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This decline reflects broader economic pressures that policymakers seem reluctant to acknowledge. My family’s experience illustrates the problem: my grandmother diligently saved GM stock in a safe deposit box for my children’s college education, following the old wisdom that “as General Motors goes, so does our country.” When the 2008 bailout restructured GM and wiped-out existing shareholders, that college fund became worthless—a stark example of how middle-class families bore the cost of economic “recovery.”
The article mentions affordability concerns, but the scope goes beyond tuition freezes. Families are being squeezed by persistent inflation and rising property taxes while both state and federal education funding contracts. When a generation of middle-class savers can watch their children’s college funds evaporate through no fault of their own, it’s hardly surprising that college-going rates are plummeting.
Indiana’s pivot toward workforce-ready diplomas may be pragmatic given these realities, but it also risks creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. If we systematically reduce college preparation and accessibility while economic pressures mount, declining enrollment becomes inevitable rather than a conscious policy choice. The question is whether this represents thoughtful workforce development or simply managing the decline of higher education accessibility for working families.
What was epected with the continuing bad news for college graduates; low employment chances paired with high student loans equals other opportunities. I recall there has been a great deal of promotion for college alternatives such as certificates, apprenticeships, etc. which do not have the high debt previous students constantly complain about because their chosen degree really doesn’t pay. Why pay for four years of college when you can get a certificate and be in the job market debt free in under to years.
And earn substantially less in your lifetime. A college degree provides more career choices, and higher pay. The “problems” caused by student loans can be fixed with federal or state regulations.
For most, a college “education” is not worth the time, effort or money IMO unless that student knows exactly the career path they seek. YES, a declining college rate is what we want because on the job training is far superior to a college diploma and the related debt, especially when recent graduates have no idea what career interests them. Indiana Trade school enrollment grew by 4.9% form 2020-2023 and is on the increase. Today’s students are smart and know they can make a better living learning a usable skill, like an electrician or plumber, or a pharmacy or surgical tech. On-line technical certification can get you into a network or software engineer position at $100K+. These are all careers that are in desperate need, yet certain career politicians are stuck in the old thinking that college is the route everyone must go. For the most part, IMO the days are past that “if you want to get ahead in life, you need a college diploma”.
The problem with this approach that there is little room for upward growth or lateral change for a trades-person or any technical certificate-holder who lacks a more general “critical thinking” credential such as a degree in business/economics or (some) social sciences or hard sciences.
College graduates I know are more able to move between employers to gain “rank” (i.e. better-paying positions and more management authority/accountability/strategic impace) or to move between fields if/when technology or other changes make their previous job obsolete.
*strategic impact
Implement a draft with a college deferment and see what happens.