How to Regain Public Trust in Higher Ed

Growing doubts about the return on investment in traditional academic degrees have cast a shadow on public trust in higher education. 

Potential students are concerned about whether schools can deliver on promises of preparing them for successful careers in a shifting job market. Students also are increasingly wary about graduating with debt, with poor job prospects or taking a position that doesn’t recognize their skills, education or qualifications.

Despite widespread skepticism, most Americans still recognize that individuals with undergraduate credentials earn more in their careers and enjoy greater financial stability. In other words, a college degree is still worth it. 

But as more students consider alternate career pathways, it’s up to higher education institutions to prove they’re a critical part of the equation. By demonstrating clear career outcomes — and offering flexible, innovative learning options for students — schools can help regain public confidence in higher education.

Bridging the Higher Ed–Workforce Disconnect

Four in 10 business leaders believe college graduates are unprepared for the workplace, and nearly half think educators are at fault. This disconnect underscores how higher education institutions are falling short in prioritizing job skills and career readiness in a job market that’s shifting focus toward practical skills instead of relying solely on traditional educational requirements. Schools need to do more to prepare students for today’s workforce, rather than the one of the past.
By lending greater credibility to new and emerging areas of study, forward-thinking institutions can help students and parents understand the real impact of higher education and restore faith in its enduring value. Here are three ways institutions can get started.

1. Showcase the outcomes of higher education 

There’s clear evidence to support the “return on education.” Institutions just need to do a better job showcasing it, offering data and testimony that demonstrates clear career pathways and possible outcomes of different degree programs. Partnering with a school’s office of institutional effectiveness can help gather graduate data and statistics on career mobility, salary and employment rates that can be highlighted in marketing and recruitment materials to offer greater transparency about program results. 

Institutions have the opportunity to help new students understand the reality of job prospects and expectations in the market and equip them with relevant skills to reduce the likelihood of earning a degree they regret. If students aren’t aware of these opportunities and outcomes, more will continue to opt out of college for alternate paths.

2. Build credibility behind flexible educational programs

Students are increasingly interested in pursuing non-degree options to support their career goals. That’s not a detriment to institutions, it’s an opportunity. Institutions can better meet students’ needs and goals by investing in short-form and quick-impact education formats, such as microcredentials and stackable certifications.
These alternate learning programs create flexible and skill-based learning frameworks that allow higher education institutions to adapt to industry shifts and student needs. Likewise, institutions can integrate hands-on experiences and collaborate with industry partners to improve the strength and credibility of non-degree learning paths. 

Universities can even take it one step further and create adaptable frameworks that allow students to stack courses or certifications into credits that count toward degree programs. These stackable non-degree options provide students with a more practical, cost-effective and flexible approach to education, equipping students with the skills needed for success in an evolving job market.

3. Create and leverage strong alumni networks 

Building strong and engaged alumni networks can supplement real-time data and build credibility behind different degree programs and the ways they help career outcomes. Active alumni networks help add personal anecdotes to articulate the value graduates have received from higher education. 

Networks can also provide insights into the current job market, align degree programs with industry demands and better position students for their next opportunity after graduation. Strong alumni communities also create valuable networking opportunities for students and showcase real career paths that can validate a program’s quality.

Why Adaptability Is the Cornerstone of Higher Ed’s Future

It’s time for higher education institutions to recognize the need for academic programs and advancement beyond the traditional format. Institutional adaptability is crucial to meeting the evolving demands of the job market.

The long-term success of higher education institutions hinges on their ability to remain agile and prioritize student and industry needs — and to reverse the trend of declining trust in higher education. Are schools up to the task?