College: The gateway to the American dream. With a college education, socio-economic stability can be secured. But recent trends in higher education have caused many to rethink that common assumption. With the higher enrollment of past generations, colleges and universities have followed suite, pouring millions of dollars into not only more respected faculty, but better residence halls, top of the line facilities, and extravagant amenities. With that rise in supposed quality of education has come a nearly astronomical rise in tuition rates and an increase in fees. All this has made prospective college students wonder if college is really worth it. Christian colleges and universities are not immune to these changes either, and many have been forced to try and keep up with their secular counterparts. And Christians seeking a college education are asking the same question: Is it worth it?
In the milieu of options in the world of higher education, what makes Christian higher education stand out? What does it mean to get an education from a “Christian worldview”? Are there legitimate reasons to attend a private Christian institution over an oftentimes more affordable public option? Is it time to reconsider what a university does? All that and more on this edition of Questions From The Pew.
RESOURCES:
Is Christian College Debt Worth It?, National Association of Evangelicals
Most Teenagers Drop Out of Church as Young Adults, Lifeway
Five Myths About Young Adult Church Dropouts, Barna
College Enrollment Declines Again. It’s Down More Than Two Million Students In This Decade., Forbes