The radio program Marketplace did another story yesterday on the question of whether or not going into debt for a bachelor’s degree is worth it.

As expected, they found an expert willing to say it isn’t, or maybe it isn’t.  This time is was economist Richard Vedder who directs the Center for College Affordability and Productivity.

RICHARD VEDDER: In our zeal to get everyone a college education, we’re finding more and more people going out with a bachelor’s degree that are having a hard time getting a job that fits the skills that they believe they picked up in college. And maybe the notion that everyone should go to college is one that we need to rethink in light of this labor market experience.

Two things strike about Mr. Vedder’s remark.

1. “We’re finding more and more people going out with a bachelor’s degree that are having a hard time getting a job that fits the skills that they believe they picked up in college.”  The jobs recovery from the latest recession is slow – that’s been covered extensively in the media.  Not only are recent university graduates finding it tough to land a job, everyone is.  It’s interesting, however, that he used the word “skills” as opposed to “knowledge.”  Look at the mission statements of various colleges, like the VCCS, and universities.  More often than not you will find the word “skills” associated with community colleges, not universities – the institutions that award bachelor’s degrees.
2. “Maybe the notion that everyone should go to college is one that we need to rethink…” Really?  Are those who dropped out of school or earned only a high school diploma finding greater success in “this labor market experience?”  What I take from Mr. Vedder’s remark is that perhaps the blind pursuit of a bachelor’s degree is not the best path for everyone these days.

And that’s where the media has it all wrong with these kind of stories.  By and large, reporters graduated from journalism programs with four-year degrees.  Some of them go on to earn graduate journalism degrees.  Therefore the question about the value of post secondary education becomes a question of “Bachelor’s or bust?”

That is simply an insufficient way to explore and examine higher education and its value.

Virginia’s Community Colleges, like community colleges across the nation, help people earn two-year associates degrees.  We help people transfer to four-year universities to complete the bachelor’s degree.  We help people earn professional certifications.  We help connect people with apprenticeship opportunities. And that’s not all.

Each of these paths can be successful.  Each can lead to good-paying jobs and long, productive careers.  It all depends on the individual student we are serving.

(In fact, we customize that journey for every individual with the Virginia Education Wizard.  If you haven’t visited yet, please do.)

Success takes on many shapes.

The press needs to wake up to that fact.

More importantly, we all must.