What’s the Point of College? artwork
Plain English with Derek Thompson

What’s the Point of College?

Sep 11, 2026 · 56 min

Trust in American higher education is near a historic low. Tuition has soared, and the payoff for a college degree is now in question as graduates face a weird and challenging job market. Simultaneously, AI is transforming everything around them, from academic fraud to job applications. It all raises the question: What role does college play in the year 2026? Harvard is tackling this question by…