[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 8, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H1333-H1334]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 LOW COLLEGE ENROLLMENT IS NOT A CRISIS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, college enrollment decreased this year by a 
million students. Although many claim dropping enrollment is a crisis, 
this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
  This is an opportunity to see that Americans are making more 
decisions that are best for them. This is an opportunity for Americans 
to see that college is not the only pathway to a successful career. 
This is an opportunity for institutions of higher education to rethink 
how best to serve students.
  As the Republican leader of the Education and Labor Committee and a 
former educator, I know the importance of giving every American the 
opportunity to climb the economic ladder through pursuit of 
postsecondary education.
  Yet, the college-for-all mentality has forced many Americans to 
obtain expensive degrees which may not prepare them for a satisfying 
career when they could have thrived on an alternative career path. It 
also allowed institutions to maintain the status quo of high prices and 
often questionable value.
  College is not the only pathway to a fulfilling career. Falling 
college enrollment could demonstrate that more Americans are weighing 
the cost of college and deciding it just might not be worth it.
  A study by the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity found 
that the return on investment for obtaining a bachelor's degree varies 
significantly. The report found that 37 percent of the programs have 
negative returns on investment, meaning that students will be 
financially worse off for having participated in those programs.
  Students can benefit from college only if they complete their degree. 
Historically, about 900,000 students leave college without finishing 
each year, according to Michael Petrilli, president of Fordham 
Institute. Petrilli surmises that individuals not registering for 
college could be some of the same students who would have dropped out 
anyway.
  The roughly 40 percent of students who leave college without a degree 
are often left with a mountain of student debt and no wage increase to 
help pay it off. For these students it may have been a better option to 
enter the workforce, pursue a skilled profession, or put off college 
until the time was right rather than conforming to societal norms.
  The fact that college enrollment is down signals that more Americans 
are doing just that--that is, making decisions that are better for 
their lives and families. As more young people come to realize that 
college is not always a golden ticket, they are embracing alternative 
career paths.
  For example, more Americans are participating in apprenticeship 
programs or obtaining an associate degree in a high-skilled trade like 
welding technology or respiratory therapy.
  We should celebrate our country's diverse workforce, not belittle it. 
Looking down on careers in critical industries, especially during a 
historic labor shortage, is shortsighted. We should encourage more 
Americans to obtain the skills needed for these in-demand jobs.
  College is not the only way for Americans to move up economically. 
Many careers, particularly those in high-skilled trades, can lead to 
high and stable incomes. Most importantly, declining enrollments may be 
the wake-up call colleges and universities needed to finally convince 
them that they must change to meet the demands of students, families, 
and our workforce.
  The cost of attending college has exploded while student outcomes 
have remained stagnant. Why would we expect any different when the 
Federal Government, using taxpayer dollars, is willing to write 
universities a blank check without requiring any accountability to 
students and taxpayers?
  It is time for these institutions to get serious about providing an 
affordable education that will prepare students for the workforce. The 
drop in college enrollment shows that America is ready to change its 
attitude on ``college-for-all'' and accept that there are

[[Page H1334]]

several pathways to the American Dream and lifelong success.

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