The U.S. could close the college readiness gap — if the college-going rate keeps falling, writes Fordham’s Michael Petrilli. Of course, that only works if it’s the unprepared, unmotivated young people who opt out, but not those with a decent chance of success.
“Higher education usually pays off — but only for students that exit college with degrees or other valuable credentials,” writes Petrilli. Those who try and fail end up with “debt and regret.”
“College for all” is over. Wary of high college costs and high dropout rates, more high school graduates have noticed the “strong labor market for less-educated workers,” the Wall Street Journal reported in May.