Can startup universities revive America’s aging higher education system?
American higher education faces an urgent crossroad, with established universities dominating while new institutions struggle to grow. A Postsecondary Commission report shows most recent colleges are vocational or for-profit, leaving four-year startups rare but vital. Innovative models like Olin and Minerva highlight possibilities, yet accreditation hurdles and outcome debates threaten progress. The sector’s survival hinges on fostering these “green shoots.”
American higher education faces an urgent crossroad, with established universities dominating while new institutions struggle to grow. A Postsecondary Commission report shows most recent colleges are vocational or for-profit, leaving four-year startups rare but vital. Innovative models like Olin and Minerva highlight possibilities, yet accreditation hurdles and outcome debates threaten progress. The sector’s survival hinges on fostering these “green shoots.”
