[sabj]

The difference is that startups have a much shorter time horizon on which you can measure success, and their success is measured in different ways. While notoriously difficult to precisely compute, because of the length of time necessary to judge the impact of an 'XYZ Degree,' thorough studies show relatively small or, for many cohorts, almost nonexistent benefits to these kinds of Ivy League educations.

For, as in the case of YC, the success is first and foremost attributable to the participants - and whatever other value there may be is easily confounded and exaggerated. The only fair way to establish a comparison is to consider those who were accepted to YC, but chose not to enroll, for whatever reason. This is reasonably clear when X is 1300 students a year, harder when it's less than 100 startups.

Anyway, a rather belabored way of saying that the higher education comparison may be accurate... but not necessarily in the way that you think!