College Is Still Worth It for Students

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Aislynn Fait and Ruby Savala, two student roadtrippers from Roadtrip Nation’s upcoming documentary Rethinking Higher Ed, moderated by Justin Draeger, SVP of Affordability at the Strada Education Foundation.

The session explored the real-life journeys of young people questioning traditional pathways to success and examining whether college is still the golden ticket—or if alternative routes can offer equal or greater value. Through behind-the-scenes stories and reflections from the road, panelists shared what they learned about the evolving role of postsecondary education, the power of near-peer inspiration, and the importance of broadening our definitions of success. The conversation provided an exclusive preview of the documentary and powerful insights into how we can better support students as they navigate the complex decisions that shape their futures.