Television host Mike Rowe recently spoke out with criticism against American universities.
Harvard Under Fire
Harvard University has come under fire over the past few months due to scathing accusations of antisemitism, plagiarism, and a host of other transgressions.
Claudine Gay, Harvard’s first Black president, resigned after a historically short six months—the shortest presidency in the prestigious university’s history.
Mike Rowe’s Expert Opinion
Mike Rowe, who has long been outspoken about his feelings surrounding universities, spoke on the issue, saying that Harvard graduates now feel shame instead of pride about their degrees.
“They’re Shameful”
“What is happening? Donations are drying up, graduates are taking their degrees off their wall because they no longer resonate with pride – they’re shameful,” Rowe said.
Studies Show Alarming Results
Rowe’s pessimistic outlook isn’t unfounded, but it is based on figures from recent studies.
While many Americans do still feel that Ivy Leagues should be respected for their prestige, universities in general may be falling out of style with some people.
Student Enrollment Down
Student enrollment for nationwide undergraduate programs has significantly decreased, and more Americans now consider college less important to their future than ever.
Fewer Americans Value College Educations
A 2023 survey by Gallup found that about one-third of Americans trusted higher education to contribute to a person’s success. Less than a decade ago, over half of the country felt that way.
An Alternative to Higher Education
Mike Rowe went on to give advice to young people who have become disillusioned by the idea that college leads to the American Dream. According to Rowe, there’s a better way.
Rowe Clarifies Harvard Comments
First of all, the Dirty Jobs host wanted to be clear that he wasn’t suggesting that graduates should be embarrassed by their degrees.
“Something Really Interesting Has Happened”
“I’m not saying there’s anything inherently shameful about [it]…from a PR standpoint, something really interesting has happened,” Rowe said.
Has College Lost Its Value?
In a culture that has commodified the college education, Rowe thinks there’s something to be said for why so many people in the country have turned away from the idea that a four-year degree is necessary for success.
Students as Customers
Rowe believes that universities treat students like a customer base from which to profit. And it’s working – tuition rates are higher than ever, and for-profit universities are making a killing.
Rowe Criticizes NYU’s Pandemic-Era Tuition Hike
“New York University raised its tuition during Zoom classes,” Rowe said, remarking on the school’s audacity to raise tuition during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, students were not even attending courses in person on campus.
“How Much Further Will It Go?”
“At some point, you’ve got to look at the people who are paying the bills. It’s almost like they’re being dared, right? It’s like, how much further will it go?” Rowe asked.
Rising Costs of Education
The cost of attending a four-year college has increased astronomically in the past couple of decades. Today, it costs, on average, about $36,000 per year to attend a university, a more than 100% increase since 2000.
The Alternative: Trades
Rowe advises young people to consider skipping the costly and sometimes unattainable education offered by universities and instead pursue a trade.
Rowe’s Scholarships for Trade Schools
“In my little tiny world, we offer work ethic scholarships for kids who want to learn a skill that’s in demand,” Rowe said.
“The foundation’s never been more robust. We’re giving away another million dollars at the end of the month for these kinds of scholarships.”
Trades Often Pay Better than White Collar Jobs
Rowe’s push to get more people interested in the trades is a passionate one. Like the occupations featured on Dirty Jobs, many trades are considered to be undesirable – but skilled workers are highly sought after and often very well compensated.
“There’s a Path to Six Figures and it’s Shorter Than You Think”
“Welders, steamfitters, pipe fitters, heating, air conditioning, electric – our country is built on these things. Whether they’re sexy or not, the opportunities exist. There’s a path to six figures and it’s shorter than you think,” Rowe said.
Tradespeople Earn More In Less Time
Many entering the workforce find the idea of earning six figures attractive, especially if it’s doable without the expense of college or the burden of student loan debt.
Research shows that skilled tradespeople out-earn graduates in many cases.
College Vs. Trade School
While a college education is still a necessity for many careers, Rowe wants people to consider trades as an alternative path to success.
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