Debt and Inflation is Disrupting Higher Education, Shifting the Tide in Confidence and College Enrollment

 

Even in a fast-paced world powered by 5G, AI, and global interdependence, there is still one institution that remains central to the dreams of many: higher education. However, despite technological advancements promising greater access to knowledge, there’s a pressing question: Is the traditional model of higher ed meeting the needs of today’s diverse, digital, and debt-laden students? According to a recent Gallup poll from July of this year, only 36 percent of Americans have strong confidence in higher ed, which is down from the previous 48 percent in 2018.

So, what’s driving this decline in confidence, and what does the future of higher education look like?

For the latest episode of “DisruptEd,” host Ron J. Stefanski sparked an enlightening conversation about the subject with Geordie Hyland, the President and CEO of the American College of Education. Hyland shared his perspective on the transformative shifts happening in the realm of modern education, and the way it’s impacting how potential and current students view their futures given rising costs and student loan debts. 

Stefanski and Hyland also talked about:

  • The staggering increase in student debt and its profound societal implications.
  • The inflation in tuition fees versus the perceived value of a degree.
  • The challenge of aligning higher ed with real-world job opportunities.

Geordie Hyland is the President and CEO of the American College of Education. As a tech-savvy educator with a legacy of disruption, Hyland’s journey into the education sector is rooted in a family tradition of valuing education. He worked at Google before entering the education field. Hyland is a big champion for creating  accessible, affordable, and relevant higher ed, and in his role, he dedicates efforts to serve adult learners with online programs.

Article written by Alexandra Simon.

Recent Episodes

Work is changing fast. Automation and artificial intelligence aren’t just reshaping how we work—they’re redefining who gets access to opportunity in the first place. With frontline workers making up a significant share of the American workforce—and one in eight Americans having worked at McDonald’s—the discussion about education, skills, and upward mobility feels more urgent…

Artificial intelligence has reached a crucial inflection point. Once imagined as a fast track to artificial general intelligence, the field has instead hit a plateau—prompting leaders, educators, and innovators to rethink AI’s true purpose. As companies and schools race to adopt automation, questions about cost, ethics, and human purpose are rising to the forefront. According…

High schoolers are overwhelmed — and not just by homework. The path to college can feel like a maze of forms, essays, and deadlines, with little guidance on where to begin. A recent survey found that nearly three-quarters of students describe the college application process as “difficult.” For many, that difficulty isn’t academic; it’s…