What is the "purpose" of higher education?

This is a helluva good question. Once upon a time, I thought I knew. I'm not so sure anymore. Our institutions of higher education have been perverted into indoctrination centers and I can't see any downside except that people who attend them come away with a complete lack of ability to think for themselves. They possess no common sense. Now, before you dismiss me as some old crackpot, let me assure you that I am. I've seen too much to avoid being old or a crackpot. I lived in Colorado at a time when the state considered allowing people who had studied law in a legal practice under the tutelage of a practicing lawyer, to take the bar exam and become licensed attorneys. The law schools made sure that went away. I've seen doctors fresh out of medical school who need nurses to teach them the ropes of practicing medicine. The truth is, that people learn professions by practicing them. That's why they're called medical practices and legal practices. Meanwhile, engineering students are taught engineering on the job. Their degrees seem to prepare them for that profession as practiced in another age, long ago, when their professors might have been engineers. Shall I go on? Naw. That's enough for now. In all my years, I hoped for much from college grads and learned to expect little. Hopefully they could read. Many couldn't. Better yet, read for understanding. That was really rare. Research. Debate. Cipher (you know, basic math) The scientific method? Good luck finding that. History? Civics? Not one iota.

Being a BA or MA is usually the key to get a job in a corporate setting. A PHD is normally of value, if seriously applied. The ability to research subjects and evaluate them is what separates them from other which results in advancing in a corporate structure. There are exceptions. I have hired all sorts of education levels, the PHD is the only one that was able to pass me up, on occasion. Most of them were arrogant self centered A-holes.

Depends on who you ask. The parents think the purpose of higher education is to ensure their kid has all the education needed to enjoy a successful and lucrative life. Ask the kids these days and they'll tell you it's a 4 year delay in having to face up to life ... maybe 5-6 if they have trouble finding their classrooms and get failed on absenteeism.

I read recently that some 50% of college entrants don't complete ... and out of the remaining 50%, only 50% or less complete in 4 years. The rest take 5-6. IMV, a large percentage of kids that go to college go with (1) no idea of what they want to come out as; (2) poor preparation in high school for college; (3) insufficient self-discipline to capitalize on their time in college or university. For those that emerge at the end of the tunnel with a college degree, many find that their degree isn't worth the paper it is printed on in terms of getting them a well-paying job.

I'd really like to hear the assessments of some of our veterans that are currently attending colleges and universities on their non-veteran classmates.

The purpose of a classical liberal arts education is to cultivate the soul to appreciate the good, the true, and the beautiful.

Anything short of that is no longer higher education, proper, and instead becomes some form of indoctrination.

Western Civilization broadly, and American universities specifically, had become premier institutions that equipped young men and women with the critical thinking and tools needed to further a thriving society.

Then they replaced the pursuit of the good, true, and beautiful with postmodern identity studies, and we are left with answers along the lines of "to make money" or "get a career", in and of itself not "wrong", but certainly left wanting, hallow if you will.

I guess there's what it "should" be...and what it "is".

I'd like to think that earning a degree opens up more opportunities than without. I'd further like to believe that the effort, time and expense has its own intrinsic value in the job market. Unfortunately, like any other commodity, the more there is...the less it is valued.

Fifty years ago, having a degree wasn't the norm. If you had a bachelor's degree...it was a virtual "guarantee" of entre' to a certain expected income, lifestyle and professional development. A master's or doctorate even more so. Today however, the bachelor's degree is more on par with what a high school diploma used to be. It's pretty much the prerequisite for any gainful entry level employment outside of the Trades...and I won't waste time stating what everyone already knows about the challenges there.

The secret today I think, is to consider a trade off between personal freedom and personal opportunity. You certainly don't need an MBA to start a million dollar enterprise...but you do need talent, drive, ambition, and no small amount of luck. If someone chooses the route I've followed, they're taking no less risk really...mergers, acquisitions, and changing market indicators translate to the very real possibility of losing ten years of experience and salary at the stroke of a pen.

When my son begins to face these challenges, I hope he will see that it is sometimes better to have a "sure thing" at the expense of a lower initial starting point.

I went to college for a very specific field. In my case, higher education was absolutely required to do what I do day in and day out. That being said, higher education is completely dependent on the field you’re in. Come are considered more beneficial than others towards said career field. The purpose of higher education is at the very least to train individuals for a specific place in life. Personally, intellectually, and generally. That’s not to say people without higher education have no purpose in life. Everyone has a purpose in life. Higher education acts as a catalyst in learning what yours is in my firm opinion.

I went to college because that was my parents expectation. It was humbling because it taught me that I knew jack shit about many subjects.

I never agreed with the terminology, "Higher Education", to me better said, "Advanced Knowledge." I'm the worst spelling person, but I can fix your computer.

I think that it depends on what college you’re talking about. Not all universities are created equal. Some universities are more career focused where as other schools are less career focused and more research focused. Just look at placement rates and outcomes.... that tells a lot about a school. The school that I work at is one of the oldest co-oprerative Institutions in the country.... and as such it is more career focused.

Going to the Combined General Staff College made me a more knowledgeable soldier.