In a recent report by the Washington Post, the alarming rate at which colleges are closing has been brought to light: one college per week. This disturbing trend has seen the closure of many institutions, including the historically innovative Goddard College in Vermont. Even public institutions are not immune, as evidenced by the precarious situation of Wisconsin’s 13 two-year colleges, with at least three already shuttered.
This wave of closures is occurring at a paradoxical time when a college degree is more critical than ever for ensuring both individual and family economic stability and contributing to societal prosperity. The primary driver behind these closures is a significant decline in student enrollment, a trend that is both puzzling and troubling given the high demand for higher education.
The Gender Enrollment Gap
A closer examination reveals a stark gender disparity at the heart of this enrollment decline. Since 2012, there are 1.2 million fewer students in college, and a staggering 83% of this reduction, or about 1.0 million students, are male. This sharp decline among male students contrasts with a negligible decrease in female student enrollment, highlighting a critical issue in higher education’s ability to attract and retain male students.
Why Are Colleges Losing Male Students?
There is only one reason. Colleges admit students based on Grade Point Average (GPA). GPA is a false measurement.
- GPA penalizes male students for their biological gender based male behavior. This is behavior which has nothing to do with learning and knowledge.
- An ETS study showed that about 36% of male students are given significantly worse grades than their learning would indicate.
- Studies as recently as 2023 confirm that 2 million smart boys a year are regularly given grades so low that colleges will not admit them.
The Untapped Potential of Smart Men
Contrary to the idea that a demographic decline in high school graduates is to blame, there is a substantial “backlog” of 20 million men aged 20-40 who still desire a four-year college degree. These men represent an enormous reservoir of untapped potential. One inspiring example is a 42-year-old former homeless man who, with determination and the necessary financial, moral, and bureaucratic support, is set to graduate next year with a degree in computer science, poised to earn over $100,000 annually.
The Path Forward
To reverse this troubling trend, colleges must take decisive action to attract and retain male students. This involves:
- Rethinking Admissions Policies. Colleges need to admit students based on their learning and knowledge, not on irrelevant behavior that has nothing to do with learning and knowledge. This means admitting students primarily based on test scores, not GPA.
- Retaining and graduating males. Even when admitted, more male students fail to be retained by colleges as compared to female students. The solution is to grade all students based on their learning and knowledge rather than biologically based gender behavior.
Conclusion
The closure of colleges at such an alarming rate is a crisis that demands immediate attention. With a focus on understanding and addressing the gender disparities in enrollment, particularly the sharp decline in male students, we can begin to stem the tide of closures and ensure that higher education remains accessible and relevant for all. The future of our economy and the well-being of our society depend on it.
William A. Draves is the President of Learning Resources Network (LERN). LERN is the leading association in lifelong learning programming in the world, serving over 1,000 organizations every year.