Is college worth the time and money? Yes, said 89 percent of recent college graduates in a survey for the American Council on Education (ACE).
Some 81 percent said their college education and experiences had prepared them for the workforce and to meet societal challenges. However, only 62 percent said they believe colleges in general are preparing students for demands of the modern workforce.
Asked the most important role of colleges and universities, 31 percent said “teaching students how to think critically” and 28 percent said “preparing students for employment.” Another 17 percent selected “preparing students to solve problems that face our country” and 11 chose “preparing students to be responsible citizens.”
Forty percent said students and their families should bear primary responsibility for funding higher education; the federal government was second at 30 percent and the state government next at 30 percent. Community college graduates were more likely to say funding higher education should be a governmental responsibility.
