Radio Atlantic

Higher Education’s Identity Crisis


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Universities tried to be all things to all people. That model may not be working anymore.

Adam Harris is joined by Ian Bogost, Atlantic contributing writer and a professor at Washington University in St. Louis, to discuss the state of higher education.

On campuses across the country, students are graduating into a job market with questions on their mind. What kind of career is stable in 2026? Will AI make it even harder to get an entry-level job? Was my education worth all the money it cost?

For universities that are already facing federal funding cuts and enrollment declines, the identity crisis their graduates are facing is an extension of their own: Is the purpose of college just to get a good job, or is there more to it? 

Colleges have been in rough spots before, but is it finally time to start rethinking their entire model?

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