Is College Still Worth It? Yes—But Only If You Know How to Use It.

Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in a public debate at the ASU+GSV Summit with a longtime colleague, Ryan Craig, who sees higher education from a very different perspective than I do. We come from different backgrounds, do different work, and hold different ideas about what needs to change.

The conversation was part of The Disagreement, a podcast I highly recommend. It models something we need more of in higher ed and society: respectful disagreement. That said, it felt like an unusual time to be engaging in a debate about the value of college. The institutions I care deeply about are under fire—not just being critiqued, but in some cases actively dismantled by sweeping policy changes.

Still, this lighthearted exchange helped refocus the conversation on the core question families are asking today: Is college worth it? Are we making a smart bet? What’s the best path forward for my child—or for myself? Here’s where I land: Yes, college is absolutely worth it. But only if you understand what it really requires.

Too often, we allow students to enter college without clear guidance. They drift, unsupported. And when they graduate with debt and disappointment, we blame the institution. But in reality, what failed was the design of their experience—and the way we prepared them to navigate it.

Here’s what I tell young people and families: College is worth it—but only if you understand that you are not a passive vessel to be filled. You are responsible for creating at least half of the learning and growth you’ll leave with. Roughly 50% of the value you’ll gain will be shared inside the classroom—through lectures, assignments, and faculty interaction. The other 50%? That’s on you. It will come from what you do outside the classroom: in labs, in internships, in clubs, on teams, in late-night study groups, through office hours, and real conversations with people who challenge your thinking.

You have to go get it.
You have to activate it.
You have to build it for yourself.

Because it’s entirely possible to go through college passively—attending class, completing credits—and leave without ever discovering what you’re capable of.

College, at its best, is where you learn what your best even looks like. It should be challenging. It should stretch you. It should expose you to new ideas, new people, and new possibilities.

And if you treat it that way—if you show up and do your part—it will be worth it. Unequivocally.

Warmly,
Bridget