For generations, a college degree was the gateway to advancement in America.
It symbolized security, upward mobility, and the promise that hard work would lead to a better life. Today, that promise is breaking down. According to a recent NBC News survey, sixty-three percent of Americans believe a four-year degree is not worth the cost. Only one-third still see it as a reliable path to a good job.
That is a dramatic shift, and it should force all of us to pause.
Education still has purpose. The issue is how our system is structured and how disconnected it has become from the economy students are actually entering. Too many graduates walk away with debt and no real skills that translate into meaningful careers. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the job market faster than institutions can adapt. Companies across industries are reducing costs with automated solutions—including that of AI. That trend is only growing. When technology can complete tasks in minutes that once required trained professionals, students question whether the return on investment makes sense. And many times, it does not.
This problem does not start in college. It starts in pre-K and runs through graduate programs. We have built an education system that is more experimental than practical. Students are encouraged to chase degrees that do not translate into stable work or promotion. Families invest their savings with the hope of progress, and instead they face uncertainty.
Students deserve confidence that their education will lead to real opportunity. That requires major reform focused on skills, affordability, and economic relevance. We need programs that teach what employers actually need, stronger pathways into vocational trades, and transparent data on outcomes so families can make informed choices.
Education, in my belief, should empower Americans, not burden them. It is time to rebuild a system that delivers on its promise.
