The Future of Higher Education

It is time to be frank. Among the vast and varied institutions that make up U.S. higher education, we have found equal parts meritocracy and mediocrity. As Americans, we can take pride in our Nobel Prizes, our scientific breakthroughs, our Rhodes Scholars. But we must not be blind to the less inspiring realities of college life in our nation: • For all the strides we have made toward widespread access to post-secondary education, the complex interplay of poor academic preparation, inadequate information, and lingering financial barriers means that that too few of those who could benefit from college actually attend. • Among high school graduates who do make it on to post-secondary education, a troubling number of undergraduates waste time – and taxpayer dollars – mastering English and math skills that they should have learned in high school. • Rising costs, combined with a confusing, inadequate financial aid system, leave some students struggling to pay for education that, paradoxically, is of uneven and at times dubious quality.
Excerpt from The Commision of Higher Education Report