College value – News, Research and Analysis – The Conversation

College rankings assign schools numbers that may correspond more closely with their wealth than other factors of quality, critics say. Talaj/iStock via Getty Images Plus

September 28, 2026

College rankings, like those of US News and World Report, remain influential, despite their many flaws and decades of criticism

Austin Sarat, Amherst College

College rankings can be consequential for less prestigious and less wealthy schools, giving them visibility they might not otherwise have.

Feedback from different managers, supervisors and colleagues is one way to make training more effective.

September 15, 2026

To crack the job market, internships can be just as key for young people as the degree

Matthew J. Mayhew, The Ohio State University; Courtney DeRoche, The Ohio State University, and Yun-Han Weng, The Ohio State University

Job preparation through internships matters more than ever for young people amid a precarious and fast-changing job market.

Hampshire College’s campus entrance on April 16, 2026, a few days after the school announced it is closing. Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

April 17, 2026

Hampshire College’s demise is yet another blow to creative, outside‑the‑box options in higher education

Austin Sarat, Amherst College

Hampshire College’s student-driven, unorthodox approach to education has roots in the early 1900s and a belief that students should be active, engaged learners.

Unemployment rates are lower among people who have a college degree, compared to those with a high school degree. Wong Yu Liang/iStock Images/Getty Images

January 12, 2026

Financial case for college remains strong, but universities need to add creative thinking to their curriculum

Caroline Levander, Rice University

The cost of college is on the rise – but college grads still earn more than those without a degree.

Unlike traditional research universities and private liberal arts colleges, polytechnic universities tend to offer apprenticeships and microcredentials, all geared toward giving students practical skills they can use in the workforce. iStock/Getty Images Plus

December 11, 2025

Polytechnic universities focus on practical, career‑oriented skills, offering an alternative to traditional universities

Kelly Droege, University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic and Laura Reisinger, University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic

Polytechnic universities try to incorporate skills-based learning into education.

Articles on College value

Displaying all articles