The Case For College Got Too Small

The article argues that the case for college has become too narrow, focusing excessively on career returns while neglecting higher education’s civic mission. It cites research from the Institute for Citizens & Scholars indicating that Americans rate preparing committed citizens with shared civic values as highly important, with 90% of respondents viewing citizen formation as a key mission. The piece says that, despite rising costs and risk, promoting only personal benefits of a degree fails to persuade many Americans without bachelor’s degrees. It also points to a renewed emphasis on civic preparedness on campuses. A snapshot from the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness coalition, covering 135 campuses across different types of institutions, found 85% increased investment in civic preparedness in 2025. The article mentions James Madison University in Virginia introducing a program for its first-year students called Better Conversations Together.