importance of learning.  I’m glad I learned
how to learn.  But I have always had a voracious appetite for knowledge
on a wide variety of subjects.  However, I like to learn something
meaningful (defined as something that’s important to me.)  And since
I’m the only one who can define what’s important to me today (it
changes from day to day, and from minute to minute sometimes,) I have
to take charge of my own “education.”

For me, higher learning is the learning I do every day of my life. 
It’s the research I do on whatever subject it is that’s taken my mind
today.  I eat from this banquet until I’m filled, then I rest.  I’m not
constrained by proceeding at the pace of the slowest person in the
class.  I’m not directed where to go by someone who has no idea what it
is I want to learn.  I’m not held back from flights of fancy into other
subjects along the way.  I’m free to drink from the well without any
limitations whatsoever.  That’s learning!!

Which brings us to the internet.  I’m amazed (maybe I shouldn’t be,
but I really am) at the sheer amount of very, very high-quality
knowledge available to anyone who’s willing to go look for it.  I can’t
imagine how much it would cost to have paid for the advice I received
today alone, had I been required to pay for it.  There’s really no
reason for anyone to fail in their life’s pursuits.  There is help
available that has never been available to this extent, or on this
scale, in the history of the world.

But at the end of the day, you have to be willing to go looking.  All that good information isn’t going to come find you.  You have to go find it. 
That, to me, is higher education.  It allows you to soar higher than
you’ve ever soared before, all for free (at least in terms of money.) 
This fantastic offer of free education is made to everyone.  Will you
drink from the well or will you go away thirsty?  The choice is yours.