Importance of Higher Education

Higher education has become a staple of American society. With over 20 million students attending over 4,500 degree granting institutions, the role that higher education has played on larger society is paramount (Thelin, 2017). However, despite the popularity of higher education institutions, the exact purpose of higher education has changed from century to century and may serve different purposes depending on who is asked. Higher education today is arguably both a public and private good. While state and federal governments have invested in a variety of higher education initiatives, as well as assisted thousands of students with attending college through loans and scholarships in hopes that students use their acquired skills and

The system of higher education in America could be in trouble. Due to dramatic change in what society values, they could soon be under attack. In the two articles that I analyzed, these issues were discussed in further detail. The first article was titled, “The Future of College” and was written by Graeme Wood. Its purpose was to draw attention to a new approach at education. The second article, “The Troubled Future of Colleges and Universities”, written by Gary King and Maya Sen, focused on the obstacles that universities are facing and gave suggestions of ways to overcome them. Along with this, both articles, addressed what education may look like in the future. With the development of technology and information from new studies, many wonder what the outcome could be. Will lecture style classes remain? Could higher education convert to a completely online experience? What is the most effective teaching method? In the first article, Wood argues for a completely online education. Whereas, the other article believes that universities need to focus on the importance of research. However, students learn in different ways, therefore, today’s higher education institutes should offer a variety of instructional methods.

Consequently, knowledge is power; higher education’s primary role and contribution to economic development remains in its traditional obligation: creating an educated society. In addition to that, the current economy has caused the conventional academic mission to be extremely significant (Rockefeller Institute of Government, 2010). The paradigm shift in the twenty-first century is more knowledge

The article " America's Most Overrated Product: Higher Education" exposes the reality behind universities and the attending students. Colleges and universities are a business and, as a business, their main concern is revenue. The teachers in a university are commended on their ability to obtain research funds, instead of being praised on their ability to teach alumni. Statistics show that the most prominent incoming alumni are not prepared for college, much less those that did not even attempt to prosper scholarly wise in high school. The high drop out rate for universities show that the instructors and the students

College tuition rates are rising and students are not prepared for post graduation life because college's main priority is not the academics, it’s the amenities. College's main focus is quickly shifting away from the betterment of their

College in the United States these days has become more of a business with the intention of reaping a huge profit than an educational institution with the intent of transmitting valuable knowledge

Personal growth, expanded understanding of the world and social movement are the most consistent outputs of a college education. The power of an education and its ability to change both the way an individual lives and thinks cannot be understated. The educational system and its ability to affect the positive growth of our nation allows the government to fully harness the powers of its people. Humanity has long depended on the expansion of human knowledge and technology to further human progress. America as the most powerful and wealthy nation in the world must take measures to expand their university system to further meet the increasing demand for educated workers in a globalized economy. The current free market system has pushed the need for a solution for universities to furnish domestic companies with skilled workers. We can solve the student debt crisis by adapting to a more universal stance on education, in doing so we will greatly improve the quality of life for our population. In this essay I will discuss why education should be made available to all, the value of an education and some problems and solutions to solve the current struggles of our educational system to better meet the needs of our citizens.

The United States have long been held in high esteem by their peers for their higher education system’s ability to produce the best and brightest young adults that can impact the world. Students in our nation have a choice whether or not to attend prestigious higher-level institutions in order to educate themselves and prepare themselves for the job market. The U.S. has an outstanding reputation of educating students as well as making education available to everyone in the country. Whether it be a public university, private university or a for-profit institution, people can easily find a way to pursue their academic goals. However, many students graduate college with the inability to find a job because they weren 't properly trained and with massive debt due to the extremely high price of tuition at most universities. College is viewed as a necessity, but is priced as a luxury. This is leading to a drastic downturn to the success of the United States education system. Changes have to be made in regard to how universities are funded as well as universities reevaluating where their responsibilities truly lie—either making a profit or preparing students for the workforce in order to ensure the growth and posterity of the United States.

Throughout the ages, society has evolved to overcome the challenges it faces from one generation to the next, by learning and advancing further than the previous ones. It has undergone a vast number of changes; however, mankind has never undermined the importance and necessity of a complex and well-educated society. Moreover, it is the duty of each one of us to make sure that the next generation takes a step further than the previous one. With this in mind, society has understood the importance of higher education for the future. Yet, the hesitation we witness today to pursue a degree is due to the high cost of student loans. Truly this is a terrifying thing which cannot be ignored, as it has a direct impact on the

With the rapid development of economy, there is the tendency that education has become commercialized – colleges and universities have become such business enterprises that everything is measured in terms of profits. People tend to associate education with money and believe that education can eventually bring huge profits in the long run. Nonetheless, some people are ambivalent about this phenomenon. While they asserting universities should be businessization because in the real world, everything is connected with money. At the same time, they deem the essence of education, to process of gaining knowledge, skills, and information, is twisted. If education becomes materialized, it is not only misleading but also detrimental. In Ask not what you can do for your university, but what your university can do for you, an article appeared in the UCLA Student WebZine, the author points out insightfully that the change occurred within the structure of American university system from a “high-brow institute of knowledge” to a “business enterprise”(OW 293). As a result of this shift, students “attending college view their university education not as a valuable opportunity to gain knowledge, but rather as a purchase. Undergraduates invest tuition money to attend classes and, in turn, expect to receive a degree that will then precipitate a financially successful career”(OW 293). This

The facts describe which candidate gets the most support from the college degree and without the college degree. The statistics explains. “Black women without college degrees were the most strongly in favor of Clinton, giving her 95% of their vote (compared to 91% for black women with a degree), while black men with a college degree gave only 78% of their votes to Clinton and 16% to Trump”(Durkee 1). According to research when we compared to college degree or without college degree that shows majority of without college degree black women support the Clinton and votes her 95 percent from 91 percent black woman with a degree. However, Black men with a college degree votes Clinton 78 percent and trump got 16 percent from black men.

The American higher education system has not be stagnant, over the years it has changed and adjusted to each new circumstance it has encountered (Altbach, Gumport, & Berdahl, 2011, p. 16). The recent downfall of the status of the American economy has not only affected businesses and consumers; it has also affected institutions of higher education. The American higher education system is facing budget shortfalls, decreasing student retention, low graduation rates, and increasing institutional competition.

This paper will examine five emerging trends associated with the future of higher education. Within the United States higher education has become commercialized. Obtaining a college degree has been marketed as a necessity for anyone seeking a successful future. The increased demand results in increased costs, both for the institution and the student. University administrators recognize the increased demand for a college education and

In today’s society getting an education is so important. Receiving an education is seen as a necessity that everyone should have. Now a day’s it’s almost impossible to get a job without having a college degree. Receiving a college degree is an honor and privilege, it’s also something that everyone should achieve but unfortunately not everyone is given this opportunity. Being given the opportunity to achieve a college degree is an exceptional thing that should not be taken for granted. Based on the statistics found in the source “If the World Were a Village”, it states what if only 7 out of 100 people received a college degree. These statistics show the privilege it is to receive a college degree.

Twenty-one million students are anticipated to attend some sort of higher education (Barrow et al.). And tuition costs are reaching all-time highs; about high as the salary an average American makes in a year (Kay 36). This is a drastic change in the higher education system in America. Colleges used to be mainly religious institutions hundreds of years ago and were based on moral training and proper conduct. Overall, making better people for society. In the present day, American colleges are helping aid students in getting jobs while building up the student’s values. Many have pondered over if the value of higher education that is taught is worth the price being paid. Some have said that the costs are too high for anyone besides the upper class, but people are still enrolling with increased rates each year. Higher education is worth the price because it provides lifelong benefits to the people who graduate with a degree. People who obtain a degree attain life skills that everyone should learn, get paid more money in their lifetime, and gain a quality education.