(This article originally appeared in LNP | LancasterOnline on Jan. 30, 2024.)

Thomas P. Foley, president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania

Although it is not the only path to success, a college degree has long been a source of pride for first-generation-to-college families like mine.

But some now question the value and purpose of college altogether. Sensational stories describe millionaire dropouts as though they are a common occurrence. One columnist, writing in The Wall Street Journal in December, went so far as to call college a “cancer.”

This could lead some prospective college students to wonder not which college to apply to, but whether they should apply at all.

It’s time to look past the vitriol of the current narrative and recognize the transformative value of a college education.

There are five oft-repeated misnomers about higher education — “it’s not worth it,” “it’s too elitist,” “it’s too expensive,” “it doesn’t prepare you for the real world,” and “institutes of higher education aren’t part of the community.”

In response:

— College is worth it. Continue reading…

(Thomas P. Foley, a former college president, is president of the nonprofit Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania, of which Lancaster Bible College is a member.)