Young people wary of college. 

The Future of Learning

Higher education has a lot of work to do when it comes to proving its value to potential students, according to a new study conducted in 2023 by HCM Strategies and Edge Research. The study, based on focus groups with high school students, as well as young people who chose not to attend college or dropped out, found that the high schoolers were more likely to equate the importance of college with future job prospects and earning power than they were with building knowledge and skills. High schoolers and young people who aren’t enrolled in school rated the value of both two- and four-year college above vocational education and bootcamps, but below on-the-job training and coursework that culminates in a certificate or license. The biggest factors dissuading both groups from going to college were the cost, a lack of interest in school, unclear return on investment and the related stress and pressure of attending. The study was funded by the Gates Foundation, which is also one of Hechinger’s many funders.