Two significant changes are coming to all our families and our nation. After the last Presidential election, it seemed evident that the country was tired of far-left ideology and wanted to shift back to the center-right, where voters traditionally land.
“Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there really is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think of it.”
Business, all business, is changing, and our colleges and universities seem to be stuck in a 1960s mindset when our nation needs leaders in STEM fields.
The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence should cause all parents and students to question the cost and value of post-high school education. We may be entering an era where post-high-school education takes on new directions. My wife and I have posed several questions to our grandchildren as they consider their education and future.
- Will the degree you are pursuing be necessary, or will it even exist ten years from now?
- How will you earn a living from the degree you are pursuing in a world where artificial intelligence will displace many jobs?
- Does the new perspective on job opportunities require a four-year degree, or are there more significant opportunities in related technical fields?
- What can you do to take advantage of the artificial intelligence that becomes integrated into your career field?
These questions will hopefully prompt them to think beyond the early post-high school years.
The College Education Myth
One uncomfortable truth about college has become apparent through examples in the technology industry. In an era where the rise of billionaires is common, we should pause to consider how college was relevant to their careers.
Unfortunately, the jury is out for our post-high school colleges and universities, and the outlook is not always looking very promising. Numerous examples exist of individuals who attended college and subsequently leveraged their education to create substantial wealth. However, these fortunes are often made in markets and on Wall Street by rearranging money between buyers and sellers, not by creating a product.
There is this uncomfortable group of multi-millionaires and billionaires who dropped out of college or never attended college. This group includes Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Rachel Ray, Simon Cowell, Steve Wozniak, Richard Branson, Larry Ellison, Ted Turner, and John Mackey, among others. This group of businesspeople shares common traits, including a willingness to take risks, creativity, and a strong work ethic. They have an entrepreneurial spirit that is not taught in our colleges. Their achievements raise questions about the direct relationship between a four-year college degree and financial success.
For many, the four years of college offer a time to mature and acquire additional skills, but this may come at an exorbitant financial cost that can hinder students’ success once they graduate. Students may also learn that employers have no interest in DEI, CRT, and other social justice issues, and that embracing them can make them less employable, not more. Once college is over, a degree that leads to gainful employment is infinitely more valuable than a “feel-good” degree.
Georgia’s Technical Colleges
Fortunately, Georgia’s students have many paths to success beyond the high school years. One of those paths is a blend of traditional learning and skills-based education. We are fortunate to have twenty-two technical colleges operating under the Technical College System of Georgia. These schools often combine academic and skills-based education, and for some, they provide a pathway to major universities when appropriate.
More importantly, they have lower faculty-student ratios, lower costs, and higher graduation rates. I have taken several courses at our closest technical college, and a significant difference is that students are there for a purpose and are focused on learning what is needed to pursue their goals.
These schools are scattered throughout the state, with twenty-two colleges located in eighty-eight different places. Their website states that they have a 99% job placement success rate. Unlike the state’s other universities, the State’s Hope scholarship program covers all tuition, making it a more affordable option.
Unfortunately, the same donation data we used for our other analysis is unavailable for most of these schools. Still, based on my personal experience, I expect their faculty to mirror the state’s voting patterns more closely.
Private colleges
Georgia is also blessed with a significant number of private colleges and universities. These institutions will vary dramatically in terms of cost, size, and political leanings, ranging from Emory University in Atlanta (5,783 students) to more community-based colleges, such as LaGrange College (643 students).
| Enrollment | Location | Religious Affiliation |
1,100 | Atlanta |
| |
| $10,000 |
| |
2,300 | Rome |
| |
2.500 | Gainesville |
| |
900 | $22,000 | Yes | |
4,100 | Atlanta |
| |
900 | $25,000 | Yes | |
Emmanuel College | 900 | $20,000 |
|
5,700 | Atlanta | Yes | |
650 | $21,600 |
| |
2,800 | $28,300 |
| |
|
| Yes | |
Mercer University | 4,800 | $22,000 |
|
Morehouse College | 2,600 | $35,000 |
|
Oglethorpe University | 1,500 | $20,100 |
|
Piedmont University | 2,000 | Demorest |
|
Point University | 1,700 | $19,900 |
|
Reinhardt University | 1,200 | $26,900 |
|
Savannah College Art & Design | 13,500 | Savannah |
|
Shorter University | 1,500 | $13,500 |
|
Spelman College | 2,400 | $37,000 |
|
Thomas University | 800 | $10,800 |
|
Toccoa Falls College | 1,800 | Toccoa |
|
Truett McConnell University | 2,700 | Cleveland | Yes |
Wesleyan College | 800 | $13,900 |
|
Young Harris College | 1,400 | $18,900 |
|
I would have hoped that these universities would be closer to the center and provide a more balanced view of the world. However, as we noted in our last installment, the same political bias that infects our public schools has also infiltrated the private sector. Emory, Clark Atlanta, Morehouse, and Agnes Scott lean so far left that they drag this group into the same category as our public universities.
Standing Up to the Challenges
Since we began this discussion, significant developments have occurred on the national scene between the Federal Government and prominent universities, making it seem warranted to discuss my alma mater, the University of Georgia, and Harvard further.
The current administration is focused on bringing our universities back toward the center, with Harvard as the primary target. As with most things in life, money talks, and with Harvard, this seems to be the soft spot. But is it any different at state-run universities?
Next, we will look into the political leanings of the University of Georgia, Emory University, and Harvard. Are Emory and UGA just as vulnerable as Harvard?
Next and Last Look
Our final look into the colleges and universities in Georgia will be to compare the political bias against the most notable schools in the nation. How does Georgia stack up against the most newsworthy?
Up next – A look at major Georgia universities and how they stack up against those in the news.
The Balanced Education Myth 1
The Balanced Education Myth 2
The Balanced Education Myth 3
The Balanced Education Myth 4
The Balanced Education Myth 5
The Balanced Education Myth 6
Resources and Further Reading
Agnes Scott College, agnesscott.edu, Last accessed February 6, 2025.
Andrew College, andrewcollege.edu, Last accessed February 6, 2025.
Berry College, go.berry.edu, Last accessed January 30, 2025.
Brenau University, brenau.edu, Last accessed January 31, 2025.
Brewton-Parker College, bpc.edu, Last accessed January 31, 2025.
Clark Atlanta University, cau.edu, Last accessed February 6, 2025.
Covenant College, covenant.edu, Last accessed February 7, 2025.
Emory University, emory.edu, Last accessed February 7, 2025.
LaGrange College, lagrange.edu, Last accessed February 8, 2025.
Life University, life.edu, Last accessed February 6, 2025.
Luther Rice College & Seminary, lutherrice.edu, Last accessed February 8, 2025.
Search of Specific Colleges and Universities, BestColleges, bestcolleges.com, Last accessed February 8, 2025.
Technical College System of Georgia,
Note
The information in these articles on the Balanced Education Myth was developed using the data readily available on the website opensecrets.org. Not all colleges can be found on this website, indicating they had no donations or omissions by OpenRecords.org or their data sources. However, we believe their records to be either complete or as complete as possible.
It is possible for a conservative faculty member to bypass the data collection process by donating through a spouse or other source. Given the consistency of the data across all colleges and universities we believe this to be a minor source of error if at all.
