Ivies on Ice: America’s Trust in Higher Ed Has Flatlined

Written By David Hopkins
“ ‘I graduated from Yale,’ used to mean high achiever—now, for many, it just means you’re $200K in debt, ranting on TikTok about ‘the system’ during your break at Starbucks.”

The data’s in: America no longer trusts its universities, and honestly? They earned this fall from grace. The Manhattan Institute recently conducted a survey of registered voters across the political spectrum—and it wasn’t good for our friends in the elite universities.

For too long, elite schools peddled status like snake oil, saddling students with debt while serving up identity politics and administrative bloat. The emperor had a tenured job—and no clothes. So yes, it’s satisfying for me to watch the prestige bubble pop.

But let’s not confuse distrust with disuse. College can still be worth it, just not at sticker price and blind faith. Get through it without debt (or minimal debt). Be smart in your pre-enrollment strategies by moving quickly and efficiently. It is still possible and still a very wise decision for many to get that degree. Just don’t blindly trust the system.

You don’t need the Ivy League to win—you need clear purpose, sound strategy, and understanding our long-term goals and objectives before you start. The rules have changed. But the dream isn’t dead, it just changed, so you have to change with it!

I share ideas like this every week. If you want to unlearn the old way of thinking about college. Sign up here to get the good stuff. Short, quick, and to the point. And, yes, it’s free.

David Hopkins