Higher Education Needs a Reset

There was a time — not long ago — when most Americans believed in the value of a university education. Higher learning would set young men and women on something reasonably close to a sure path to wisdom and success. A university education was widely thought to be good for students and for society writ large.

But Americans’ faith and trust in higher education has waned. Campus lawlessness, antisemitic protests, ideologically saturated classrooms and administrative offices, and the cancel culture prevalent in contemporary academic life have made many Americans question — not unreasonably — whether a university education is worth it.

JS

About the Author

Jonathan J. Sanford

Jonathan J. Sanford is president of the University of Dallas.

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There was a time — not long ago — when most Americans believed in the value of a university education. Higher learning would set young men and women on something reasonably close to a sure path to wisdom and success. A university education was widely thought to be good for students and for society writ large.

But Americans’ faith and trust in higher education has waned. Campus lawlessness, antisemitic protests, ideologically saturated classrooms and administrative offices, and the cancel culture prevalent in contemporary academic life have made many Americans question — not unreasonably — whether a university education is worth it.