American higher education is a mosaic, not a monolith
Preview:
Declining confidence in American higher education is real, but the national conversation treats a diverse ecosystem of community colleges, public universities, HBCUs, and private colleges as a single entity. Critiques focus heavily on highly selective private universities, even though the 31 private AAU members enroll just 3.5% of students. Public trust runs opposite to prestige, with community colleges the most trusted and the Ivy League the least. Rebuilding trust and getting reform right require recognizing the full range of institutions and the millions of students they serve beyond the national spotlight.
Originally published: August 31, 2026
Author: Justin Schwartz
Position: Chancellor
Institution: University of Colorado Boulder
Published by: University Business