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Millions of students dropped out as higher ed shifted focus from degrees to DEI
Campus Reform ^ | June 18, 2025 | Leona Salinas

Posted on 06/19/2025 7:15:26 AM PDT by george76

Over 2.1 million Americans have dropped out of college without earning a degree, a troubling trend that raises concerns about whether universities are prioritizing politics over academic achievement.

Universities hire more DEI staff than history professors while millions of students leave without degrees

...

Over 2.1 million Americans have dropped out of college without earning a degree, a troubling trend that raises concerns about whether universities are prioritizing politics over academic achievement.

A June 4 report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found that college non-completers rose by 2.2 percent in the past year. Citing a lack of direction, student debt, and disillusionment with the value of a degree, many students are leaving school without finishing.

...

Instead of addressing these foundational issues—like affordability, job readiness, and clear academic pathways—many institutions have ramped up investments in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programming.

...

the explosion of DEI efforts across higher education. Some universities now employ more DEI officers than history professors. These bureaucracies often mandate ideological trainings, revise general education courses to reflect political priorities, and fund identity-based events—all without clear evidence that they improve student success or retention.

....

the drop in enrollment reflects universities abandoning their academic mission.

“When universities stray from their academic mission, students, parents, and the public start to question the value of a university education. Politicization has significantly eroded public trust,” Robinson said. “Going forward, universities should be laser-focused on their academic endeavors in order to attract and retain students and regain the public’s confidence.”

Critics argue that universities are failing to provide students with marketable skills, while increasingly politicizing required coursework. Financial literacy advocates warn that students are unsure what their tuition is funding, as required classes are used to advance activism over academics.

Conservative students have also reported being marginalized on campuses where progressive ideologies dominate classroom discourse. A lack of viewpoint diversity, students say, fosters a hostile learning environment that may lead them to withdraw altogether.

...

In response to growing public dissatisfaction, states like Florida and Texas have passed laws to rein in campus activism and restore academic standards.

Texas Senate Bill 17, now in effect, eliminates DEI offices in public colleges. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 37 requires general education curricula to emphasize civic literacy and critical thinking over political advocacy.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: affirmativeaction; college; corruption; dei; die; diversity; education; enrollment; esg; getwokegobroke; sat; woke
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1 posted on 06/19/2025 7:15:26 AM PDT by george76
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To: george76

Colleges get paid by the class enrolled, not the diploma provided.

(Change the incentives, of course, and everyone will get a diploma of zero meaning!)


2 posted on 06/19/2025 7:17:07 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: george76

Idiots went from being educated to be brainwashed and programmed to be a far-left kook.


3 posted on 06/19/2025 7:17:58 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Correction! America is a nation of LEGAL IMMIGRANTS! All of mine came here legally. No free stuff.)
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To: george76
Over 2.1 million Americans have dropped out of college without earning a degree..

How many of the 2.1 million were dei accepted, only to flunk out or quit?

4 posted on 06/19/2025 7:19:30 AM PDT by chief lee runamok ( Le Flâneur @Large)
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To: 9YearLurker
Once upon a time, a liberal arts degree was actually worth something because it gave graduates an enlarged view of the world and, with it, adaptability.

At Hillsdale College, such a degree is still worth something to the extent that their students use only Hillsdale approved lenders who can offer rates below the federal rate because THEIR graduates are actually employable and at near zero risk for default.

5 posted on 06/19/2025 7:21:59 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (The politicized state destroys aspects of civil society, human kindness and private charity.)
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To: george76

DEI , The free-ride


6 posted on 06/19/2025 7:26:51 AM PDT by butlerweave
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To: george76
Professors and administrators killed the golden egg-laying. goose. Not very smart.

As wise sage Joe Rogan said, why do we need colleges when everything you could possibly want to learn in college is on the internet for free?

7 posted on 06/19/2025 7:28:24 AM PDT by RoosterRedux ("There's nothing so inert as a closed mind" )
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To: Vigilanteman

With it no accident that they’re not on the federal dole.


8 posted on 06/19/2025 7:29:38 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: george76

Yes. Colleges were bloated because there was easy money from the feds. Now colleges will get squeezed on both ends. Way less students, and way less fed money.
Could one imagine a world where college athletes have to play for free?


9 posted on 06/19/2025 7:30:45 AM PDT by Getready (Wisdom is more valuable than gold and harder to find. )
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To: george76

DEI is a jobs for your peers effort at the express cost to those it claims to favor.

It is typical commie in that regard.


10 posted on 06/19/2025 7:33:39 AM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher )
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To: george76

Plumbers, welders, diesel mechanics, automotive techs, hvac techs, electricians, they all make more money on average than a college grad with a liberal arts degree. And are happier.


11 posted on 06/19/2025 7:37:32 AM PDT by Ikeon (5,365 times,I've already told ya. YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID)
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To: george76
The alleged students may have been attracted by the ease of being presented with a nonsense woke degree, fit for the John Blutarsky mindset, and paid for by student loans whose repayment obligations would vaporize by Biden's (minder's) forgiveness edicts.

Now, with a new President and a new Secretary of Education (Linda McMahon), the party is over for the unserious students coasting for gauzy degrees for which companies have neither need nor want.

Might Maynard G. Krebbs acolytes now, instead of collegiate playtime, be looking for...work?

12 posted on 06/19/2025 7:38:11 AM PDT by Seaplaner (Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never...in nothing, great or small...Winston ChurchIill)
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To: george76

BTTT


13 posted on 06/19/2025 7:44:54 AM PDT by nopardons
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To: Vigilanteman

Companies liked to hire liberal arts degree holders, because they were known to see the bigger picture.
Not the narrow scope of engineering, science, accounting or healthcare degrees.
There used to be a lot of CEO’s with history or philosophy degrees!

What are liberal arts degrees worth nowadays? Universities, social workers and DEI offices are the only jobs available!

But these people still holds an University degree.
They think a lot about themselves and blame society for not providing the adequate renumeration! Thus the constant discrimination complains.


14 posted on 06/19/2025 7:45:47 AM PDT by AZJeep (sane )
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To: RoosterRedux
"why do we need colleges when everything you could possibly want to learn in college is on the internet for free?"

but but...under that scenario, how would our beloved tenured academic elites be able to command high six-figure salaries with little to no work or accountability?
15 posted on 06/19/2025 7:47:09 AM PDT by millenial4freedom (Government was supposed to preserve freedom, not serve as a jobs program for delinquents and misfits)
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To: george76

Once again, government is to blame

DOJ lawfare and decades of twisted “Civil Rights” legislation created the conditions

Followed by $$billions in government aid, loans, etc...

US higher education is woke politically bagged, tagged and in the truck

Trump has only started to fix it.

Since it took 60 years to build this monster, it may take a few years for attitudes and habits to change.


16 posted on 06/19/2025 7:48:23 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: AZJeep; All

I don’t buy that. Most liberal arts/social science degree holders are narrow minded miseducated bigots. Of bigots in the most modern acceptable bigotry. As far as critical thinking skills go forget it! It’s a huge myth engineers/STEM educated people can’t see past the lab bench, test tube or program. Some are most aren’t just like some LA\SS degree holders can do more then wait tables.


17 posted on 06/19/2025 7:52:32 AM PDT by Reily
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To: george76

D-ivisive

E-litist

I-ntolerant.

Just sayin’.


18 posted on 06/19/2025 7:52:41 AM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this💩? 🚫💉! 🇮🇱👍!)
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To: Seaplaner
...fit for the John Blutarsky mindset...

Remember that he ended up as a senator...

19 posted on 06/19/2025 7:54:58 AM PDT by 17th Miss Regt (Fascist, deplorable, and proud of it!)
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To: chief lee runamok
Dr. Sowell commented on this in one of his books. Black kids with decent test scores (80th percentile) were being accepted into elite schools where the average student was way ahead of them and the curriculum was accelerated. In essence turning good students into losers who dropped out. The universities didn't care.
20 posted on 06/19/2025 7:55:28 AM PDT by Varda
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