For nearly four centuries, America’s colleges and universities have been trusted sources of wisdom and stability. Today, that confidence is wavering as politics, technology, and cost concerns reshape public attitudes toward higher education.
In the latest episode of The Blueprint, a podcast from college and career-readiness nonprofit Brilliant Pathways, Colgate University President Brian W. Casey discusses the forces challenging colleges nationwide — from political polarization and the rise of artificial intelligence to growing doubts about the value of a degree.
“I thought the pandemic was a perilous time, but turns out that was just the warmup act,” Casey said. “I have never seen such public criticism of Ivy League institutions, which were always thought to be untouchable.”
Casey noted that colleges now face a convergence of pressures: declining enrollment, affordability concerns, and an increasingly skeptical public. “There’s a questioning of the value of higher education to a level I’ve never seen before,” he said. “And institutions in general are being questioned.”
Despite widespread distrust in Congress, courts, religion, and media, Casey said higher education faces unique scrutiny as families weigh the cost of college against uncertain job prospects. “There’s something in the air — a mix of what college costs, what you learn, and what happens after you graduate,” he said.
Still, he believes these disruptions will spark transformation.
“There’s going to be a reshuffling,” Casey said. “The institutions that remain nimble, that foster rigorous exploration and prepare students for a complex, AI-driven world, will emerge stronger.”
The Blueprint episode’s host and Brilliant Pathways board member Bob Seaberg highlighted another challenge — widening economic and educational inequality. “Given the growing income divide and the widening gap in test scores between affluent and low-income students, it’s harder than ever for first-generation students to earn four-year degrees,” Seaberg said.
At Colgate, students whose families earn under $175,000 can now attend tuition-free, though Casey admitted many still misunderstand the true cost of college. He also criticized early-decision programs that advantage wealthy applicants, noting that reform efforts have largely stalled.
Yet not all trends are negative. Casey said the much-predicted “death of the liberal arts” has been overstated — and may even reverse in the age of AI.
“In a liberal arts classroom, professors engage students in complex issues with empathy, humanity, and intelligence,” he said. “That kind of personal, human learning will remain deeply valuable.”
Casey framed today’s turbulence as part of a recurring cycle. “Every half-century or so, the nation renegotiates its relationship with its colleges and universities,” he said. “That’s happening now.”
While political figures like Donald Trump have intensified tensions, Casey said the deeper reckoning began long before. “Trump didn’t create these issues, but he sensed that big questions were being raised,” Casey said. “This is a complicated time, and the waters are eddying back and forth.”
The Blueprint is a forward-thinking podcast from Brilliant Pathways that explores how education is evolving to prepare young people for college and career success.Listen wherever you get your podcasts or at brilliantpathways.org/podcast.