My initial years in college were filled with tension. I was a 22-year-old married father during my freshman year, juggling family responsibilities with academic demands. Life felt chaotic, and I often found myself dozing off on public transport, waking up in unfamiliar locations. Though I didn’t fit the mold of a traditional student, I did manage to develop a solid foundation in essential skills like research and studying.
Now, I work at a university within the academic division of a Division I athletics program. Honestly, I’ve noticed that the freshmen and sophomores today don’t seem to put in the same level of effort that I did. Yes, I realize this may sound like the classic tale of “when I was your age,” but it’s true. For instance, in my freshman composition class, I was required to produce a hefty 25-page research paper. In my seven years in higher education, I’ve yet to see a similar assignment come across my desk.
A new study in the book Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses supports my suspicions. Researchers examined 3,000 full-time, traditional-age students across 29 campuses, employing the Collegiate Learning Assessment, a standardized test designed to measure critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and writing skills. The findings aren’t encouraging.
During the first two years, a staggering 45% of students exhibited no meaningful improvement in learning. That’s less than half. In years three and four, only 36% showed minimal progress. While that’s an improvement, it begs the question for parents sending their children to college: “What’s the point?”
As an educator who has long advocated for higher education, I must admit these results are disheartening. Complicating matters, the average GPA of students in the study was 3.2, indicating they are doing just enough to pass while acquiring few valuable skills.
This raises several questions. Are high schools better preparing students than colleges? Perhaps. It may depend on the high school attended. I’ve seen students arrive at the university with nearly a full year of college credits, while others struggle with junior high reading levels.
Could it be that colleges are lowering their standards to increase graduation rates? This seems likely. Many U.S. colleges have faced significant enrollment fluctuations over the past two decades, and with more students and reduced funding, the pressure on resources and staff accountability is real.
As noted by USA Today, “Instructors tend to be more focused on their own faculty research than teaching younger students, who in turn are more tuned in to their social lives.” This observation rings true as I frequently see students glued to their phones during class, scrolling social media instead of engaging with the material.
Additionally, many introductory classes are taught by adjunct faculty—recent graduate students seeking teaching experience—who often juggle multiple teaching roles across different institutions. This model allows universities to cut costs but raises questions about instructor engagement and student accountability.
It’s clear that college isn’t what it used to be. About 50% of students in this study reported never taking a course in a typical semester that required them to write more than 20 pages, and 32% claimed they never had a class where they read more than 40 pages weekly.
Interestingly, the study does not address the significant impact of the Internet on learning. With various apps and websites offering class notes, study guides, and summaries, the necessity of reading textbooks seems diminished.
So, does this mean college is a complete waste of money? I wouldn’t go that far. Some students might thrive more in trade schools, often pushed into college by parents and advisors. Yet, I believe there’s still value in higher education, despite its evident flaws that need urgent attention.
For those interested in exploring alternative paths, this resource offers insights into home insemination, while this site provides authoritative information on the topic. Additionally, this blog is a great resource for pregnancy and home insemination advice.
Summary:
A recent study reveals that many college students show little improvement in critical skills, raising concerns about the value of a college education. While it may not be entirely worthless, there are significant issues that need addressing within the system.