My initial years in college were filled with challenges. At 22, I was a married father navigating the demands of academia while juggling family responsibilities. Life felt chaotic, with my days consumed by studying and working to support my family. I often found myself dozing off on public transportation, waking in unfamiliar places. I wasn’t your typical student, but those early years laid the groundwork for my learning and research skills.
Currently, I work at a university within a Division I athletics program, and I must admit, the effort put forth by freshmen and sophomores today pales in comparison to my experience. It may sound like I’m reminiscing about the “good old days,” but I genuinely believe that college has become easier. For instance, during my freshman composition course, I was required to write a 25-page research paper—a feat I haven’t seen from students during my seven years in higher education.
A recent study has further corroborated my suspicions. In the book Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses, researchers examined 3,000 full-time traditional-age students across 29 universities. They utilized the Collegiate Learning Assessment, a standardized test that measures critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and writing skills. The findings are concerning.
Focusing on the first two years of college, 45% of students demonstrated no significant improvement in learning. That’s nearly half! In the latter years, only 36% showed minimal growth. While that’s an improvement, it raises an important question for parents considering college for their children: “What’s the point?”
As someone who has advocated for higher education, I find these results troubling. Complicating matters is the fact that students in this study maintained an average GPA of 3.2, indicating they’re merely skating by without genuinely acquiring skills.
This situation prompts several questions. Are high schools doing a better job of preparing students than colleges? Perhaps. It varies by institution. Some students arrive at my university with nearly a full year of college credits, while others struggle at a junior high reading level.
Could it be that colleges are simplifying coursework to boost enrollment and graduation rates? This seems plausible. Many universities have seen a surge in enrollment over the past twenty years, and with limited funding, maintaining educational standards becomes a challenge.
According to USA Today, instructors often prioritize their research over teaching undergraduates, who are increasingly focused on their social lives. It’s not uncommon to see students in class distracted by their phones, scrolling through social media.
Moreover, many introductory courses are taught by adjunct faculty—recent master’s or doctoral graduates trying to gain teaching experience—rather than tenured professors. This shift allows universities to cut costs but may diminish the quality of education for students.
Currently, there’s a growing discourse in higher education regarding the exploitation of adjunct labor, often placing the blame on the administration rather than addressing the impact on student learning outcomes. After reviewing this study, I can’t help but wonder if the lack of instructor engagement is contributing to diminished student accountability.
It’s evident that college has changed significantly. For example, 50% of students surveyed reported never taking a course that required writing more than 20 pages in a semester, while 32% never enrolled in a class that assigned more than 40 pages of reading weekly.
Interestingly, the study did not address the internet’s role in facilitating easier learning. With various apps and websites offering class notes and summaries, the need for traditional studying may have lessened over time.
So, is college a waste of money? I hesitate to go that far. There are certainly students who might thrive more in trade programs rather than traditional higher education paths. Nevertheless, I believe there is still value in higher education, despite the systemic issues that need to be resolved for it to regain its former prestige.
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In summary, while college remains an important avenue for many, the recent findings highlight significant issues within the educational system that need to be addressed.
Keyphrase: College education value
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