Professor Jennie Brand, speaks with UCLA Newsroom about the value of college.
Professor Jennie Brand was featured in the UCLA Newsroom, describing the value of college in two features: “Winning the Argument: 6 tips on how to push back — nicely — on those who say college isn’t worth it” and “Is a College Education Still Worth It?”
The first feature offers thoughtful, evidence-based responses to common criticisms of pursuing a college education, including the substantial cost. While Brand acknowledges that college is expensive and that more effort is needed to lower costs, she also points to research showing that economic returns tend to accumulate over the long term.
In the second feature, “Is a College Education Still Worth It?” Brand describes findings from her 2023 book, Overcoming the Odds: The Benefits of Completing College for Unlikely Graduates. She explains that decades of evidence show that college delivers substantial long-term benefits, including higher lifetime earnings, better health, greater civic engagement, and lower rates of single parenthood. Ultimately, framing higher education as a public good and collective investment that can strengthen society’s economic vitality, health, and democratic foundations.
Read the full features:
Winning the Argument: 6 tips on how to push back — nicely — on those who say college isn’t worth it
Is a College Education Still Worth It?
