"Is higher education worth the price" BLOG

 The Problems With Higher Education

College has long been seen as the pathway to success, but rising tuition, mounting student debt, and growing doubts about educational priorities have forced many to question whether the investment is still worthwhile. While higher education can open doors, it often comes at a price that leaves students and families wondering what they are truly paying for. Authors Andrew Hacker and Claudia Dreifus take on this issue directly, asking the essential question: is college really worth it?

Their answer is complex—but often, it’s no. Hacker and Dreifus argue that many universities have drifted from their core mission of teaching students. Too many professors prioritize research and publication over meaningful classroom engagement, while underpaid adjunct instructors shoulder the bulk of the teaching. Meanwhile, families make enormous financial sacrifices to send their children to college, only for students to sit in massive lecture halls with little direct interaction with professors. The system, they suggest, has become more about prestige, profit, and research than about student learning.

However, the authors also highlight schools that break this mold. Institutions like Berea College in Kentucky and Raritan Valley Community College in New Jersey demonstrate that higher education can be affordable, accessible, and student-centered. These schools invest directly in teaching and in students’ personal and academic growth—showing that college can still be worth the cost when institutions prioritize education over bureaucracy.

Adding another perspective, Sanford Ungar defends the enduring importance of a liberal arts education. Far from being outdated, the liberal arts teach critical thinking, clear communication, and adaptability—skills essential in a fast-changing economy. Studying subjects like history, philosophy, and literature doesn’t prepare students for just one career; it equips them to navigate many. In a job market where technology and industries evolve rapidly, those intellectual tools are invaluable.

David Foster Wallace offers an even deeper understanding of education’s purpose. In his famous commencement speech, “This Is Water,” Wallace argues that true education teaches us how to think—not what to think. It trains us to be mindful of our choices, to see beyond self-centered perspectives, and to live with empathy and awareness. College, in this view, isn’t just about earning a degree or preparing for a job. It’s about becoming more thoughtful, attentive, and humane.

So, is college worth it? The answer depends on what kind of education we demand and what we value in return. If higher education continues to prioritize profits, rankings, and research over students, then its worth will keep diminishing. But if colleges recommit to teaching, affordability, and intellectual growth, the experience can still be transformative. The real question, then, isn’t simply whether college is worth the money—but whether our institutions are doing enough to make sure it truly serves students first.