The Human Dimension of College Worth: Why Student Affairs Matters
October 1, 2025
Across the country, questions about the value of higher education persist, remaining top of mind for students, families, and policymakers. Rising tuition costs, student debt burdens, and uncertain employment outcomes have led many to wonder whether a college degree is still worth the investment. The metrics used to answer this question—earnings potential, job placement rates, and wage growth—are important, but they do not tell the full story.
Student affairs professionals—through advising, mentoring, health and wellness support, community engagement activities, and more—are the architects of the student experience beyond the classroom. Their work prepares students not only to earn a living but to live with purpose, connection, and resilience. It is through student affairs that institutions nurture the full potential of learners as individuals, workers, and citizens.
The report explores seven dimensions of student affairs practice that animate both value and worth:
- Career and Academic Development
- Civic Engagement and Community Responsibility
- Access and Opportunity
- Health and Well-Being
- Leadership and Ethical Decision-Making
- Problem-Solving and Innovation
- Personal Development and Life Skills
These practices improve measurable outcomes such as retention, graduation, and job placement, while also cultivating the deeper human capacities that democratic societies and healthy economies require.