America’s Most Overrated Product: the Bachelor’s Degree

I came across an interesting article on the universal applicability of a college education. The argument here is not against any post-high school education; rather against using a blanket approach for every individual. I think it is worth a read.

Here is an excerpt.

Unbelievably, according to the Spellings Report, which was released in 2006 by a federal commission that examined the future of American higher education, things are getting even worse: “Over the past decade, literacy among college graduates has actually declined. … According to the most recent National Assessment of Adult Literacy, for instance, the percentage of college graduates deemed proficient in prose literacy has actually declined from 40 to 31 percent in the past decade. … Employers report repeatedly that many new graduates they hire are not prepared to work, lacking the critical thinking, writing and problem-solving skills needed in today’s workplaces.”

What must be done to improve undergraduate education? Colleges should be held at least as accountable as tire companies are. When some Firestone tires were believed to be defective, government investigations, combined with news-media scrutiny, led to higher tire-safety standards. Yet year after year, colleges and universities turn out millions of defective products: students who drop out or graduate with far too little benefit for the time and money spent. Not only do colleges escape punishment, but they are rewarded with taxpayer-financed student grants and loans, which allow them to raise their tuitions even more.

Click here to read the entire article.

I graduated from college back in 2000 with an engineering degree. During my several years of active duty service in the US Navy submarine force I met many enlisted guys who had spent multiple years at college only to waste thousands (of their parents’ usually) dollars and not graduate. (Too much beer or something.) To each his (or her) own. I think the Navy was an outstanding place for them to make a positive contribution, learn a valuable skill, gain some true patriotism, and grow up somewhat. The Navy also provided them with a great way to pay for college if that turned out to be a goal for them in the future.

I welcome any comments.