I’ve always considered the college business model a scam. Why do young people have to take 25 to 28 totally frivolous courses in order to get a semi-valuable credential (i.e., the vaunted bachelor’s degree)? Why can’t they just take the 12 to 15 courses that pertain to their respective majors and then get on with their lives?
And the truly sad part is that it wouldn’t require much to upend the current scam. All Congress need do is pass the following one paragraph law:
Any college or university that wants its students to have access to Pell Grants and federal student loans must provide a discipline-only degree option for every bachelor’s degree it offers. A discipline-only degree shall consist of no more than 15 essential, field-specific courses. A standard degree shall consist of 12 to 15 essential, field-specific courses plus whatever number of courses the college or university deems necessary. No college or university may financially punish a student for choosing the discipline-only degree option. Field-specific courses must cost the same per credit as non-field-specific courses.
There you go. With one simple paragraph, Congress could reduce the cost of a bachelor’s degree by 60 percent overnight for any student who just wants some worthwhile knowledge and doesn’t give a rat’s ass about the “the college experience.”
But don’t get your hopes up. The wretched Republicans and slimy Democrats are too busy right now with their redistricting war to worry about the affordability crisis in higher education.
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