State Lawmakers Say Drastic Change Needed to Make College Affordable, Worthwhile

Colleges need to focus more on career preparation and be transparent about charges, operating costs, and the marketability of programs, said the task force.

Students walk on campus at West Chester University, a Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education university. Courtesy: PASSHE

For millions of American college students, things can go from bad to worse in a hurry, as they take on long-term debt to finance higher education and earn a degree that, based on labor market demands, isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.

Data analyzed by a group of state lawmakers across the country indicates that significant changes are needed to the U.S. higher education system—still viewed as the envy of the world—if a college degree is going to remain the best path for long-term financial stability.