About 1/2 are returning to college: (However, the fact that 1/2 of recipients of a very prestigious award (and the associated money/opportunity)).

No one is forcing them: (decided)

Presumably they made the choice by deciding it would benefit them to do so (because it keeps their options open, maybe, and maybe other reasons as well): (it was in their best interest to return to university).

I don't see the flaw is reasoning here. Help?

"...said at one point or another in our conversation that they’d consider going back to college after they are done..."

"On top of that, some of the kids I spoke to from the previous year also said they would go back or at least might consider it at the end of their two years"

Those are the author paraphrasing the students. They don't back up the claim that half are returning to college, or that they even plan to -- the students are just keeping their options open.

If I missed a more clear quotation supporting the claim, let me know.

The author says "half of them admitting they plan to go back at a later date", but that seems to be based entirely on his interpretation. It seems clear the author is not in favor of Thiel's program, so I am not taking his interpretation for granted.

If 1/2 are planning to go back at a later date, that means they've decided attending college is in their best interest. Which was my claim; I didn't say they are currently attending.

I guess it ultimately boils down to whether you trust the author's reporting; I typically assume everyone takes the article's contents as granted unless they've explicitly stated otherwise.

But in any case, "keep your options open" is not exactly the message touted by the Thiel et al PR campaign surrounding the fellowship program.

I still see no evidence of this. The statements provided do not indicate a plan to return.

"But in any case, "keep your options open" is not exactly the message touted by the Thiel et al PR campaign surrounding the fellowship program."

Fair enough.