They call it "financial assistance", like it's actually helping you. They offer a loan rather than a gift or a job (which would actually help you get ahead financially).
The one problem to only learning on Google is with jobs that require certain degrees. Most employers for engineers, for instance, require a degree in engineering "or related field" from an accredited university. The employers and government regulations are really the two things standing in the way of being able to bypass the current educational system.