In nearly every public conversation about higher education today, one question looms large: Is college still worth it?
It’s a fair question. Families are weighing the escalating cost of tuition against years of potential debt. Students are comparing the value of a degree with the speed and affordability of competency-based training alternatives or direct-to-work pipelines. Employers are concerned about recent graduate readiness for today’s evolving workforce, while advancements in technology such as artificial intelligence and digital learning platforms offer inexpensive access to knowledge and skills outside the walls of a traditional university experience.
The skepticism is warranted, and higher education must respond. At the University of Tennessee’s College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies (CECS), we believe the relevancy debate is not a threat to fear—it’s an opportunity to lead.
Why the Relevancy of Higher Education Is Being Questioned
Four major trends are fueling the current conversation around the relevancy of higher education.
Economic concerns. Tuition costs and potential debt weigh heavily on students and families. Can they afford four or more years of study? Will their return on investment be worthwhile? Meanwhile, lower-cost alternatives such as apprenticeships and certification programs lead them to wonder if a degree is the best option for them, or if there are other pathways to a meaningful, rewarding career.
Technological shifts. Emergence of artificial intelligence as a personalized tutoring companion, and online learning platforms are democratizing access to knowledge. If a student can learn basic programming skills, fundamental business strategies, or the foundations of accounting online for a minimal cost and at a personalized pace, they may wonder why they should invest not only financial resources but commit a minimum of four years to a degree program through a university. They see benefit to taking the “faster route.”
Demographic shifts. The long-running stereotype of the “typical” 18- to 22-year-old college student is no longer the norm. A third of today’s undergraduates are over 25 and more than 40% work full time while in school[1]. Over half come from households earning less than $50,000[2], and one in five has dependents[3]. Traditional degree programs aren’t necessarily designed to fit the lifestyle and needs of the modern student.
Employer expectations. Companies increasingly point to a disconnect between the skills graduates have and the skills the workforce needs, due in large part to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. This talent gap is costly, requiring employers to retrain new hires at a time when industries are already under pressure to innovate and stay competitive.
When taken together, these challenges demand higher education to evolve.
Why Higher Education Still Matters
Despite the challenges facing colleges and universities, the value of higher education should not be underestimated or dismissed as obsolete. In fact, at no other point in history has the world needed colleges and universities more. As technology accelerates change, as misinformation clouds truth, and as work increasingly carries ethical and civic dimensions, the mission of higher education has never been more urgent.
At its best, a college education cultivates far more than the necessary technical know-how. It teaches students to adapt to change, engage across differences, and lead with purpose in a world that is increasingly interconnected and uncertain. The economic argument for a college degree remains equally strong. In 2022, full-time workers aged 25–34 with a bachelor’s degree earned a median salary of $66,000—nearly 60% higher than those whose highest credential was a high school diploma. Master’s degree holders earned roughly 20% more than those with a bachelor’s.[4]
Beyond workforce readiness, universities remain society’s most powerful engines of discovery. From breakthroughs in medicine and clean energy to advances in artificial intelligence and agriculture, higher education continues to shape the innovations that define the future. When viewed through this lens, higher education is not irrelevant. It is unfinished. It stands on the brink of reinvention, ready to evolve and reimagine its purpose for a rapidly changing world.
The CECS Way: A Model of Relevancy
That evolution is underway at CECS, a bold idea launched by UTK as a response to the changing landscape and student demand for access to skills on emerging technology and flexible curriculum: it is learner-centered, industry-connected, and a hub for collaboration for not just all learners but all faculty as well.
Reimaging the Student Journey.
Every CECS learner begins their collegiate career with CECS 101: Design Your Career, Design Your Degree. This course uses design thinking to help learners create a unique academic plan aligned with their personal interests and professional aspirations. It also meets UTK’s general education course criteria, ensuring access to all students.
Integrating Industry Partnerships.
CECS embeds industry insights into the curriculum through Program Advisory Committees (PACs), which not only inform coursework but also create opportunities for project-based learning and internships. The Professional Advancement Through Hands-On Learning (PATH) certificate—developed entirely by industry partners—integrate work-inspired modules and team projects directly into the classroom. The Responsive Industry Support Ecosystem (RISE) mentorship program matches industry professionals with learners pursuing careers in emerging employment sectors, bridging the gap between learning and career readiness.
Competency and Work-Based Learning.
Every CECS program requires 12 credit hours of applied learning as a degree requirement, ensuring that each learner earns academic credit for hands-on experience through internships, co-ops, or industry-led projects. These opportunities are not add-ons. They are built into the curriculum, allowing students to demonstrate mastery through real-world problem solving, creativity, and entreprenuership. From designing data dashboards for local companies to collaborating with regional employers on innovation challenges, CECS learners graduate with a portfolio that proves both their knowledge and their competence. This approach bridges classroom theory and workplace practice, preparing graduates to contribute from day one in a rapidly evolving economy.
Flexibility for Learners
Recognizing that students need options, CECS offers fifteen stackable certificates in high-demand fields such as Applied Artificial Intelligence, Applied Computing, Applied Cybersecurity, Bioinformatics, Data Science, Game Craft, and Human Interaction and Intelligence Systems. Learners can add these to any degree program, regardless of their major, or choose three certificates to create a customized degree through our signature Innovative Transdisciplinary Studies program.
CECS is launching three online B.S. degrees in Applied AI and Data Science (Spring 2026) and Applied Cybersecurity (Fall 2026) to expand access to all learners. Additionally, CECS launched CECS Online Academy which provides the platform, expertise, and scalability for non-credit bearing instruction to ensure all learners have the knowledge and capabilities needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving digital economy. CECS Online Academy offers a self-paced portal into the world of applied digital innovation for students and professionals seeking to upskill, as well as industry in need of a custom training solution.
The result is an ecosystem that feels less like a traditional college and more like a startup: agile, responsive, and relentlessly focused on relevancy.
Lessons for Higher Education Leaders
The CECS experience offers lessons that extend beyond one institution.
- Relevancy must be proactive. We cannot wait for the public opinion to change or for market forces to determine the value of higher education. Institutions must adjust to the needs of today’s learner and workforce.
- Integration beats silos. Learners benefit when institutions break down traditional disciplinary barriers, enabling them to learn across disciplines and apply knowledge in complex, real-world contexts.
- Partnerships are essential. Industry, community, and academic collaborations are no longer optional. They are the foundation of ensuring higher education remains tied to the world beyond campus walls.
A Call to Action
The relevancy debate will not disappear anytime soon. Nor should it. It is a healthy pressure, forcing higher education to analyze its past, assess its present, and potentially realign its future.
Institutions must make take bold action by engaging critics directly, experimenting with new models, and building pathways that prepare learners not only for their first job after graduation, but for a lifetime of learning and leadership.
Conclusion: Leadership to Thrive, Not Survive
The story of higher education is not one of decline. It is one of transformation. At CECS, we have found that embracing change, breaking down boundaries, and putting collaboration at the center makes relevancy not a question, but a reality.
Universities only need to be bold enough to reimagine.
By Ozlem Kilic, Vice Provost and CECS Founding Dean
[1] Lumina Foundation, “Today’s Students,” accessed September 10, 2025, https://www.luminafoundation.org/campaign/todays-student.
[2] Student Voice Survey with Generation Lab, “The Academic Experience,” accessed September 10, 2025, https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/academic-life/2024/07/03/survey-college-student-academic-experience.
[3] IWPR, “Parents in College By the Numbers,” accessed September 10, 2025, https://iwpr.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/C481_Parents-in-College-By-the-Numbers-Aspen-Ascend-and-IWPR.pdf.
[4] National Center for Education Statistics, “Annual Earnings by Educational Attainment,” accessed September 10, 2025, https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cba/annual-earnings.