College Professor: We’ve Oversold the College Dream

Is college still worth it? Political science professor Kevin Wallsten examines the gap between what students pay, what universities promise, and what a degree actually delivers. From student debt and graduate underemployment to campus politics and AI, we explore why higher education is losing trust and where it still offers real value. Wallsten explains what college rankings miss, why prestige can be misleading, and what he would tell his own children before they choose a school or major. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Preview & Intro 00:00:40 Why College Is Declining 00:04:03 Too Many Graduates? 00:09:36 Why Students Choose Southern Colleges 00:18:13 PhD Oversupply & Grade Inflation 00:26:30 Enrollment Cliff & Money 00:31:36 Rethinking College Rankings 00:42:49 Admin Bloat & Campus Politics 00:50:03 Is College Still Worth It? 00:54:37 Choosing a College Major in AI Era 01:02:21 University Finances & Shift to Online Learning 01:10:20 Why Employers Value Degrees 01:19:50 Alternative Credentials ABOUT KEVIN WALLSTEN Kevin Wallsten is a professor of political science at California State University, Long Beach, and a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. His work focuses on higher education reform and the City Journal College Rankings. He also writes The Missing Data Depot. GUEST LINKS AND RESOURCES Kevin’s articles at City Journal: [https://www.city-journal.org/person/kevin-wallsten](https://www.city-journal.org/person/kevin-wallsten) Article discussed: “The Political Causes of Higher Education’s Decline” [https://www.city-journal.org/article/higher-education-decline-graduate-bachelors-degree](https://www.city-journal.org/article/higher-education-decline-graduate-bachelors-degree) Explore the City Journal College Rankings: [https://collegerankings.city-journal.org/rankings](https://collegerankings.city-journal.org/rankings) Read The Missing Data Depot: [https://themissingdatadepot.substack.com/](https://themissingdatadepot.substack.com/) Follow Kevin on X: [https://x.com/data_depot](https://x.com/data_depot) Knowing what you know now, would you choose the same degree, a different school, or another path? Tell us in the comments. Subscribe for more conversations that challenge assumptions about education, work and society. #HigherEducation #IsCollegeWorthIt #KevinWallsten