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320Conversation What Is the Future of Higher Education? A college education has long been a part of the American Dream; indeed, despite periodic doubts about returns on the investment of money and time, a college education has been shown to, literally, add years to life expectancy. Americans without college degrees live an average of nine fewer years than those with a bachelor%u2019s degree. A college education offers more and better career choices, which lead to higher earnings, better health care, safer homes, and healthier food. At the same time, however, tuition and housing costs have drastically increased (especially at private colleges), leaving many graduates in student loan debt. Further, some people believe that young people%u2019s time would be better spent training to be trade workers like plumbers or electricians. What must American higher education do to remain part of the American Dream and adapt to changing times? Carefully read the following four sources, including the introductory information for each source. Respond thoughtfully to all sets of Exploring the Text questions to analyze each perspective. Then, use the Making Connections question set to determine how the sources inform one another. Finally, develop your own position on the future of higher education using the Entering the Conversation prompts. 1. Marilynne Robinson Dismantling Iowa (2023) 2. Adrian Wooldridge America%u2019s Educational Superpower Is Fading (2023) 3. Jeffrey Selingo In Defense of College Degrees and New Post-Secondary Pathways (2023) 4. Financial Return of Higher Education (graphs, 2023) Copyright %u00a9 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Not for redistribution.