Why longer degrees are in decline in the US

Some education experts argue would-be students are “locked in” to the rhetoric that all colleges are too expensive — only 22% of US adults believe the cost is worth it, according to research by the Pew Research Center — and point to evidence that a bachelor’s degree eventually translates into higher lifetime earnings. But others say foregoing a degree can be a “rational economic decision” depending on the industry, and that ultimately US higher education institutions are “losing the battle to prove they are worth America’s time and money.” The cost of a college degree is immediate, but getting a return on that investment takes time, and isn’t guaranteed, Business Insider noted.

Many of Britain’s universities face funding shortfalls as the drop in non-EU overseas students — due to policies aimed at cutting immigration — starts to bite, Semafor reported. That’s created the “doubly dangerous” situation of declining admissions and higher costs amid soaring inflation, one vice-chancellor told The Guardian. More funding is needed, but so is “more honest debate about what — and who — a modern university education really is for,” a columnist argued. So-called “Mickey Mouse” degrees that are seen to offer poor value for money — the top three being drama, geography, and business studies, according to a survey reported by the right-leaning Telegraph — have come under fire, though that metric may overlook the “soft skills” such courses provide, a drama graduate argued in The Independent.