The case for college hasn’t changed — but the narrative has

Across the country, a refrain is growing: college isn’t worth it. It appears in headlines, fuels political debate, and is reshaping people’s views on higher education. Today, nearly two-thirds of Americans question the value of a four-year degree.

And yet the loudest voices pushing that argument are typically college graduates who expect their children to pursue a degree. In fact, they pull out every stop: They hire tutors, pay for test prep and enrichment, and leverage every relationship and resource to secure access to top universities.

But when the conversation turns to other people’s children, the calculus shifts.

Most who argue for college alternatives are well-meaning, with sincere concerns about debt and an evolving labor market. But good intentions don’t determine outcomes. And the students receiving this message—Black, Latino, low-income, and rural—have the most to lose.

For decades, students in these communities have been steered away from rigorous academics into programs that promised practical skills but offered limited opportunity. The rhetoric was about options. The reality was about ceilings. Students deserve an honest account of what different pathways deliver.

And, on that, the evidence is clear: college remains the most reliable path to economic and social mobility.

College graduates earn $32,000 more annually than non-grads — more than $1 million over a lifetime. They also live about nine years longer, gain greater access to professional networks, and can better navigate economic downturns.

Read the full op-ed here.