Just under half of the public (47%) says the main purpose of a college education is to teach work-related skills and knowledge. Another 39%, however, says that college is an opportunity for students to grow personally and intellectually. A little more than one-in-ten (12%) say the time spent at college should be dedicated to both pursuits. Americans who did not attend a four-year college are the most likely to say college is best for developing work-related skills — 55% say this should be the mission of college. Americans who did attend a four-year school, however, lean the other way: 50% say that individual growth is more important; 40% say learning skills for a career. Adults with a post-graduate education, by a 56%-to-26% margin, are the most likely to say the mission of college should be to help an individual grow personally and intellectually rather than to prepare students for a career
Hmm, I say “it depends”. Sometimes, college is primarily to prepare for work-related skills (engineering or accounting, for example), but personal and intellectual growth occurs as a secondary feature.
I am certain of one thing. A young person shouldn’t take on a $100,000+ college debt burden just to “grow personally and professionally”. That is simply foolish.
Source: Pew Research Center
