College value is a hot topic because student loans are no longer part of the free market. Private lenders went on a lending frenzy that drove up the cost of tuition. Now people seeking educational freedom are stuck and vulnerable to financial predators. With higher debt burdens, even workaholic borrowers struggle with American Dream milestone delays. Higher tuition eats into the college wage premium, but we must have highly educated people.
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Latest college value news
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Date | Title and URL | Summary | Keywords |
3/26/2025 6% rise in college applications | High schoolers await college acceptances with more competition than ever https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/high-schoolers-await-college-acceptances-with-more-competition-than-ever/ar-AA1BEGcR?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=49dfb612bf1447ec8d1c2170573e0758&ei=49 | How high school students are increasing the number of schools to which they apply in 2025 | |
3/16/2025 Trump's war on colleges | Video summary of Trump's war on colleges from CNN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7Y1g6QaIJU | How Trump is undermining America's competitive advantage | |
3/11/2025 Harvard and U Penn have frozen hiring | Universities impose hiring freezes in face of uncertainty over federal funding https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careers/universities-impose-hiring-freezes-in-face-of-uncertainty-over-federal-funding/ar-AA1AE4Qg?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=1b84a6c5b05a4df2acd107bae25ea158&ei=15 | "prompted by fear the Trump administration could move forward with plans to make steep financial cuts in research funding" | |
3/6/2025 Universities are rescinding offers | Universities Are Slashing, Rescinding Graduate Admissions Amid Federal Funding Cuts https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/universities-are-slashing-rescinding-graduate-admissions-amid-federal-funding-cuts/ar-AA1Akcxh?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=4c6192310e6e485f94b8681f0a8887fa&ei=17andhttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/my-dreams-were-crushed-west-virginia-student-has-offer-rescinded-due-to-federal-cuts/ar-AA1AqbbC?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=4c0fb53bd08747cf8a153def1120e2cb&ei=37 | "Graduate programs across the country are reducing admissions and reportedly even rescinding admission letters sent to prospective students amid concerns of drastic federal research funding cuts levied by the Trump administration." | |
2/27/2025 Boycott college for the next ten years | Don’t Send Your Kids to College https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/smallbusiness/don-t-send-your-kids-to-college/ar-AA1snLjl?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=0212647263b642b3f77d96581d8f0316&ei=63 | After college, they will be condemned to "a few years of wishful thinking, lots of numbing networking, go-nowhere gigs, and endless pleading emails to family and friends. All of that accompanied by a challenging clump of college debt that will likely be an albatross around their necks for decades". | |
2/24/2025 When cost is not an issue for higher education | Top 10 global destinations for higher education: 'When cost is not an issue, families prefer the U.S. and the UK,' expert says
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careers/top-10-global-destinations-for-higher-education-when-cost-is-not-an-issue-families-prefer-the-u-s-and-the-uk-expert-says/ar-AA1zHZkz?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=7e65813b1bf54e678d5c0da35206c5d6&ei=47
| "You have more instability and instability in general leads to the movement of families"; the “United States is the No. 1 global destination for higher education” because of higher education systems, quality of life, higher education costs, career prospects, innovation, and business friendliness | |
2/24/2025 Advanced degree is a liability | An advanced degree was once viewed as the best path toward job security. It's now proving to be a liability. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/an-advanced-degree-was-once-viewed-as-the-best-path-toward-job-security-it-s-now-proving-to-be-a-liability/ar-AA1zGsei?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=1aa826661815440ddd46a986326b7867&ei=17 | "Job seekers with advanced degrees are having a much harder time finding work compared to their less-educated peers" | |
2/15/2025 Warning about for-profit colleges | Factors to Weigh Before Enrolling at a For-Profit College https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careersandeducation/factors-to-weigh-before-enrolling-at-a-for-profit-college/ar-AA1yUOLy?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=2329db03d7b840dad8669f655f4d0dfc&ei=21 | For-profits are experiencing “the largest overall enrollment increase among all school types”. Consider your goals, “the college’s retention and graduation rates, financial aid and net price, do the programs and majors offered fit with the student’s post-college plans, are they accredited, and other metrics”. | |
2/13/2025 More and more males are avoiding college enrollment | The decline of the college-educated American man https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careersandeducation/the-decline-of-the-college-educated-american-man/ar-AA1yUqcI?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=5b85707d47174a049a57db7a0a3c6479&ei=11 | young men are fleeing the higher education system | |
2/11/2025 MBAs aren't as prestigious anymore | Why an MBA Degree Isn’t as Prestigious as It Once Was | https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careersandeducation/why-an-mba-degree-isn-t-as-prestigious-as-it-once-was/ar-AA1xFOGU?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=c38ac87801704459aab4bc6ee04e8809&ei=12 | The degree is no longer unique. It competes with the Master of Science. Global competitors, a bad economy for the best and brightest, and a destabilized heirarchical US business system degrade the degree. |
2/5/2025 Ivy League Debt Straitjacket (enormous emotional and mental weight of the debt) | My $200K Ivy League student loan debt makes it hard to focus on anything else — but it was worth it | https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careersandeducation/my-200k-ivy-league-student-loan-debt-makes-it-hard-to-focus-on-anything-else-but-it-was-worth-it/ar-AA1yrUBE?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=51d832df3b1742dcb520743caf7106f9&ei=16 | “My student loan debt makes it hard to focus on anything else and forces me to make safer choices, prioritizing immediate needs over long-term aspirations. Some of my classmates had the flexibility to take unpaid internships or extend their job search. But that wasn't an option for me. I had rent and bills to pay and parents to support. That meant having less power to search for different career paths or negotiate a higher salary.” |
2/3/2025 Too Many College Students | A Plan to Fix American Higher Education | https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careers/a-plan-to-fix-american-higher-education/ar-AA1ykBqL?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=6c66502c5092486ab92c2b4e88237515&ei=52 | Not all high school graduates should go to college. “Standards for academic performance have eroded significantly”. There are too many colleges and universities. “Our institutions need to be less accessible.” Institutions need to be weaned off the exploitative practice of depending on adjunct faculty. The author provides a few plans for making universities exclusive so they can “return to the critical functions that they are meant to play”. Among the plans is a requirement to pass a national test (not the SAT) to be eligible for a government loan. |
1/28/2025 Preparing for the Future | Millennials Prepared For A Future That No Longer Exists, Career Coach Says | https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careersandeducation/millennials-prepared-for-a-future-that-no-longer-exists-career-coach-says/vi-AA1xZGx4?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=3483b439adb2489ebed4bee5451f0417&ei=29 | “Career coach discusses how job opportunities/attitudes towards work have changed.” Jobs are different now. Hustle and grinding needs to be well-strategized. Prior job advice is now obsolete. |
1/8/2024
Tuition Has Dropped
| College tuition has fallen significantly at many schools
https://apnews.com/article/college-tuition-cost-5e69acffa7ae11300123df028eac5321
| Tuition is down 4% from 10 years ago. Financial aid has gotten costs down by 40%. So, 9% fewer students need loans. Debt burdens have fallen by 17%. Private colleges are still raising tuition, but more slowly. A degree pays off. “Americans with a bachelor’s degree earn a median of $2.8 million during their careers, 75% more than if they had only a high school diploma, according to research from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce.” COVID was a big factor—tuition freezes. Colleges got bailed out then and now the money has run out. Out of state tuition is daunting. MIT won’t charge tuition if a family earns less than $200,000 starting in 2025. | $2.8 million wage premium; cost control; discounts; dwindling pool of young adults; financial aid expansion; Georgetown research on the wage premium; investment; Pell Grant; value; wage premium |
12/24/2024 Elite Colleges Have Money Challenges Now | Elite Colleges Have a Looming Money Problem https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/economy/elite-colleges-have-a-looming-money-problem/ar-AA1wrPbN | “[E]lite universities are facing money problems partly of their own creation.” They have the most money and the richest alumni. Meanwhile, public colleges and small private colleges are cutting staff and sometimes closing. The market under Trump must not stumble. “High costs and ‘outdated perceptions of superiority’ have stymied Ivy League endowment returns.” Even Harvard’s peer group isn’t doing as well as it could. “Harvard has more than three-quarters of its endowment in private equity, hedge funds or real estate and just 14% in publicly traded stocks.” Gifts have been less abundant--alumni donations fell by 15% last fiscal year amid outrage over Harvard’s handling of campus antisemitism. Other ivy league schools lost more. Trump plans to tax them. “Paul Weinstein Jr. of the Progressive Policy Institute writes that, starting next year, colleges will face an 'enrollment cliff' that will see them lose 575,000 students over four years.” The more elite the college, the less they will suffer from a drop in overall U.S. enrollment. But lower enrollment will leave a mark. | foreign students; domestic demographics; university bureaucracies |
12/17/2024 Private College Price Fixing Law Suit | Students overpaid elite colleges $685 million, ‘price-fixing’ suit says https://img2.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/12/17/georgetown-elite-colleges-financial-aid-price-fixing-lawsuit/ | “A lawsuit claims a group of selective universities colluded in the past to reduce financial aid to students.” The suit claims “schools overcharged students by $685 million in a 'price-fixing' scheme”. College officials “suggest they appeared to favor wealthy applicants despite their stated policy of accepting students without regard for their financial circumstances.” | antitrust lawsuit; need-based |
12/11/2024 College Enrollment Falling | College closures expected to spike amid ‘unprecedented fiscal challenges,’ Fed research finds https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/11/college-closures-could-jump-amid-financial-challenges-fed-research.html | Institutions are in financial jeopardy. Eighty (80) may close in the next five (5) years. Fewer high school graduates are enrolling and there are fewer high school graduates. Low income students feel priced out. Some private colleges cost six (6) figures. College alternatives include joining the workforce or completing certificate programs or apprenticeships. These circumstances prevent raising tuition. This affects small cities and labor income. Some schools cut sociology, creative writing, music and religion courses. But, elite institutions are doing better than ever. The path to private college has narrowed. The 1% attend private colleges to maintain family privilege. Tuition, fees, and room and board are still rising. | |
December 2024 College career statistics lie | Colleges’ career success stats don’t tell the whole story about how their graduates are doing after they get their degree https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careersandeducation/colleges-career-success-stats-don-t-tell-the-whole-story-about-how-their-graduates-are-doing-after-they-get-their-degree/ar-AA1w1lAz?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=1ff94d0bcedc448281372c272dd5de5a&ei=40 | Research career outcomes. Make sure the college actually knows the career success rate. Mere employment is not career success, either. Public data will show you the knowledge rates. Check tracking, number of students who responded, length of data collection process, and speak with an admissions counselor. | |
10/23/2024 Ivy League Privilege | I went to an Ivy League college. The education alone wasn't worth the price tag, but the special privileges I now have are priceless. https://africa.businessinsider.com/news/i-went-to-an-ivy-league-college-the-education-alone-wasnt-worth-the-price-tag-but-the/re2kn8c | Classes, professors, and student life weren't worth the debt at Columbia graduate school. Her masters degree debt occurred during COVID. She received special access to exclusive ivy league job fairs with wide geographic scopes and other privileges for the debt. The author met ambitious people from all kinds of backgrounds. People found the author more interesting. | |
10/24/2024 Fall 2024 First Year Enrollment Decline | First-year enrollment in college declined in fall 2024 https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/education/freshman-enrollment-declines-fall-2024/ | Experts are not sure why. Total enrollment increased. Freshmen enrollment decreased in 2024. Dip was possibly due to the botched rollout of the new FAFSA financial aid application form. Enrollment declines have not been projected for the near future, so this is a surprise. | |
10/10/2024 Students Being Overcharged | College Board, 40 top schools accused of overcharging children of divorced parentshttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2024/10/10/college-price-fixing-lawsuit/75590520007/ and 40 elite colleges are being sued over accusations they colluded to increase tuition by $6,200 — primarily by overcharging divorced parentshttps://www.businessinsider.com/elite-colleges-colluding-raise-tuition-for-divorced-parents-student-debt-2024-10 | The wealthiest colleges are overcharging children of divorced parents. The CSS profile decreased the amount of financial aid available to them. | antitrust; wealthiest colleges |
10/1/2024 Is College Worth the Cost? | Is a Four-Year College Degree Worth the Cost? https://www.thestreet.com/retirement-daily/your-money/is-a-four-year-college-degree-worth-the-cost | Selling points include “opportunity to engage in internships while still in school, the ability to find mentors, small class sizes and student involvement in the college community (to foster connections and contacts that can lead to future professional opportunities)”. Students can access the wage premium without going to a pricey private school. | internship; job fit; network; wage premium |
September 2024 Fewer Enrolling in College | Here’s Why Fewer People Are Going to College https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careersandeducation/here-s-why-fewer-people-are-going-to-college/ss-AA1pAUFq?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=e4332587b1574738f1ba78acd73019a7&ei=14#image=5 | more are pursuing trades; some have mental health and familial support issues; societal values are changing; colleges have to return to fostering civic virtue and intellectual growth | |
9/24/2024 Private Colleges Worth the Cost | The 50 private colleges that are most worth the cost, based on data https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careersandeducation/the-50-private-colleges-that-are-most-worth-the-price-according-to-data/ss-AA1qfBEY?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds | List of private colleges that provide the best return on investment (ROI). The colleges are measured by the net present value of costs plus projected earnings. | emotional investment; financial investment; food; graduation rate; living expenses; median debt; most expensive; private college; student fees; transportation; tuition |
9/14/2024 Federal Employers’ College Degree Requirements | Kamala Harris says she'll end college degree requirements for some federal jobs https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/09/14/harris-college-requirement-jobs/75226318007/ | 2024 Presidential candidate Harris recognizes high school graduates can do the work of college graduates on behalf of the federal government. Harris promises to cut college degree requirements for a number of federal jobs. Census data indicates 62% of Americans older than 24 have not obtained a bachelor’s degree. | apprenticeships; census; cost deterrence; degree requirements; economics; private sector; skills; success; technical programs; value |
4/23/2024 Cause of Student Debt Crisis (Enticement) | What Caused the $1.6 Trillion Student Debt Crisis? https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/analysis/what-caused-the-student-debt-crisis/ | Greed caused the student debt crisis. Higher education became seen nationwide as a private commodity. Increased tuition increases stock prices. Less than 9% of debt is considered for forgiveness efforts. The “prevailing wisdom” is higher education is a public good, but financial support has dwindled since the 1960s to around 13% of state funds. Nixon’s Sallie Mae “flooded banks with cheap cash” to purchase loans with loans as collateral, a perverse incentive to maximize lending. So, loan eligibility broadened in the 1990s. SallieMae lost profits when the federal government began to lend directly, and so went private. Greedy colleges fully account for the tuition increases. Ivy League colleges invested in SallieMae stock, as well. Colleges became part of SallieMae’s sales force. SallieMae became aggressive for profits and created many conflicts of interest by infiltrating schools. [SallieMae] “paid colleges to make Sallie Mae the campus student loan provider, enlisted financial aid officers to serve on the company’s advisory boards, and installed Sallie Mae employees in university call centers to offer financial advice to students.” SallieMae is no longer in the cat bird seat, a diminished institution. | aggressive tactics; bank issued loans; Bennett hypothesis; bubble; crisis; greed; higher tuition gets rid of undesirables; predatory politicians and profiteers; Reaganomics; stock; student loan history; tuition |
April 2024 Colleges with the Richest Graduates | The college with the richest graduates isn't an Ivy League university, based on data. Here are the top 100. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careersandeducation/the-college-with-the-richest-graduates-isn-t-an-ivy-league-school-based-on-data-here-are-the-top-100/ss-BB1lYxUj?ocid=aardhp | This is a slide show with 100 slides of colleges, career pay and percentage of STEM degrees statistics. It provides selling points for the schools (bragging rights). There is constant inspirational wording. | abundance; accepted to grad school; affiliates; alumni; assistance and tracking; awards; best start; big companies; business-heavy; career coaching; career fairs; celebrate; classification; collaborations; commitment; community; complement; connection; consistently ranked well; consulting; continuing education; co-op program; cooperative education; courage; degree; drawn; employment; excellence; experiential learning; famous; fellowships; fields; financial; geographic range of employment; graduate school; graduates in high demand; guidance; halting disparities; higher than average; honor system; illustrious; independent; initiative; inventorship; ivy league; job placement; large medical system; leadership; learn by doing; leg up to find work; micro-internship programs; military; most popular majors; navigate; near-perfect; notable; pay; peace corps; plethora; popular industries; portal to companies; President of the United States; prestige; pride; prizes; professional; rank; research university; responsibility; robust internship; scholarships; service; social innovation; solve the world’s challenges; specializing; stellar; STEM; studies; top employers; top fields; top firms; uncommon; unique degrees; variety of jobs; virtual career fairs; virtual open hours; winners; workforce |
2021 Wage Premium | The College Payoff - More Education Doesn’t Always Mean More Earnings https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/collegepayoff2021/ | Earnings generally increase with more education. Gaps in earnings widen with age. Earnings vary substantially by undergraduate major. Some stem and health occupations pay better. "Earnings disparities persist by gender and race and ethnicity.” “Lifetime earnings vary by education level, field of study, occupation, industry, gender, race and ethnicity, and location.” Also, the higher the salary, the worse the work/life balance. These statistics cover employees who never fell (suffered a setback, like a layoff; an ill child or parent; or a business failure). This report was issued by Georgetown University, one of the student loan profiteers. | |