Is Higher Education Worth the Price

The rising cost of college has led many students and families to ask the same question: is it still worth it? For decades the answer seemed to be yes, but now it's not that clear. The documentary Ivory Tower shows how the cost of higher education has ballooned, driven by expenses that have little to do with learning. Andrew Hacker and Claudia Dreifus argue that colleges have lost focus on students valuing prestige over teaching. Sanford J. Ungar pushes back against critics of the liberal arts, believing that broad learning has value. And David Foster Wallace, in his Kenyon commencement speech, emphasizes that the true purpose of education is not just about jobs but about how we live. Taking these perspectives together, I believe higher education is worth the price, but only if we recognize its deeper purpose beyond money. 

The Ivory Tower documentary highlights the problem of rising debt. Students face tuition costs that lead to decades of loans. Many colleges invest tons of money in new buildings, sports programs, and amenities to compete for applicants. While these things look appealing, they often do little to improve the actual learning experience. The film makes it clear that the business side of higher education has overtaken the educational mission. Still, it also shows alternatives like community colleges and online courses that make education more accessible. The value of learning is not gone, just hidden under unnecessary costs. Hacker and Dreifus in “Are Colleges Worth the Price of Admission?” raise a similar concern. They argue that universities focus too much on research and status instead of students. Their solution is straightforward: make teaching the priority again. They believe students should have more meaningful interactions with professors rather than paying for things that have little impact on their growth. In their view, the problem is not education but how it is delivered. If colleges put students first, the price would feel more justified. 

            Ungar in “The New Liberal Arts” offers another perspective. Many critics see the liberal arts as outdated or impractical. Ungar disagrees. He argues that skills learned like critical thinking, communication, and adaptability are exactly what people need in today’s world. Technical training can prepare someone for a first job, but the economy is changing so quickly that those skills may not last. A broader education helps people adapt and remain valuable in the long run. From this view, higher education is not just about landing a job right after graduation but about preparing for a lifetime of challenges. Wallace adds a more personal and philosophical layer. In his Kenyon speech, he explained that the true benefit of education is learning how to think in ways that go beyond our “default setting.” He warned that without awareness; people can go through life stuck in selfish patterns and routines. Education, for Wallace, teaches the ability to see the world differently, to live with empathy, and to find meaning in daily life. This is not something that can be measured in a paycheck, but it is arguably more valuable than money.