While higher education in the United States is certainly in crisis, I do not agree with the premise that it is anywhere near collapse.
Higher education is under increased financial pressure in the United States due to population decline; falling per pupil federal funding; and stagnated wages for the middle class.
In response colleges are increasing their endowment to secure their financial future and so that they may offer a larger average discount rate. Google any college or look at college niche and you will see an average net price paid significantly lower than the listed tuition price. This is a new development from a decade ago where most students paid full sticker price to go to college.
Now, I do agree that higher education is trying to do too much these days, but for that to change expectations would need to change.
College shopping is like car shopping. People say they want a simple practical car with good gas mileage at an affordable price, but then when it comes time to buy they are willing to pay a bit more for the nicer stereo, leather seats, CarPlay, etc, etc. Nowhere is this seen more than in the precipitous decline in community college enrollment compared to four year colleges.
Higher education is under increased financial pressure in the United States due to population decline; falling per pupil federal funding; and stagnated wages for the middle class.
In response colleges are increasing their endowment to secure their financial future and so that they may offer a larger average discount rate. Google any college or look at college niche and you will see an average net price paid significantly lower than the listed tuition price. This is a new development from a decade ago where most students paid full sticker price to go to college.
Now, I do agree that higher education is trying to do too much these days, but for that to change expectations would need to change.
College shopping is like car shopping. People say they want a simple practical car with good gas mileage at an affordable price, but then when it comes time to buy they are willing to pay a bit more for the nicer stereo, leather seats, CarPlay, etc, etc. Nowhere is this seen more than in the precipitous decline in community college enrollment compared to four year colleges.