Is Higher Education Worth the Price?

Carol McLean

New Jersey City University

Contemporary Literacies

Michelle Rosen

July 14, 2024 

             An in-depth analysis of higher education's benefits and growing expenses may be found in Andrea Hacker and Claudia Dreifus' essay "Are Colleges Worth the Price of Admission?" The authors claim that rising college enrolment rates have placed a significant financial strain on families over the past few decades, resulting in graduates taking on debt that can occasionally total six figures. They claim that once hubs of knowledge, universities have become complex institutions devoid of experience. Urgent change is required due to the growth of the higher education sector, which currently accounts for $420 billion in industry. The authors propose several crucial adjustments to address these issues. To encourage accessibility and participation in all academic subjects, their recommendations prioritize achieving universal enrollment and enhancing the quality of instruction. Their position is to support a shift in focus away from vocational degrees and toward liberal arts degrees to promote intellectual growth. They also suggest reducing sabbaticals to preserve teacher commitment and replacing tenure with multi-year contracts to encourage improved teaching. Furthermore, they support fair compensation for adjunct instructors, appropriate compensation for college presidents, and the division of medical schools and research institutes from undergraduate education to reallocate funds to instruction. According to the article, the authors state that “for most Americans, educating their offspring will be the largest financial overlay, after their home mortgage, they will ever make” (Hacker and Dreifus 179).

In his Kenyon graduation speech to the class of 2005, David Foster Wallace tells a tale about two young fish oblivious to their aquatic surroundings. The story illustrates how sometimes it is challenging to recognize and talk about the most important realities. Even though these facts are mundane, they could be crucial for surviving the day-to-day struggles of adulthood. The idea is not to project an image of yourself as the wise old fish but to highlight the importance of being aware of these sometimes overlooked aspects of life. Moreover, ethical importance is found in recognizing and appreciating the fundamental values that shape our daily interactions. The idea that students get critical thinking abilities from a liberal arts degree is a commonly repeated term during graduation ceremonies, which is the topic of discussion in this speech. This claim that students require instruction in critical thinking may initially seem disrespectful.

On the other hand, the actual value of this kind of education is found in the ability to select one's thoughts in addition to the ability to think. This choice represents an essential expression of liberty, allowing people to rise above selfish perspectives. For instance, a story between an atheist and a religious person illustrates how different belief systems affect how people see the same event. The goal of a liberal arts education should be to reduce unjustified overconfidence and cultivate a critical consciousness. The story's moral is the importance of modesty and openness to different viewpoints. In his article, Wallace states, “So let’s talk about the single most pervasive cliche’ in the commencement speech genre, which is that a liberal arts education is not so much about filling you up with knowledge as it is about ‘teaching you how to think’ (Wallace 199).

    Paul J. Ungar advocates for the ethical duty and long-term value of a comprehensive education in the complex, fast-paced, and modern world.

He emphasizes the necessity of defending the liberal arts' broader educational benefits from professional education's encroachment.

According to Ungar, a liberal arts education equips students with critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills essential for

navigating various career paths and unforeseen employment opportunities down the road.

Furthermore, Ungar refutes the myth that graduates of liberal arts programs have trouble finding meaningful employment.

He uses surveys to support his claims that companies value the skills obtained by a liberal education.

He highlights the importance of critical and creative thinking across various fields by pointing out that many prominent figures in the technology sector hold degrees in liberal arts.

Furthermore, Ungar disputes the notion that students from low-income homes and first-generation college students do not benefit in any way from a liberal arts education.

He rejects the notion that these children cannot contribute to or profit from such an education, citing it as intellectually and socially unfair.

Ungar states in his article that “No one could be against equipping oneself for a career. But the “career education” bandwagon seems to suggest

that shortcuts are available to students that lead directly to high-paying jobs–leaving out ‘frills’ like learning how to write and speak well, how to understand the nuances

of literary texts and scientific concepts, how to collaborate with others on research” (Ungar 191).

            The film "Ivory Tower," directed by Andrew Rossi, delves into the issues surrounding the sustainability and growing expenses of

higher education in the United States. The $1 trillion student loan debt crisis and rising tuition costs have financially strained

students and their families, which the video criticizes. It includes viewpoints that cast doubt on the worth of a college education, with

individuals like Peter Thiel contesting its supposed advantages. The movie also examines institutional problems, such as colleges

becoming more commercialized and prioritizing facilities over high-quality education.

Furthermore, it addresses the cultural function of universities in maintaining memory and bridging youth to adulthood,

as stated by Columbia University's Andrew Delbanco.

The film also urges a review of the current model of higher education to improve cost and accessibility.

Additionally, at historically Black universities like Spelman, socioeconomic problems

like growing tuition and student debt are highlighted in the documentary.

Harvard University is criticized for investing funds in facilities that increase costs and degrade quality.

Minority students, particularly Black students, are disproportionately affected by this emphasis

on extravagance above academics since they cannot afford higher tuition and usually incur significant debt.

Thus, concerns regarding the high expense of higher education are raised because graduates

frequently have debt, making it difficult for them to establish families or buy homes or cars.

One of the most important quotes from the documentary is: “But there is an apocalyptic dimension to this as well,

and that is the idea that the concept of the institution of higher learning is about to be broken,

and only a very, very small handful of colleges will survive in tact on the other side of this tidal wave” (3:00-3:20).

Works Cited

Hacker, Andrew, and Claudia Dreifus. “Are Colleges Worth the Price of Admission?”           PDF download. 

Rossi, Andrew. Ivory Tower. Samuel Goldwyn Films, 2014.

Ungar, Sanford J. “The New Liberal Arts.” PDF download.

Wallace, Foster David. “Kenyon Commencement Speech.” PDF Download.