Category Archives: future of education

Massachusetts removes college degree requirements from most state jobs

Posted on February 14, 2024 by Bryan Alexander

Over the past year at least a dozen American states have taken a very interesting step.  They have removed a college degree requirement for applicants to some or most state jobs.  It’s a way of helping people “break the paper … Continue reading →

Posted in future of education | 4 Comments

Losing faith in the value of college: an important Wall Street Journal article

Posted on January 24, 2024 by Bryan Alexander

(Greetings from a hectic month.  I’m writing this right after starting to teach a big class, participating in several professional events, and now traveling to Qatar.  Greetings from the Istanbul Airport.) How are Americans turning away from higher education? I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in future of education | 2 Comments

From 2023 to 2024: academia and climate change

Posted on December 30, 2023 by Bryan Alexander

2023 is almost through and we prepare ourselves for 2024. Today I’ll continue my reflections on the two years with an emphasis on one topic.  (Here’s my previous post.) The past year has been the hottest on record, which is … Continue reading →

Posted in climatechange, future of education | 12 Comments

From 2023 to 2024: a growing academic civil war

Posted on December 28, 2023 by Bryan Alexander

2023 is nearly done, for which many people are no doubt thankful. In several blog posts I’d like to look back at the year before it’s over to identify some trends which look likely to shape 2024. Today’s topic is … Continue reading →

Posted in future of education, politics | 6 Comments

America’s higher education consensus is breaking up: responding to Paul Tough

Posted on September 27, 2023 by Bryan Alexander

What happens to academia and society if we stop thinking higher education is for everyone? A new entry into this emerging line of thought comes from Paul Tough, who recently published a powerful article in the New York Times.  “Americans … Continue reading →

Posted in future of education | 12 Comments

How high will today’s largest endowments grow by 2055?

Posted on September 10, 2023 by Bryan Alexander

How might the richest American colleges and universities develop in the future? I’ve been looking at this small yet superinfluential slice of higher education for a while.  For example, since 2018 I’ve been trying to forecast when the most expensive … Continue reading →

Posted in economics, future of education | Leave a comment

When will the first university or college charge $100,000 per year?

Posted on May 12, 2023 by Bryan Alexander

When will the first American college or university charge $100,000 or more to attend? What might that mean for higher education? I first asked this question back in 2018.  I wanted to use that psychologically important six figure price as … Continue reading →

Posted in economics, future of education, higher education | Tagged | 17 Comments

American faith in higher education is declining: one poll

Posted on May 3, 2023 by Bryan Alexander

Last month the Wall Street Journal and NORC ran a poll asking Americans what they thought about their views of the nation, particularly about economics.  One question concerned higher education.  The answers to it are sobering and I’d like to … Continue reading →

Posted in future of education | 7 Comments

Redesigning higher education in the spirit of donut economics

Posted on March 13, 2023 by Bryan Alexander

How can higher education reimagine itself in response to the climate crisis? I’ve been exploring this question for years, and was very happy to encounter a new paper offering an intriguing call for academic design.  It’s about donut economics. To … Continue reading →

Posted in climatechange, future of education | 5 Comments

Employers, hire more people without college degrees, says the New York Times

Posted on January 29, 2023 by Bryan Alexander

Do employers require too many college degrees from applicants? The New York Times now thinks so.  An editorial today – not from a single author, but from the paper’s entire editorial board – calls on employers to be more open … Continue reading →

Posted in future of education, politics, trends | 5 Comments