A Woman’s View: Is college worth it anymore?

SALT LAKE CITY — In today’s world, we often hear the narrative that college isn’t worth it anymore. 

A recent poll shows that only 36% of adult Americans believe higher education is important. 

 

Here in Utah, enrollment in college is up — the state is currently educating 207,000 college students.

Where is the disconnect?

This is the question KSL Newsradio’s Amanda Dickson asked on A Woman’s View. She brought on elementary and middle school teacher and chairperson of the Colonial Heritage Festival Kimberly Gardner. She also invited popular speaker, host, author and mental health advocate Ganel-Lyn Condie and Kelli Pierce, digital media associate with the R Street Institute. 

A younger generation’s shift 

Gardner has been teaching elementary and middle school for 33 years. She says as much as she’s talked to kids about college in the past, right now she’s just trying to get kids through high school. 

“We’ve got kids coming to us — they don’t want to be educated,” she said. “I keep saying the more education, whether it be a trade or a college, the more opportunities they have. I just don’t know if it’s getting through to them” 

Condie says in her experience with her own kids, who are in their mid 20s, has shown her that the younger generation has gone through a shift. Many believe college is too much money for not a lot of value. 

Condie also believes that COVID-19 informed a lot of these shifting attitudes towards college, along with the modernization of the world and the constant access to “live time” information.

But it’s important, Condie says, especially for women to have “certification or degree that does not transfer out depending on your life situation — something that cannot be taken from you.” 

Where is the value in college? 

Pierce says the statistics showing college enrollment in Utah has increased make sense, primarily because there is cheaper in-state tuition here than in other states. 

But she says it’s probably difficult for young people to see value in a degree.  

“I got a degree in English, but for most of my jobs it was completely unnecessary,” she said. 

She also said college institutions aren’t exactly “modernizing” to meet the needs of younger generations. 

“It’s almost like they are speaking to a very small sliver of the country. That doesn’t actually get people to come in,” she says. “Because if you’re only speaking in code words to your preferred group … how is that attractive to a person?”

She said it’s important to keep these ideas in mind if a community’s goal is to increase college enrollment.

Emma Keddington a producer and reporter for KSL NewsRadio.

Amanda Dickson is the co-host of Utah’s Morning News and A Woman’s View on KSL NewsRadio. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.