College application season is well underway. As New York City high school students and their families map out their futures, whether college is even “worth it” is increasingly a topic of conversation at the dinner table.
Even as a university president, I can understand why they’re raising the question.
The state of higher education is under scrutiny. Nearly three in 10 U.S. adults say college is not worth it, while about half say it is worth it but only without student loans. College is expensive — student loan debt has increased dramatically since the mid-2000s.
These factors have clearly impacted enrollment across U.S. colleges. Though the latest data shows overall undergraduate enrollment was up by 3%, freshman enrollment dropped 5% from last year — the largest decline since 2020. Enrollment of first-time freshmen dropped 4.5% in New York State. Four-year colleges with higher rates of low-income students saw a 10% enrollment drop. While it may be true that college isn’t for everyone, I believe many students who would benefit are opting out because of the assumption that all institutions are out of reach.
Despite the seeming doom and gloom, many institutions are stepping up to the plate in the face of these challenges, creating more accessible pathways to higher education. And they’re supporting students through completion of the degree — not just getting in. Part of my role as president of the University of Mount Saint Vincent in the Bronx is to lay out that vision for prospective students and their families. Whether you’re a soon-to-be high school graduate, an adult learner considering college, or a parent expanding your job prospects, I want to make the case for higher education to you.
College creates lifelong social mobility for graduates — take it from me, a first generation college grad who is now the president of a university that has been named No. 1 among northern colleges for social mobility two years in a row. In 2022, people ages 25 to 34 with a bachelor’s degree had median earnings 59% higher than those with just high school diplomas ($41,800 versus $66,600). Lifetime median earnings among bachelor’s graduates can be nearly $1 million more than high school graduates, on average.
Degrees often open doors to more stable, higher-paying, and fulfilling careers. More adults ages 25 to 30 with a bachelor’s degree report that their work aligns with their natural talents and interests compared to those the same ages without postsecondary education (50% versus 79%), according to a Lumina Foundation/Gallup report.
A degree can also usher in opportunities for students’ long-term success in all areas of their lives, such as better personal health and feeling more positive about their lives. College provides a unique environment where students can nurture interests and gain critical-thinking skills to thrive in the long term.
Still, in order to ensure more people access higher education and the associated benefits, institutions must add more pathways to college. Programs geared towards making college actually work for students — not against them with mountains of debt — can elevate the value of a degree and create a clearer pathway to graduation.
One example is our new, two-year program, Seton College, designed to ensure students graduate debt-free. We also provide students with free breakfast and lunch, a laptop and books, dedicated faculty and a social worker to surround them with support. And we don’t wait for students to knock on our doors: We partner with more than three dozen local high schools across the Bronx and Yonkers to identify students who would benefit from our program.
Our approach at Seton College, based on the Come to Believe Network model and the first of its kind in New York, has shown success elsewhere. Another similar program, Loyola University’s Arrupe College, has a two-year graduation rate of 85% — six times the national rate for associate degrees.
Making college both affordable and accessible can make college “worth it” for young people. At the Mount, students are flourishing due to these efforts; enrollment has trended upwards the last decade. It goes beyond money: we also prioritize students’ retention and degree completion, in addition to their passions and talents.
Whether the Mount is your best fit school or not, the case for higher education is clear with the right program. Searching for a school that puts the student at the center of the conversation is vital to set up young people for success in college.
Burns is the president of the University of Mount Saint Vincent in the Bronx.
