College Uncovered: Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Higher Education

Preparing for college can be a stressful and confusing time for many teens and their families. Understanding the application process, along with the many problems, pitfalls and risks that are part of the system, can feel like a daunting experience. GBH News, in collaboration with The Hechinger Report, addresses these challenges through "College Uncovered," a podcast designed to help families navigate the complexities of higher education and provide prospective students with the information they need at every stage.

The Mission of "College Uncovered"

"College Uncovered" aims to reveal the inner workings of colleges and pull back the ivy a little bit to explain to consumers, students, families, how colleges really work. GBH's higher education reporter Kirk Carapezza, co-host of the podcast, notes that colleges are not always completely forthcoming about how they operate, leading to confusion, distrust, and financial anxiety among students and families. The podcast focuses on smaller stories that illuminate the bigger picture, addressing the increasing loss of faith in college among Americans.

Addressing the Crisis of Confidence in Higher Education

Surveys indicate a decline in Americans' confidence in higher education. Fewer Americans are going to college straight out of high school. Today, almost half of American parents said they'd prefer that their children not enroll in a four-year program right out of high school. Many families are worried about the crushing debt that college can bring or that their children might graduate and end up underemployed. Four in 10 college graduates are underemployed now. Moreover, families often struggle to obtain basic information, such as the actual cost of attendance and the time it would take to graduate.

Insider Details for All Families

Recognizing that many parents are turning to expensive consultants for guidance, "College Uncovered" seeks to provide insider details to families who cannot afford such services. The podcast avoids relying on "experts" and college presidents, instead focusing on the factors that have made the college admissions process so convoluted. One episode, titled "Affirmative Action for the Rich," examines how wealthy families game the system, such as through early decision programs. Many schools are admitting more than half of their classes early, which benefits rich families who can afford to accept an offer before seeing a financial aid package. During the pandemic, some schools were admitting a significant portion of their classes early.

Another episode explores sophomore admissions, addressing the fact that one in four college students won't make it to their sophomore year. Colleges sometimes admit students as sophomores, even after rejecting their initial applications, to fill seats, maintain enrollment and revenue, and improve their college rankings.

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The Value of a College Education

While acknowledging the debate around the value of a college education, Carapezza emphasizes that, on average, going to college does pay off over a lifetime. However, he notes that 40 million Americans have some college but no degree and still owe money on their loans. The traditional narrative of guaranteed success through a four-year degree is being questioned, and students and families are increasingly focused on job placement and return on investment.

Colleges are facing a financial and enrollment reckoning. There are roughly two million fewer college students nationwide than a decade ago, and the share of high school graduates going straight to college has dropped from about 70% to around 50%.

Political Influences and Higher Education

Throughout the election campaign, Donald Trump railed against colleges and universities for being too expensive, too partisan and too woke. With Trump returning to the White House, how much of his higher education message is rhetoric and how much will be policy? "College Uncovered" explores the potential changes to college under a new Trump administration. Trump's anti-elite tone resonates with many working-class Americans.

The podcast also examines the potential impact of Trump's policies on international students and the Education Department. Trump's hardline immigration policies in his first term contributed to a decline in international student enrollment, which affects colleges' bottom lines. Additionally, proposals to eliminate the Education Department raise concerns about the future of college and university finance.

Republicans have criticized colleges for their handling of campus unrest, particularly regarding protests over the war in Gaza. Trump has proposed creating a free national online college to circumvent in-person campuses.

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Alternative Pathways and Apprenticeships

Recognizing the growing skepticism towards traditional four-year degrees, "College Uncovered" also explores alternative pathways such as apprenticeships. Apprenticeships have long been a route into jobs in the trades but are now expanding into technology, health care, and other fields. These programs offer hands-on skills training, paid wages, and the promise of a permanent job upon completion. Both presidential candidates have supported the expansion of apprenticeship programs, reflecting a broader shift towards recognizing the value of skills-based education.

Dropping degree requirements can also give a big boost to Americans who can’t afford to go to college or simply don’t. Degree requirements and degrees themselves have always been a proxy for skills, and the marketplace has recognized that it is an effective proxy for skills.

Academic Freedom and Political Pressure

The podcast addresses concerns about academic freedom and political pressure on college campuses. A survey by Inside Higher Ed found that a majority of faculty members believe academic freedom is under threat across the political spectrum. Some professors feel that anyone who’s not a hard left progressive is openly mocked and derided. Meanwhile, on the left, professors say Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance are facing mounting pressure from all sides. Trump has targeted several highly-selective, wealthy universities, slashing federal research funding and questioning their tax-exempt status - painting them as overpriced and out-of-touch bastions of liberalism.

Trump’s plan includes defending the American tradition and western civilization, protecting free speech, eliminating wasteful administrative positions that drive up costs incredibly, removing all Marxist diversity, equity and inclusion bureaucrats, offering options for accelerated and low-cost degrees, providing meaningful job placement and career services and implementing college entrance and exit exams to prove that students are actually learning and getting their money’s worth.

Adapting to Changing Times

Colleges are adapting to the changing landscape of higher education by restructuring and rebranding programs to emphasize applied humanities, weaving career preparation directly into the curriculum. GBH’s Kirk Carapezza visits Brandeis University and Clark University to learn how two liberal arts schools are responding to some of the biggest challenges the higher education industry has faced in decades. In this episode of College Uncovered, hosts Kirk Carapezza and Jon Marcus explore how some colleges are rebranding liberal arts as “applied humanities” or “leadership studies” to better connect with career paths and market demand.

Artificial intelligence is transforming how professors teach and how students learn. Some educators are leaning in, treating AI as a teaching partner. Others are leaning out, doubling down on in-person, discussion-based learning. Either way, one thing is clear: AI isn’t going anywhere.

Online Education

Online higher education has come a long way since its predecessor, the correspondence school. The universal shift to remote learning during the pandemic only accelerated that momentum. The single fastest-growing group of students in college? This may come as a surprise - they’re still in high school.

Re-engaging Adult Learners

ReUp Education CEO Terah Crews said her organization has already helped bring back tens of thousands of adult students through their work with states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois and New Jersey, which launched the nation’s first statewide ReUp initiative.

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