The Kitchen Table College Chat episode explores the idea that families are not simply buying a college degree—they are investing four critical years of a young person’s life. 

Gary Stocker and Marc DeBoer discuss how the value of college extends beyond academics to include personal growth, relationships, networking, leadership opportunities, and career preparation. But they argue that families need to determine whether those experiences justify the price and potential debt. Graduation rates are especially important because taking five or six years to earn a degree adds tuition costs while delaying entry into the workforce. 

Gary emphasizes that a college’s financial health also matters because financially stronger institutions are generally better positioned to maintain programs, services, faculty, and the experiences students expect throughout their enrollment.  

The conversation also challenges families to look beyond superficial campus-tour questions and investigate whether a college can actually deliver what it promises. Students should examine four-year graduation rates, the number of students completing their intended major, the likelihood that the program will remain available, career outcomes, and the institution’s overall financial stability.

A low-completion major can be particularly risky at a time when financially pressured colleges are eliminating programs. Ultimately, Gary argues that the most valuable resource a family puts into college isn't simply money—it is time.

Students only get one opportunity to be 18, 19, 20, and 21 years old, so the college decision should focus on whether the institution can make those four years academically, professionally, financially, and personally worthwhile. As he puts it, families can borrow money for college, but they “can’t borrow another four years” of their child’s life. 

Colleges sometimes create programs and majors that have no substantive student audiences.  They can also create buildings and sports teams that are problematic additions.  Marc and Gary step listeners through the scenarios.

Marc and Gary address the long-running question about parent's involvement in their children's college experience.

 Marc and Gary discuss a topic not often addresses.  What happens when the novelty of the freshman year wears off?

This episode of Kitchen Table College Chat focuses on the important things colleges often do not tell prospective students and families. 

Gary Stocker and Marc DeBoer argue that families need to look beyond admissions materials and campus marketing when making one of their largest financial decisions. They discuss several risks that may not be obvious during the college search, including the possibility that a student’s chosen career may not provide the expected job opportunities, that a major could be eliminated before graduation, and that changing majors or transferring colleges can add significant time and expense. 

They also explain that many so-called scholarships are really tuition discounts designed to entice students to enroll, and they encourage families to pay more attention to retention and graduation rates than to how selective a college appears to be. 

The conversation then turns to a college’s financial strength and its ability to support students for four years. Stocker explains the importance of examining endowment size and how aggressively a college is drawing from that endowment, warning that unusually high withdrawals—or the use of restricted funds for other purposes—can indicate financial stress. 

The hosts also highlight deferred maintenance as an often-overlooked warning sign, including deteriorating buildings, outdated technology, poor campus infrastructure, and insufficient investment in facilities. 

Marc adds that students should develop a strong relationship with their academic advisor and create a four-year course plan early, since limited course availability can turn a four-year degree into five or six years. 

The episode concludes by emphasizing that college can still be an excellent investment, but families should independently examine financial health, graduation outcomes, academic stability, and campus investment rather than relying solely on a college’s marketing.

This episode of Kitchen Table College Chat examines how financially struggling colleges can harm students long before they officially close.
 
Gary Stocker and Marc DeBoer argue that college leaders often know about serious financial problems months or even years before families hear about them. During that period, students may experience fewer course sections, reduced upper-level classes, larger class sizes, faculty and staff departures, program cuts, outdated technology, and deteriorating campus facilities. 

The hosts emphasize that these warning signs can disrupt a student’s education, delay graduation, and reduce the quality of the college experience even when the institution’s doors remain open.

Gary and Marc encourage families to look beyond polished campus tours and reassuring marketing messages. They recommend examining graduation rates, financial results, endowment strength, deferred maintenance, borrowing, rumors of layoffs or program reductions, and whether a college is adding unusual sports programs primarily to increase enrollment.

Their central message is that families need independent information because colleges have strong incentives to present themselves positively even when they are under financial pressure. The episode concludes with Gary introducing the upcoming My College Decision Lens, designed to match a family’s priorities with college outcome and financial data, and announcing that the podcast will begin livestreaming on September 3.

This episode of Kitchen Table College Chat tackles one of the most controversial issues in higher education: Should colleges that "admit everyone" be held accountable for low graduation rates? 

Gary Stocker and Marc DeBoer challenge the common argument that open admissions naturally lead to poor student outcomes, arguing that access to college should not be confused with success in college. They discuss whether colleges have a responsibility to graduate the students they enroll or whether the burden rests entirely on the student. Gary made the case that institutions accepting tuition from students who are not academically or financially prepared—without providing a realistic path to graduation—creates what he describes as a "predatory revenue model." Marc countered by presenting the college perspective, arguing that institutions provide advising, tutoring, and other support services, but students must ultimately choose to use them. 

The conversation then shifts to practical advice for families evaluating colleges. Gary and Marc emphasize that four-year graduation rates and first-year retention rates are two of the strongest indicators of whether a college is fulfilling its educational mission. Rather than relying on marketing messages or broad claims about opportunity, they encourage parents and students to compare colleges based on measurable outcomes, arguing that institutions with stronger graduation and retention rates generally have better systems to support student success. They also discuss the long-term consequences of low graduation rates, including increased student debt, delayed careers, and the financial pressures colleges face when they continually recruit replacement students to offset those who leave. The episode concludes by announcing the launch of a live-stream version of the podcast, where listeners will be able to ask questions and engage directly with the hosts. 

 Marc and Gary talk through what is actually going on when colleges discount tuition.  Spoiler alert:  It's not actually money the college is using to subsidize a student's tuition.

It is simply the same type of discount you get for cars, computers, camera's.  It is a similar business model to the Kohl's retail stores.  They discount their clothes to generate cash to keep their business running.  

Colleges can't do that because the revenue from tuition is only sporadic (2-4 times per year)

Colleges are almost annually increasing their tuition discounts (they call them 'scholarships')

In this week's podcast show, Marc and Gary discuss why those discounts are not necessarily a good thing for the college - and ultimately for the student.

For example, if a college doesn't have the financial resources to offer a course section in your student's major, that could delay graduation by a semester or even a year.  We also talked about the opportunity cost associated with not graduating in 4 years associated with those delays.

It happens weekly and it happens without notice.  Marc and Gary talk about the history of program cuts and what you can do to lower the risk or move on if it happens.