What is the Purpose of College?

The New York Times recently posted an online tool that allows users to create their own university rankings based on customized criteria. Students can rank schools based upon metrics like party scene, income level, racial diversity, and athletics. These metrics reveal a lot about how the purpose of education has changed over the decades. A university education used to be a way for people to grow in their moral and spiritual formation in order to become good citizens of a nation. Now universities exist to prepare students for a career. There are many financial and cultural reasons for this which should prompt Christians to approach education with thoughtful reflection.  Should this be the primary lens through which we view college?

In this episode we not only discuss how the purpose of education has changed over the decades, but also the process of education. Paul argues that education exists to show people the proper way to think, reason, and live in the world rather than provide various options for the student to choose from. Not all ideas are equal. A college education ought to exist for more than just career preparation. It should shape the intellectual and moral lives of students.

Show Notes

"Build Your Own College Rankings" the New York Times