The Chuck ToddCast

Interview Only w/Paul Glastris - Why America’s Colleges Are FAILING Their Students

Oct 9, 2025
Paul Glastris, Editor-in-chief of the Washington Monthly, dives into the flaws of America's college ranking system and its impact on higher education. He critiques U.S. News & World Report for prioritizing wealth and prestige over actual student value. Glastris highlights Berea College as a model of affordability and access, advocating for a New Deal for Higher Education that emphasizes mobility and public service. The conversation also touches on the need for better measurement of teaching quality and the vital role of community colleges in fostering upward mobility.
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INSIGHT

Rankings Reward Wealth Over Value

  • U.S. News rankings reward exclusivity, wealth, and reputation rather than educational value.
  • Those metrics drive inequality, higher costs, and exclusion across higher education.
ADVICE

Use New Metrics To Judge Colleges

  • Measure colleges by upward mobility, research, and service rather than prestige.
  • Use those metrics to identify schools that deliver value to typical taxpayers and students.
ANECDOTE

Berea’s Tuition-Free Work Model

  • Berea College charges almost no tuition by using work-college status and a large endowment.
  • Its model funds students directly and yields better earnings for graduates from modest means.
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