OPINION — Editorial

Three-year degrees

The basic cause of America's student-loan crisis is no mystery: College tuition and fees continue to soar while the earnings of recent graduates remain flat. It shouldn't be surprising that there's also a straightforward way to lower the cost of a college degree: Reduce the amount of time it takes to earn one.

The U.S.' four-year bachelor's degree is based on cultural convention, not pedagogical wisdom. In most European countries, as well as India, Singapore and Australia, the majority of undergraduate programs take three years to complete.

Getting a college education is more than just a commercial transaction. There is a public interest in making higher education more widely available to qualified students. The role for public officials may be limited, but it can still be helpful: tying eligibility for state and federal student aid to a school's offering of a three-year option, for example.

Not everyone needs a traditional college education. As Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said last week, the U.S. needs more pathways that allow Americans without one to reach (or remain in) the middle class. For those who want a college degree, however, obtaining one needn't take so long. A three-year degree is a simple, cost-effective way to set more students up for future success.

Editorial on 11/21/2017

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