Why Americans Don’t Trust Higher Education
A Yale University report attributes declining public trust in higher education to soaring costs, opaque admissions, and free speech issues, but its focus on elite schools like Yale is criticized for being narrow and self-centered. The report's findings are argued to be less relevant to the majority of students who attend non-elite colleges and universities.
A recent Yale University report examines the decline of public trust in higher education, citing factors such as soaring costs, opaque admissions processes, and issues related to free speech and political bias. The report, drafted by a 10-member committee, is self-critical and has garnered significant attention. However, its focus on elite schools like Yale is argued to be narrow and self-centered, failing to account for the experiences of the majority of students who attend non-elite colleges and universities. The report defends Yale's affordability, noting that one in five undergraduate students attends on a full ride, but this is seen as irrelevant to most students. The actual cost of attending a local college or university is highlighted as a more significant concern, with many graduates facing underemployment and debt. The average net price for a full-time incoming student at the University of Missouri-Columbia is $22,169, with a median debt of $20,500 for graduates. A new NerdWallet study projects that the average student heading off to college this fall will borrow $43,000.
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