I came across an interesting article recently that suggests higher ed has forgotten its aim. Steven Mintz, author and professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin, posits that higher ed has strayed too far from its traditional purpose: providing a holistic liberal arts education that produces students who are “life-ready.”

The college education of today, he writes, is “pragmatic and narrowly utilitarian” in its attempt to prioritize “discipline-specific knowledge and career preparation.” He identifies this shift as the reason college has “lost the ability to inspire,” which we’ve seen reflected in the broader conversation about people questioning the value of a 4-year degree.

I loved this article and thought it raised excellent points about the current state of higher education. Still, I can’t help but believe that preparing students to be life-ready vs. job-ready isn’t a matter of either/or but both/and. Surely, higher ed is a big enough umbrella that there can be more than one point to a college education.

The Many Facets of Higher Education

The spectrum of students interested in pursuing higher education is broad. The options available to them must reflect their range of needs and lived experiences.

Students who want the traditional “coming-of-age” experience on a college campus can find it when they choose to pursue a 4-year degree at a liberal arts school. A college education at one of these schools should align with the type of education Mintz reminisces about.

However, not all students have the privilege of approaching higher education from that perspective. Many first-generation and adult learners, for instance, are primary wage earners or contributing members to their families’ finances. Understandably, they’re more concerned with the return on their investment than the campus experience. They may choose to earn an online degree, microcredential, or badge to help them secure a job. So it makes sense for those programs to focus more on career preparation.

Advice to Colleges: Know Thyself, but Be Willing to Evolve 

There is a trend right now of schools and programs trying to be everything to everyone: community colleges offering 4-year degrees, liberal arts schools offering hard science specializations, and public university teaching schools offering PhD programs.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with adapting and evolving. In fact, it’s critical if schools hope to remain relevant as our society and the people who live and work in it change. But ask yourself: Are the changes you’re making mission-aligned? 

My advice to colleges is always to know thyself and center that self-knowledge in any decisions you make. What is your mission, and who is the population you aim to serve? How can you fulfill your mission and be more agile and accessible? (There’s another good example of both/and.) 

The answer will be different for every school—and potentially even every program. Becoming more accessible won’t always mean adding a new program or degree. It could involve embracing modalities like online learning (which is more than hosting a lecture on Zoom) or the possibilities of AI.

There is, of course, the financial aspect to consider in every decision. Colleges are closing at an average rate of one per week, and schools that remain open face significant pressure to remain financially viable. After all, it’s impossible to fulfill any mission if your doors are closed.

The Point of a College Education Is…

So, what is the point of a college education? The frustrating but honest answer is… it depends. Students aren’t a monolith. Higher education isn’t a monolith. The best thing schools can do is continue meeting their learners’ needs in a way that is mission-aligned, adaptive, and financially sound. The higher ed umbrella is big enough for everyone.

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