The College Bubble and the Real World

This weekend, while reading the Wall Street Journal, I came across an opinion piece that I almost didn’t read because of its title, “How Colleges Produce Socialists.” But then, as I started to look for the next article, I read the following:

“When your first brush with adulthood involves endless consumption and no cost, it gives you the wrong idea of how the world works.”

After reading that, I decided to go back and read the piece.

I know socialism is a big subject in the United States, especially after the election of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

I found a very useful explanation of socialism on the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy website, written by Dr. Samuel Arnold of Texas Christian University.1 It says:

“Socialism is both an economic system and an ideology (in the non-pejorative sense of that term). A socialist economy features social rather than private ownership of the means of production. It also typically organizes economic activity through planning rather than market forces, and gears production towards needs satisfaction rather than profit accumulation. Socialist ideology asserts the moral and economic superiority of an economy with these features, especially as compared to capitalism. More specifically, socialists typically argue that capitalism undermines democracy, facilitates exploitation, distributes opportunities and resources unfairly, and vitiates community, stunting self-realization and human development. Socialism, by democratizing, humanizing, and rationalizing economic relations, largely eliminates these problems.”2

Anyway, what caught my eye while reading the opinion piece was the discussion about college and university students living in a miniature, highly subsidized, and centrally organized economy. Of course, the subsidized part comes from what we pay for our children to go to college, scholarships, grants, and other state and federal government funds.

Putting socialism aside and just looking at what the author of this piece, Dr. Kimberlee Josephson, a professor at Lebanon Valley College,3 said about the ecosystem students live in nowadays got me thinking about a recent college open house that we attended a few weeks ago. Yes, we are in the college-search season in the Ortiz household.

The opinion piece argues that the growing popularity of socialism among young, college-educated Americans may be influenced not only by economic frustration or politics but also by the modern university environment. Over the past several decades, colleges have evolved into highly organized residential communities that provide students with extensive services and amenities, including transportation, dining, recreation, technology, counseling, entertainment, and career support. Because many of these services are bundled into tuition and fees, students rarely encounter their individual costs or the trade-offs involved in providing them.

The author suggests that four years in this environment may make expansive government programs seem more natural to graduates. The piece also highlights that politicians such as JD Vance and Zohran Mamdani attended expensive institutions where they enjoyed extensive campus amenities. The author does not argue that either developed his political views because of his college experience. But, that these environments may influence how people think about institutions, social provision, and what constitutes a normal standard of living.

The author’s central thesis is that if we want to understand why younger, college-educated Americans are increasingly receptive to socialism and expansive government programs, we shouldn’t look only at what professors teach. We should also examine the economic environment in which students live for four formative years.

This is a very interesting point that made me think about the college open house we attended. Tuition at this particular institution is a little over $59,000 per year. If you include mandatory fees, housing, and a meal plan, the cost can go up to $84,000 per year. So, a four-year degree will add up to $336,000. That’s a lot of money, if you ask me.

Part of the open house was a tour of the campus, and our tour guide, a student, explained all the goodies: a wellness center, restaurant-style cafés, study and entertainment rooms, and more. She briefly explained the meal options, and they sounded pretty awesome. We didn’t go to see the dorms, but I saw photos of them. They all look like my first apartment when I was a young officer in the Army. Actually, they look better.

I think Dr. Josephson is making a good point. Are we creating a fantasy for our children and not doing a good job of explaining and showing them what real life is?

When I went to college, the money I had wasn’t enough to cover all my expenses, and my family didn’t help much, so I had to take a little break and join the military so I could eventually go back to school and pay the additional costs. It was a big sacrifice. I shared a small room with three roommates, ate a lot of simple meals—a can of Spam, eggs, a loaf of bread, and rice can provide a lot of meals—and didn’t enjoy many of the things that others with more resources, thanks to their parents, enjoyed. Failing a class was painful economically, so I learned that I needed to study harder in order to graduate in a reasonable amount of time.

I learned a lot about real life when I was in college and about the value of things. Of course, I don’t want my son to go through the extreme difficulties I went through, but we are definitely not spending $336,000 either. Nearby, we have a college where tuition is about $6,000 a year and another where it is about $15,000 per year. He will probably be attending one of those, and we’ll be supporting his tuition.

But the big question for me is: How can we show him that there is real life after college? A life where he needs to work to cover his needs and eventually become financially independent from his parents and the government.

That, perhaps, is the most important lesson we can teach our children before they leave the comfort of the college campus.

  1. https://addran.tcu.edu/view/samuel-arnold ↩︎
  2. https://iep.utm.edu/socialis/ ↩︎
  3. https://www.lvc.edu/profiles/dr-kimberlee-josephson/ ↩︎

134 thoughts on “The College Bubble and the Real World”

  1. My family couldn’t cover me through uni either but I also didn’t expect that they would. I had summer jobs but like you, I joined the military in order to make it through. They covered my costs, provided me with training and summer jobs, and then I owed four years after I graduated. Those four years really turned me into an adult as I was posted around the world, including in combat.

    I find that today’s helicopter parents really aren’t doing their children any favours. I looked for a path for my children that would put them in a position to grow their financial literacy but also logically and emotionally, too. Their father and I decided that they had to contribute 35% per year of their costs. That meant that they had to make some hard choices but they have both said that they really learned how to better handle their finances because of that.

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    1. That’s a great approach, Lynette. Young adults learn some tremendous lessons when they have to contribute to their education and ensure they graduate on time. Providing hundreds of thousands of dollars to kids for education without holding them accountable or teaching them some life lessons is a missed opportunity for sure.

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  2. Interesting – that’s a lot to think about. When we were touring colleges a few years ago, my husband and I were amazed at all the amenities, as compared to what we had way back when. Sounds like colleges should develop a “where your dollars go” workshop to give the kids some tangible understanding of the costs of their education. Then again, they might not want to share that info.

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    1. I think some colleges are trying to do that, and they have worksheets that allow parents and students see the costs associated with their education. Still, I don’t think many students are interested in knowing, because I know a few who still chose expensive schools, and their parents are still paying off the loans. I agree with you, the amenities are incredible and definitely not what we had when we were in college. Thank you, Gwen.

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  3. Socialism, communism, and anarchy have existed in the U.S. since the 1800s. Many young people flirt with the idea of socialism in their youth and then grow up. But it’s important for parents to teach their kids the value of hard work and working toward a goal. I agree that the education system in the U.S. is dysfunctional because it doesn’t teach kids the skills they need to succeed in a career or life in general. If kids can’t even read or think when they enter college, then they don’t belong there.

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    1. Definitely, socialist, communist, and anarchist ideas and movements have existed in the United States since then. There’s no doubt about that. You just highlighted something important: the role of parents in all of this. They need to set boundaries and teach their children that hard work is the key to success. As for education, some people might need to pursue a trade or gain some work and life experience before attempting college.

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  4. I too paid for my college and my parents would have preferred that I didn’t go but it was the way I got out of the house. Granted I started at a J.C. and then transferred to a 4 year college which was a fraction of what it is today but I learned the value of working for what I wanted.
    It’s absurd. The private high schools in our area is about 60,000 a year. Colleges are out of hand. I’m not sure my kids actually get how lucky they were to have their college tuitions paid for and yet I know they wouldn’t assume that it’s a free lunch now that they’re in the real world and starting their families.
    I personally think now it would have been better to go to a community college for them first but the pressure and message drove these decisions, sadly. Another great post with great food for thought, Edward. 💕

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    1. Thank you very much, Cindy. I’ve seen the cost of some of those private K–12 schools, and it’s crazy. I think community college is a great option, especially because most of them have agreements with local companies, so students can find employment quickly. Also, they have various programs that allow students to transfer to a four-year college if they want to follow that path.

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      1. You’re so welcome, it’s absurd. I should have made the kids go local and then again, they are all thriving. I did get tired of paying for party 101 the first semester for all of them except one however. That’s a lot of money all to be wasted… life experience? 😂😜 on my dime.. yikes.

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        1. I know. Well, my university experience wasn’t too bad, with local beers costing $0.50 or $0.75, depending on where happy hour was, and rum shots for $0.10. I was living la vida loca, just like my compatriot Ricky Martin sang. 🤣

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  5. I think your son is lucky to have such good parents. Also reminds me of a popular quote: The fire department coming to your come to put out a fire is socialism, the insurance company denying your claim is capitalism. 😊

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  6. I think we can only learn via experience. That is to say, there is no showing anyone anything unfortunately. Someone can show you how to ride a bike, but you learn by putting your rear end on the seat and pedaling. I imagine that is hard knowledge to integrate when one wishes to protect one’s child from the harsh experiences they endures. I don’t think anyone wants their kid sleep deprived from working whilst attending school and living on eggs and rice. And indeed universities profit from parental concern in that way. The biggest question of socialism versus capitalism – society is so black and white about this. As if the two systems cannot exist concurrently. It’s so weird. Just run a society that integrates the best aspects of both and boom – Healthy Society. You know what I mean?

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    1. I agree, and I think it’s all about balance. You don’t want children to struggle in school unnecessarily. You help them as much as you can, but sending them to an extremely expensive school when you’re lacking resources might be a bit too much.

      I totally understand what you mean, and I actually believe that you can use both systems to run a healthy society. This country is capable of doing that.

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  7. This subject strikes a nerve for me and I need to sort it out I guess. Not only did my parents not pay for my college education, they never once even suggested I might attend. It took years and years of night classes to get through it, and many more years to pay off the loans. I am still very glad I did it. I often dreamed of what being able to attend full time and living on campus would be like. I wonder what percentage of young people really get the kind of deluxe college experience described. It does seem much more like an issue of the widening divide between classes. The attacks on our K12 public schools seem part of it. Rather than thinking young people today aren’t being prepared for the reality of work, it could be that they are being prepared for their “place” in society.

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    1. Thank you, Lori, for your comment. You got me thinking about your point regarding the percentage of students receiving the “deluxe college experience” and whether they are being prepared for their “place” in society. Very interesting.

      Another blogger commented on the lazy river at Louisiana State University, which was built using student fees. I believe more than 40,000 students attend the university. The college we visited probably has about 3,000 students. There are probably several hundred thousand students attending colleges and universities with amenities that could be considered “deluxe.”

      Of course, not all colleges and universities offer these amenities, certainly not the couple of institutions we have been looking at in our area. The university I attended in Puerto Rico has a program called Come Colegial, which roughly translates to “Eat College Student.” The program provides meals to students in need, and a significant number of students rely on it.

      So, universities are definitely not all the same. But, you made a good point: some students are being prepared for a particular “place” in society, and many of them have wealthy parents, so their place may already be secured. At the same time, many students do not have those resources and either take on substantial debt or depend on full scholarships and other forms of financial assistance.

      I think the author’s concern is that students may become accustomed to living in a comfortable college environment for four years and then enter society after graduation expecting the same standard of living, with everything provided or paid for. Of course, that is the author’s theory, and it would be difficult to validate unless young people were asked whether their expectations of free services from the federal and state governments were influenced by their college experiences. That would be an excellent survey for someone to conduct.

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  8. Great themes for discussion, Edward! Our family is at the same juncture as yours. The sticker shock is tremendous. “Inexpensive” state school is 40K a year. Private college can be twice that much. I went to university when it was far less expensive at a state school. I participated in work study throughout school, to help pay costs. Our high school senior is very careful with money. Whether they go to a public university or get a good financial aid package for a private college, I think they will retain our family values of thrift shopping and going to the library for books.

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    1. Thank you, Rebecca. $40K a year? Definitely still expensive, but you’re right, it’s not even close to the cost of private schools. I’m sure your teen will do well and uphold your family’s values. Happy Sunday, my friend!

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  9. Great stuff, Edward. Not to paint with too broad of a brush, but I’ve come to believe (and been guilty of) that a parents dedication to doing their best for the kids (to want them to have the best, have opportunities that perhaps they never had, to provide a great life), can end up being counterproductive in the long run when they aren’t equipped to cope with the routine hardships of life. But I know I’m not smart enough to know what the right approach is when, so often, the ‘problem’ arises from a parents good intentions.

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    1. Thank you, Scott. I agree with you. I definitely want to support my son so he can be successful, but I’m also trying to set some boundaries because I don’t want to overdo it. It’s difficult, but parents need to continually assess the support they provide to make sure their children become independent one day.

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  10. Is this socialism, or is it classism? The colleges in question are those that attract the cream of the crop, and these students are given a vast array of amenities. Nothing like that happens yet today at the college I graduated from.

    For years people have posted about great finds while dumpster-diving at upscale universities at the end of the school year because the students would rather trash furniture and electronics than go to the trouble of packing and moving them to a storage rental or back home. They engaged in cancel culture, harassing and causing professors who held views different from their own to lose their positions. And when Biden catered to them by trying to cancel their college debt, I was not happy. It is true that many unknowingly signed on to predatory loans that should be amended, but to just cancel debt of upper middle class kids while poor people were still struggling after the pandemic didn’t sit right with me.

    These kids have much better job prospects than people like me who know a hell of a more about how the world really works, simply because of the institution they graduated from. If it were true socialism, we’d all be getting the goodies. But for some reason, only they do.

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    1. Classism? Maybe, but I think the author of the article is trying to connect what students receive in college—such as health insurance, meal plans, and dorms—which may seem free to them, even though their parents or someone else are paying for it, with the expectation that young adults will continue receiving these things and more for free after graduation.

      Some of these young people may be supporting the socialist movement because certain politicians are offering and promising many free services, without realizing that someone has to pay for them and that they are not actually free. So, the author may be drawing a connection between the “university experience” and the current socialist movement.

      I’m not a strong supporter of student loan forgiveness programs as a broad solution, but eligibility definitely needs to be determined on a case-by-case basis.

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  11. I was going to comment on socialism but by the end of your interesting post I decided to say only this:-
    I think your son might already be well on the way to having a realistic view of the world, given his role models.
    Kind regards,
    DD

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  12. This was a very interesting post. I see many young people accumulating debt due to student loans, yet they are unprepared to face the realities of life when they graduate. Finding a solution probably rests more with the family than the institution.
    A good post as always, Edward

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  13. Interesting article, Edward. Financial literacy, responsibility, and independence are key lessons to teach our children as parents and role models, so they understand the value of things and the consequences of choices in the real world.

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  14. I saw a morning news program piece that revealed parents are hiring designers to decorate their college student’s room. I know that as much as I contributed toward my children’s education, they didn’t live well. They all also have student loans to pay themselves. I believe that students need to be invested in their own education, that it is more meaningful if they understand its cost.

    I see now, young children living entitled lives. Older parents are splurging their children with every want. What happens when those older parents pass away and have used their savings for their own care? We don’t do our children justice when their grow up and must experience harships without the tools to understand how to do without anything extra.

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    1. Room designers? Incredible! Great point about savings. It’s sad to see parents in their seventies still paying off loans they took out to send their kids to college. Even worse if they need long-term care and don’t have the savings to cover the costs. We definitely want our children to be successful and want to help them as much as possible, but it needs to be within reason.

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  15. I don’t think this movement toward socialism is confined to just younger, college-educated Americans. Here in Wisconsin, possibly the purplest state in the country, our DSA candidate lost the Democratic primary by a little over 3,000 votes–a statistically insignificant margin. I think people of all ages and backgrounds are tired of the status quo and beginning to see that socialist ideals aren’t evil like they’ve been spoon-fed to believe all their lives.

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    1. That’s true. I think the author was focusing on the college environment because of all the heat that they are getting lately. I wish more Americans would look at independent candidates with a centrist ideology. I’m not a big fan of extremes, whether right or left. I think there are plenty of workable solutions if people just meet in the middle.

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  16. Welp – $336,000!! How exciting it must be to be in the college hunt but wow, that sounds like one amazing campus. What an interesting argument about the campus environment. My education sounds similar to yours. I went to a state school, had to work to pay my own room and board (my parents paid for tuition), and couldn’t afford to retake a class either. It was decent preparation for the real world.

    You’ve given us a lot to think about, as always, Edward. Thank you!

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    1. I know, crazy! I think we learn a lot about the real world when we are contributing to our education and have some skin in the game. We want the best for our children, but we just need to be a bit careful and not overdo it. You’re very welcome, and thank you for your comment, Wynne.

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  17. The author did present a thought-provoking perspective that actually goes beyond any ideology. I enjoyed reading your summary and your thoughts on it, Edward. So often it’s how the actual topic is presented. That title would easily put me off. I’ve found that many (maybe most) people hear the word “socialism” and instantly believe it’s the same as communism. More people than you would think, are hard pressed to distinguish between capitalism, socialism, and communism (if they can even start).
    I don’t doubt for a minute that your son will see through his parents how to cope with life after college and be prepared for its realities. 🙂 Hugs.

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    1. I didn’t like the title, but I’m glad I read it. She brought up a great perspective, especially now that the focus of most attacks is on what is going on inside the classroom. I agree with you. A lot of people mix those systems, and some don’t even know what they are. Thank you, Teagan.

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      1. I’ve been friends with several teachers over the years. Another element to it all (that most people won’t admit — or maybe even are blind to) is the heavy reliance of some parents on teachers/schools to teach kids life-skills that are beyond the school’s curriculum and responsibility. Teachers have complained to me of that, and I unfortunately had that kind of parents — expecting the schools to take care of everything that needed to be taught without the parent lifting a finger. When I compared what I learned in my little rural podunk public schools, in 4th grade, 6th or 9th grade to the things coworkers did not know, who went to well-funded schools in larger cities… I was astounded. My parents didn’t help with my learning, but I knew I had better make decent grades, so I paid attention in class. What I’m trying to say is that, all together, it leads me to believe that some of the blame needs to go back to some of the parents who are complaining. (I know that there are many excellent parents out there who are actively involved — no global statements here.) Cheers.

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        1. I absolutely agree. Parents can partner with teachers, but we cannot expect teachers and the school system to do it all. This discussion reminded me, for some reason, of the college scandal where a couple of actresses got caught giving money under the table to get their kids accepted into elite schools. We parents need to learn to keep the right perspective and help our kids do the right thing. Showing them that money is the answer to every problem is not the right message.

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  18. You’ve really hit on something here, Edward. New graduates are generally sorely unprepared for “real life” because many of them are sheltered from economic reality, budgeting and trade-offs during their time in school.

    We have two universities and a community college here locally, yet I know many parents who encourage their kids to move away, or live in residence even at a local school to get “the full university experience”. But, what is that “full experience” really giving them? And is it worth the extra cost? My daughter, who has spent the last three years as a Residence Life Coordinator in a university residence, would tell you that they don’t graduate with any real life skills or ability to be independent adults.

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    1. Thank you, Michelle. Wow, living in a dorm even though they are attending a local school. Unbelievable! I think the “university experience” is getting out of hand, and it’s setting young adults up for failure. I bet your daughter has some good stories. I know when I was in college, some of my roommates were struggling with the basics, such as cooking and cleaning the bathroom, so I’m sure it’s much worse now.

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      1. Yes, I’ve never understood that to be honest but a lot of my daughters’ friends lived in residence at a school that was a 10-minute drive from their house. I honestly think much of the desire for the experience is driven by nostalgia. Parents want their kids to experience what they did. But the high cost of education today necessitates a different mindset. Our university costs are much lower than in the USA, but the difference between around $30,000 for tuition alone compared to $100,000 or more for tuition and residence over four years is significant.

        Yes, my daughter has a lot of stories. These students arrive at university with absolutely no practical life skills. The three years she spent in that job was a great experience and gave her a lot of valuable transferrable skills. She was ready to leave that job behind though.

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  19. Oh my goodness, my friend. This piece…your blog post? It ought to be a featured article or Op-Ed in any number of places right now. So timely! I will be sending your thoughtful essay to two parents I know — with sons who are inbound first year students, at large universities. Their stress levels are off the charts, and it’s 90% about the costs. Kudos to you for being level-headed and thoughtful about all of the hidden costs associated with luxe “amenities”. It’s insane. And the quote you used at the beginning is so spot-on, I’d say:
    “When your first brush with adulthood involves endless consumption and no cost, it gives you the wrong idea of how the world works.”
    Kudos to you for well-timed wisdom, Edward! 😊

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    1. Thank you so much, Vicki. I know, it’s insane, and the problem is that once a prospective student is hooked by all the goodies that a particular university offers, it’s really hard for some parents to say no. Then come the problematic actions that some parents take, from cosigning large loans to taking out home equity loans so these young adults can attend a $300K-plus college. Definitely no bueno. Hopefully, those two parents can reach a feasible agreement with their children.

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      1. Wowza! It’s as if you know them! Exactly, exactly! And I’m doing my best to encourage some “closer to home” options…with the ability to transfer later. Compromise! 😉
        Sending big hugs your way. Your son is lucky to have both you and your wife as parents. Love doesn’t need to involve debt due to insane college costs. ❤️

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  20. i think for me, when my parents cut me off financially, that’s when i realized that the buck stopped there and i had to fend for myself. no longer was i a leach to my parents and i would have to get with the program and hustle my ass off. the pendulum has swung hard from when the boomers to the gen xers and millennials have become parents. we went from corporal punishment to gentle parenting, where children lack coping skills and how to utilize critical thinking skills. my older friends have children who can’t make doctor’s appointments or go to job interviews without their parents. https://www.vice.com/en/article/parents-are-showing-up-in-gen-z-job-interviews-and-recruiters-are-not-thrilled/

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  21. Such important viewpoints and questions, Edward! I make your words mine, given my own experience: “I learned a lot about real life when I was in college and about the value of things.” I had to manage my month with a very short budget—what my father could afford out of his own hard work—so everything was always very well pondered and certainly very, very simple. And in this you truly learn how to manage your life. What amazes me in your country is the exorbitant tuition students have to pay to attend college. Fees in public universities in Portugal are still below €1000/year. Your post uncovers important points to be considered not only by parents but also by society in general. What are we creating for them? Fantasy and deceit or solid ground, independency, and responsibility? The result, which is actually their lives, is quite different. Thank you for this relevant share; I truly enjoyed reading. As ever, sending you light and blessings, my friend! ✨🙏

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    1. Thank you very much, Susana. We definitely learn a lot of life lessons when we have to manage our college education with few resources. We really come to appreciate how difficult life can be if we don’t live within our means. Europe has some great educational models that I wish the U.S. would adopt, but politics here are terrible and everything is looked at through those lenses. I really appreciate your comment, and it is always a pleasure to engage with you, my friend. 🙏🏼

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  22. A thoughtful and relevant reflection. College should certainly provide opportunities, but it should not become a bubble that shields young people from the realities of work, money, responsibility, and independence. Preparing children for the real world means giving them not only education and comfort, but also the confidence and discipline to stand on their own feet.👍🤝

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  23. This really gave me something to think about. The question of how we prepare our children for real life is so important, especially teaching them the value of hard work, responsibility, and independence.

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  24. This is a fascinating and thought-provoking reflection on college, privilege, education, and the lessons young people learn—both inside and outside the classroom.

    What I found particularly compelling is that you did not simply accept the provocative title of the Wall Street Journal article. Instead, you paused, read the argument, explored the definition of socialism, and then connected the discussion to your own family’s experience of visiting a college open house. That willingness to look beyond a headline makes the post much more valuable.

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  25. this really hit home for me on a few different levels. i got married young and had children, then was divorced and a single mother who had to figure out how to go to college. i began at community college taking one class at a time, working, and sharing the kids,. it took me 3 years to finish is normally 2, but it was the only way for me to do it. at the end of that, it provided me with a presidential award which was a scholarship for tuition at a 4 year college. during that time, i still worked, had my daughters with me, and did 3 internships. i graduated from there and went to work in advertising for 8 years, at the place i had interned. one of my clients told me about a program that Univ of Michigan had started for people changing careers who wanted to become teachers. i had 12$ so i figured it was the right time to go to grad school. it was a one year program for a master’s degree and teaching certificate at the same time. we had a cohort of 13 people, taught in schools in detroit all week and took classes together. i also had to work to have money, but we weren’t supposed to. when i graduated i got my first teaching job , took another year while teaching, to get a special certificate for early childhood, and happily taught for 25 years. all of this is to say, i never took any of this for granted, never had financial backing, but found a way to make it happen and make it through. i clearly understood the real world while balancing children, money, working and school. i was really prepared when i finished. my 3 daughters all went to college and they had to work, apply for scholarships, small loans and whatever i could help them with, but it wasn’t much. they all grew into amazing, strong women.

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    1. Thank you for sharing your experience, Beth. I admire how your resilience and focus were strong, and your daughters clearly learned from the great example you set. When a person works hard to achieve something, it gives them a sense of accomplishment and ensures they don’t take anything for granted. I also know many people who were blessed with strong support from their parents and are now fully committed to paying it forward. That’s also a wonderful thing.

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      1. sorry, i went on a long diatribe, but when reading your post, it so resonated with me. yes, you’re right, some who’ve been supported, support others, and that is wonderful

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  26. I didn’t have the “College Experience” as a nontraditional student with a child and a husband in the Navy. What I did have was a first-rate liberal arts education at an inexpensive state university. And guess what? My humanities-heavy degree never became obsolete. I got hired and promoted in my career because I knew how to think, and I wrote really well. I still use my education every day even now.

    I devoted my higher education career to nontraditional students. From that experience (as well as teaching traditional-age students toward the end), I don’t think students should go to college right out of high school. They’re too immature. I can’t tell you the number of crash-and-burn transcripts I saw over the years. And the returning students were so ashamed.

    College costs are completely out of control. One of the reasons for all the campus amenities is that after all the Baby Boomers went through, colleges didn’t take into account the shift in demographics. There are too many colleges competing for too small a pool of 18-year-olds. Another major factor in driving up the price of college is the sky-high medical insurance for employees benefits.

    I am very much in favor of 3+1 articulation agreements, whereby college prep high school students can transfer courses that count for freshman year. Truth be told, the senior-year high school courses for the college prep track are, for all intents and purposes, the same as freshman college courses. I’m also very much in favor of 2+2 agreements with community colleges.

    Well, this discussion certainly touched a nerve, didn’t it?

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    1. Thank you, Liz, and yes, apparently it touched a nerve. But good, open dialogue is always appreciated.

      Your comment about liberal arts reminded me of an article I read not too long ago about how a lot of companies are hiring people with philosophy degrees because of their ability to solve complex problems. Also, sociologists are trying to get out of politics and back to their area of expertise because this country needs some deep analysis of what’s going on, and scholarly research is badly needed. So I agree that liberal arts degrees are valuable, even in our AI era.

      I agree with you about delaying entry, and I’m a big supporter of holding back boys for at least a year before they start school so they can be at the same maturity level as girls when they enter high school. Illinois has a great agreement between community colleges and four-year colleges, so we hope to participate in that program.

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      1. You’re welcome, Edward. I’ve always believed that education is the only thing that can save us. Great news that the sociologists are seeing how important more scholarly research is to identify and analyze what social conditions that gave rise to the hatred, violence, racism, misogyny, and unstoppable government corruption in this country. They have their work cut out for them, that’s for sure, but it’s important work, critical work, I would say.

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  28. I know of a family who paid for post secondary education of their eldest child, and then made it that child’s responsibility to pay for the post secondary education of the next sibling in line and so on through every one of the six children. Not all of them elected college degrees. Some chose diploma courses and trades. The last child was responsible to pay back the parents for the first. This sounded like an interesting and good idea to me for families with more than one child.

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    1. Wow, Terry, this is the first time I’ve heard of an agreement like that. It’s definitely interesting, and it’s awesome that they were able to work that out. They have really impressive family cohesion and a common purpose. Thank you for sharing that.

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  29. First, Mamdani and J.D. Vance live in different worlds. One has trouble with the truth. Vance is fine with many troubling positions on how that world should run.

    I worked after school during high school and contributed toward my college tuition this way, especially during summers. I also won scholarships in college and had significant support at Northwestern University, where I received my Ph.D.

    I was also one of the founders of a college scholarship program for needy high school students in Chicago.

    The United States Social Security System is a form of socialism. Work is widely expected and required by those who obtain benefits. Both private medical insurance and Medicare/Medicaid are here to help people with overwhelming health costs, though insurance coverage of any kind has become more expensive, in part by the decision of the current administration.

    I could say more. I will say two other things. The happiest people in the world live in Scandinavia, where there is much governmental support. Second, during the Eisenhower administration, some wealthy people paid as much as 90% of their income in federal taxes on the last dollar they earned.

    I am not worried about the socialism mentioned today, except as a reason to make those in need more challenged to make a living, having multiple jobs and living on the edge of financial castastrophe. If we look around a downtown city streets, you will find large numbers of decent people who are desperate. Meanwhile, the rich are doing better than ever.

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    1. I really like your opening statement because it’s a nice summary and spot on.

      I agree with everything you said; I lived in Belgium for three years working with people from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, so I can definitely vouch for what you said. But, I had a Norwegian friend who wasn’t too happy about the taxes he was getting ready to pay for a car he purchased in Belgium now that he was going back home. But only one out of 20 Norwegians complained so not too bad.

      People are definitely not happy about the rich getting richer on the backs of the working class, and they are looking to anyone who can provide a satisfactory answer to their problems.

      Thank you for your great comment, Dr. Stein.

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  30. Here’s my instinct. I can like Ed’s writing—and clearly I do—without feeling compelled to follow him through every intellectual corridor he chooses.

    This particular essay starts with a provocative proposition about socialism, but its strongest material is really about something else: whether affluent modern universities shield young adults from ordinary economic consequences. That’s a worthwhile question. But once socialism, capitalism, Mamdani, Vance, university amenities, parental support, Ed’s military experience, and a $336,000 education all enter the argument, there are several different essays competing for the steering wheel.

    That’s probably what I’m sensing and felt unsure about.

    So “less is more” is particularly effective here because I don’t have to rebut Ed. I’m not really disagreeing with the concern underneath his essay. I’m simply reducing the question to the principle that matters most to me: individual economic agency, responsibility, incentives, ownership, and the relationship between effort and reward.

    My KISS ~ keep it simple and specific response also has a little affectionate mischief in it. 😂 Ed gives us the intellectual architecture; Joe walks into the room, looks at the blueprints, and says:

    “Socialism bad. Capitalism good. Lunch?” 😂🫡🇺🇸

    “Capitalism works because consequences remain visible.”

    Sometimes compression isn’t the absence of analysis. It’s what remains after the analysis.

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  31. Thank you for this. I saw that headline and passed it over, but I think I’ll go check it out after what you’ve shared.

    My partner and I were just talking about this. He was in college in the early 2000 and I was shortly after. We both shared tiny shoebox studio apartments with 1-2 roommates, ate ramen and sometimes didn’t eat. Neither of us had a car and walked everywhere (in Phoenix heat and Seattle rain). I was on full academic scholarship, but beyond tuition I was on my own and did everything to minimize loans.

    Meanwhile, his nephew just started college and “needed” a private dorm and bathroom because that’s what he’s used to, lots of furnishings, the max meal plan, a new car to drive to his parents on the weekend (wanted a Tesla), and now he’s demanding $3,000 per semester allowance to get the “college experience”. Grandpa and grandma aren’t made of money, but have spent 10s of thousands this month and the kids and his parents have no skin in the game and I really worry that reality will hit harder for all these kids being coddled.

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    1. You’re welcome, and thank you for sharing your experience. Your nephew’s example is exactly what the author of that opinion piece was referring to. A kid who goes to college with all of that is going to have a very difficult time when he or she graduates. Again, I think parents should help if possible, but kids can’t demand those kinds of luxuries. I’d say, “Well, you can go to a local college and stay home so you have your private room and some home-cooked meals.”

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  32. In my opinion, internships are the key to transitioning to reality. Unfortunately not all colleges are good at helping kids get them. My son applied for dozens of them on his own (mostly via LinkedIn) and finally got one that led to a real job/career after graduation. On campus employment is good too. My son worked the “phonathon” (calling alumni and asking for donations) a few nights a week. That was great for developing “soft” skills — the ones AI can’t replace. Also, final thought, college should be three years! Four years is toooo looong at those prices.

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    1. Thank you for your great comment, Mary. First of all, kudos to your son for getting it done. He definitely learned some valuable lessons in the process. I agree with you that internships are the way to go and that four, or five years in some cases, is way too long. There is a lot of fluff in those school programs.

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  33. In all ways, parenting is the impossible balance. I tried to model consistent and dispassionate, appropriate and, most important to me, brief discipline to my child (“There, now we took care of that unpleasantness, let’s think of something fun”). She grew into an adult who thinks me incapable of emotion, unreastically logical, and a silly woke unsuccess at life.

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    1. Yeah, you’re right. It’s definitely a hard balance to maintain. All we can do is hope that they will understand one day. I personally don’t dwell too much on why my family didn’t help me more. And I’m definitely not going to tell my mom or others in my family that they were wrong, etc. They had their reasons, and I moved on. I’m actually trying to help them as much as I can, even though I didn’t get the same level of support.

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  34. Interesting post! I think one problem is that many students get degrees in non-marketable areas like liberal arts (philosophy, sociology, poly sci, etc)…graduate with huge college loans…and end up working for minimum wage. There’s bound to be frustration in these situations and a desire for parity with those who chose high-paying, in-demand careers.

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    1. You’re spot on, Darryl. I’ve had that discussion with my wife and others many times. I do not understand why a student would want to go to an out-of-state institution and pay a couple of hundred thousand dollars for a liberal arts degree when they can study the same thing at a state institution for a third of the cost. I know part of the reason is that they don’t have the grades and scores to get into a state college, and private universities are sometimes the solution, but at least they should stay close to home to cut down some of those housing and food costs. They are unlikely to recoup what they spend by going to those expensive schools, and getting frustrated with those in high-paying jobs is not going to help. I read a while ago about a dentist who owes more than a million dollars in student loans, and he said he knows he is never going to be able to pay off that debt. Some people do irrational things.

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    2. I have some interesting insight; I used to be a college professor, and we partnered with the University of Notre Dame to offer a liberal arts degree to incarcerated men. Studies had shown that a liberal arts degree teaches people how to think, whereas specific training, such as welding or something like that, is limited by the market. The program has had tons of success with these incarcerated men getting out of prison and finding gainful employment in a number of fields. The point isn’t so much to find a job in the liberal arts, but to learn how to think and adapt. However, I don’t think that’s emphasized at many schools, so students think that they’re going to major in philosophy and become a philosopher.

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  35. Interesting thoughts Edward. I suspect the rise of “Socialism” in College might just be a rejection of the exploding Greed in “higher” circles.

    I went to Grad school at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. (Roll Tide!)

    Tuition for one semester was 1500$ (!). For out-of-state students. I paid 50$ a month rent for a little house off campus. I took a student loan in France. 7,000$, which I paid back in 5 years. I also worked as an assistant, e.g. running the business game. Got a scholarship, etc.

    Today, UofA costs 35,000 bucks a semester for out-of-state. 8 semesters? No way! And Alabama is not Ivy League…

    If I had a kid in College age today, given the uncertainty generated by AI, who knows what jobs a College graduate will get? 6 to 15K$ is probably your best option…

    best wishes…

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    1. Thank you, and you are right that some of that rejection is part of what is going on at the highest circles. I’m still struggling with the fact that people are spending millions of dollars on weddings, luxury yachts, and homes in different countries while so many people are struggling to meet their daily basic needs. Some of these private universities, and even some state universities, are getting way too expensive. Not to mention college sports, insane! Wow, $35,000 for out-of-state, that is a lot. After what I have learned during my professional life, a college degree provides the same access to most people regardless of the institution. Spending too much money on a degree isn’t worth it, especially, like you said, in this AI-driven world.

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      1. Totally agree. What we’re seeing is a return of the Potlach culture. A classic in anthropology, a custom in British Columbia, Native Nations. Where power was obtained from the tribe by spending fortunes inviting the whole tribe to shame them by showing how rich one was…
        And yes, right now, best to be cautious with College education. Then in a few years when the dust settles, do a post College degree…
        Best of luck

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  36. This is incredibly interesting. My college journey has been a weird one that has resulted in me having four diplomas, two of which are bachelor’s degrees and two of which are master’s degrees. However, my typical college experience, you can call it that, the one for which I started at age 18, was at a state university where tuition cost about $10,000 per year. I just cannot believe there’s an institution where the tuition would be $59,000 per year. That’s like a degree plus I’m in my mind but granted, I graduated in 2006, and it wasn’t a private institution. Mostly, back then we talked a lot about how students were going to college for the “experience” rather than the education. Some folks even argued that every young adult needed that college experience, and I couldn’t help but think of it being like some sort of weird, 4-year-long version of the Amish rumspringer. You know, that time that they take off as an adult so they can decide if they want to go join the English or stay Amish? Anyway, what you’re saying about schools being all inclusive now is interesting because when I was an adjunct professor, we did talk a great deal about how schools were spending so much money on luxury things and not a lot of money on faculty. Some colleges, in fact, rely heavily on adjunct faculty, who, at the time were only being paid about $2,500 per three-credit class. I did that route for 11 years, and eventually I left because I felt like the pay wasn’t very respectful to what I brought to the table. I do have to wonder if students are at colleges now, see the all-inclusive amenities, and feel like that should be translated into society. I don’t know, because I haven’t been a professor since 2018, and that wasn’t a thing when I was a student. I do know that for my second bachelor’s degree, which I earned in 2025, I was at a school where everything was inclusive: housing, food, chapel, classes, everything walkable. There’s no need to leave campus, period. That was at a small, private, Christian school. The University of Notre Dame, which I’ve mentioned before on your posts, functions similarly with the goal of keeping students on campus for literally everything, I believe to keep them out of trouble. There are restaurants, a movie theater, all kinds of sports and fitness facilities, a lake to walk around, church, housing, dining, social spaces, etc, etc, etc. I believe the rule at Notre Dame is now that you must live on campus for 3 years. I just don’t see how people make it afterward. I did read an article in the Notre Dame magazine one time about some students who had recently graduated and didn’t know that you couldn’t bake on wax paper. They also didn’t know you had to clean out the dryer lint thingy. That could also be just a sign of wealth, though; they’ve had someone doing everything for them since infancy.

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    1. I know $59,000 is insane, but there are even more expensive ones out there. I’m all for the university experience, but some of these universities go way beyond that. In my day, the experience was living away from your family, going out partying, and drinking a little bit, but the environment now is quite different. At the college campus we visited, the student ID serves as a payment card that allows students to enjoy everything the university has to offer, I think it is like going on a cruise. You keep using your room card everywhere until you see the enormous bill on the last day. The only issue is that most of these students are not seeing this bill, or if they do see it, someone else is paying for all of it. Great point about the adjunct faculty. I’ve heard the same thing. The classrooms on the campus I visited didn’t impress me much, but the areas for students to enjoy that “university experience” were very nice. So I think most of that money is going toward areas to attract young students to attend their particular institution, and not so much toward salaries and actual education. That, of course, is my personal opinion. Thank you for your great comment.

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      1. Oh, I know where that money is going, as I followed reports on it when I was an adjunct. It was fun stuff (think about how LSU has a lazy river) and administrative bloat. Many administrators have assistants who have their own assistants, etc. Hang in there! I do know that where you graduate from doesn’t matter quite as much as folks think, so wherever your son goes will be great.

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        1. I had to check out that lazy river online. Incredible! And it was paid for with student fees. Renovations are getting out of control. It’s one thing to paint buildings, replace windows, or upgrade classroom equipment, but spending money on that is just ridiculous. I agree that where you get your degree doesn’t matter much. As long as the institution is accredited and not a diploma mill, then the degree is fine. We discussed that, and there is really no reason to go out of state to get a college education, unless, of course, what a person wants to study is not offered in their home state.

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      2. The uni costs are shocking over here now. In the mid to late 80s my former husb graduated from a London uni with no debt AND a paid for Ford Fiesta. He walked everywhere instead of paying for transport, ate simply, drank very little alc and worked on a building site in the hols. No chance of this type of thing now I have friends who would love to retire a little bit early but cannot due to their kids’ extortionate education fees.

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        1. I think that’s the problem. This expensive education has a ripple effect, making parents delay retirement and use savings that they probably need for medical emergencies or long-term care. Sometimes kids can’t pay the money back to their parents because once they start their own lives (having kids, buying a house, etc) there is little money left for anything else.

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          1. A friend was much relieved – her daughter skipped uni, went straight into a marketing role and is making a lot of money, so much so that whilst she is currently renting a fancy apartment in Manchester, she will soon have enough for a house deposit.

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  37. Hi Edward, this piece really hit close to home. My parents could not afford to send me to college. I had to find a way to do it on my own. It started with getting a job even before I had a car. No one bought me a car, I had to figure out how to get a job, get there and back, then purchase my own vehicle. When I finally got into college, I worked on and off campus to put a roof over my head, food on the table, and made sure I studied. Part of me is envious of those whose parents supported them from high school through college and even after graduation. Not long ago, one of my co-workers was saying how his parents paid for him to spend a semester in Germany and in his next breath complained about how they don’t do things the way he liked. I couldn’t help myself and told him instead of complaining about them he should be thanking them. That went over like a led balloon.

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    1. The last part of your comment reminded me of similar experiences. I agree with you, thankfulness is the correct approach. I had a similar experience. I had to work to pay for rent and food, and save money to buy my first car in college. It was a lot of struggle, but I made it. I think parents need to be careful not to set their children up for failure by sending them to this kind of environment without working with them so they understand that there is a different world out there once they graduate. Thank you for your comment and sharing your experience, Joni.

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      1. LOL. Sometimes it’s hard for me to keep my opinion to myself. It’s not that I fault my parents for not providing the “College Experience”, quite honestly it was outside what they could afford. I’ve know folks whose parents have given them every advantage and the still are humble, grateful, and respectful … while others who had no help turn out arrogant, elitest, and pompous. I’m not sure if it is the environment that is the singular variable. Most folks, regardless of their environment (with or without advantages), turn out somewhere inbetween. 🙂

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        1. I hear you. This country is way too big, so we definitely see every variation in responses. I, for one, have seen some crazy reactions from kids toward their parents—either because the parents helped too much or didn’t help enough, or simply because life didn’t go according to plan. So somewhere in between is a good thing.

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  39. Great post, this political system can be confusing, teaching responsibility means you are a conservative, helping others means you are a Socialist.

    Too many extremes, I have no idea what I am politically anymore, you just can’t give things away and not teach responsibility.

    At the same time I wish wealth were more distributed.

    Over 300 thousand for a 4 year degree is crazy, for you and I anyway.

    Many parents think kids going to community College is a bad thing, all four of my kids went that route.

    Again great post, thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thank you for your comment, and I’m with you about the confusion. I think there is a workable solution in the middle, where we are teaching responsibility and helping at the same time. But it seems like people just want to go to their own corners and don’t want to come to the middle and compromise. Community college is definitely a great route, especially now that there are so many agreements where students can transfer to a four-year institution if they want to. There are a lot of jobs that only require a one- or two-year degree.

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  40. Hi Edward, you are spot on about the bubble students live in at University. Even in South Africa, students on government nurseries get a very warped idea of how life works. Lots of young people prefer being at university on government grants than working. This has had the effect of qualified people returning to university after a few years in a job and doing another degree. This is all at the expense of the tax payers. The youngsters don’t want to have to knuckle down and do real work in a proper job. It’s creating big problems in the workplace.

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    1. Yes, with all those amenities that universities are offering, no wonder so many students are struggling with real life. They are really creating a kind of utopia. I wasn’t really thinking about this aspect until I read this piece and experienced that college open house. It’s definitely a hard transition for those youngsters, and you are probably right about some of them returning to university life. I know some people who went back to get their master’s and PhDs and are in tremendous debt because of it.

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        1. I agree with you. I did my master’s because of my job. A PhD is too expensive, and I don’t have a reason to get one. I have a couple of friends who went back to school because they weren’t successful in the job market and needed an additional or different career field, which is bad because now they owe more money and are in a worse situation.

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        2. LOL Yes masters/phds do seem superfluous. But for some of us, we just like learning. I’ve continued online courses througout there years and got 2 Masters after my BA. Started working on a third during Covid but got so tired of having to write the same essay after each class “How is this class going to help your in your career?” Pat answer — it’s not! I’m a data engineer. My boss doesn’t care if I can diagnose the difference betwen a parionoid schizophernic and someown with narcissistic personality disorder.

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