Palantir Technologies, a firm that has experienced a substantial increase in share price over the past year, is offering select high school graduates the opportunity to enroll in their "Meritocracy Fellowship." This program pays graduates approximately $5,400 per month for a four-month training period, enticing some to decline offers from Ivy League institutions. The training includes lectures in philosophy and history, followed by the opportunity for full-time engineering roles.
The first month has these budding professionals immersed in seminars focused on American history and Western civilization, an experience that caught many participants by surprise. It is worth noting that Palantir CEO, Alex Karp, has been forthright about his disregard for the value of a college education, even as he himself holds multiple degrees.
Palantir's unconventional approach echoes a possible shift in employer values, indicating a preference for direct skills and experiences over formal degrees. For high school graduates contemplating their future, the program presents both a unique opportunity and tedious risk. It offers the chance to earn and learn early, but may limit the wider credentials and career flexibility a traditional degree still offers.
The call for fellows seems to insinuate that Karp believes traditional degrees are losing their virtue. While the value of these "Palantir degrees" might not be universally recognized, the company has asserted its dedication to fostering individuals who are committed to their purpose.
The program is currently taking applications for the next fellowship in New York City, which runs from August to December 2026. Eligibility criteria includes high school graduation and excludes current college students. The salary may vary based on experience.
Even as the unemployment rate for recent college graduates remains at 4.8%, comparison from a 2025 Federal Reserve Bank of New York analysis shows that individuals with a traditional college degree have a significant and growing wage premium over those without. Despite this, programs such as Palantir's fellowship might be a sign of changing perceptions about the value of traditional education in the professional realm.