Do you believe a college education is key to success in life? That has certainly been the mindset for decades. However, an article indicated that faith in college education may be waning.

Main point: “Higher education needs reinvention to once again be viewed as a guaranteed path to economic prosperity.”

More about it:

• “When families lose faith in college’s value, they’re less likely to participate in it. Fewer students means less political support for higher education funding, which leads to higher costs for the remaining students, further eroding confidence.”
• “…an estimated 72 percent of jobs will require postsecondary education or training. The economy is becoming more knowledge-intensive, not less.”
• “The disconnect between public perception and economic reality undermines the skilled workforce America needs to compete globally.”

How to deal with it:

• “Federal and state databases can show what students study and how much they earn.”
• “Labor market projections show which industries are growing and what skills they need.”
• “Without using this information to diagnose these problems, colleges can’t fix them, and students continue to waste their time and money on programs that don’t deliver on their promises.”

The approach:

• “…follow students into the workforce and ask hard questions: Are they getting jobs? Do their salaries justify the cost? Are they advancing in their careers?”
• “…colleges need to match their programs to actual job opportunities.”
• “…colleges must bridge skill gaps between curriculum and employer needs.”

Young people seeking calling and career should spend time questioning their mentors for help in making the college decision.

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