Wednesday, February 26, 2025
4:30-6:00pm ET
The Agora, Annenberg Public Policy Center
202 S. 36th St., Philadelphia
According to a recent Pew Research Center report titled “Is a College Degree Worth It in 2024, “only one-in-four U.S. adults say it’s extremely or very important to have a four-year college degree in order to get a well-paying job in today’s economy.” In fact, for at least a decade Americans on both sides of the aisle have increasingly questioned the value of a college degree. Sometimes the focus is on whether the cost of tuition is a sensible investment—does a four-year degree increase one’s lifetime earnings. Other times the concern is directed at content of the education—is there any value to what is being taught? This panel will reflect on whether and how educators are failing to effectively communicate the value of their work, and will discuss how universities can do a better job at justifying the worth of a college education.
Welcome:
John L. Jackson, Jr., Provost, University of Pennsylvania
Panelists:
Richard Fry, Senior Researcher, Pew Research Center
Bridget Terry Long, Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor; Saris Professor of Education and Economics, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Michael McPherson, President Emeritus, Macalester College; President Emeritus, The Spencer Foundation
Moderator:
Peter Cappelli, George W. Taylor Professor of Management and Director of the Center for Human Resources, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
