College Uncovered
College Uncovered, from GBH News in collaboration with The Hechinger Report, pulls back the ivy on American higher education, exposing the problems, pitfalls and risks — and helping you navigate them. If you wonder how college really works, subscribe now. Because it’s a real education. College Uncovered is made possible by Lumina Foundation.
Episodes
Higher Ed’s Deflate-gate
Harvard faculty have approved a controversial plan to overhaul the college’s grading system, including new limits on how many A’s professors can award. The goal: make an A mean something again.But the debate goes beyond transcripts and GPAs. At a moment of deep skepticism toward elite higher education, some supporters say tougher grading could also help restore trust in institutions like
Measuring the Underemployed
Artificial intelligence is booming in Boston and beyond, and economists warn that it could throw thousands of people out of work.College seniors nearing graduation are often asked what they’ll do next. How will they put their new degree to use? Or will they end up working at their neighborhood coffee shop? Underemployment among recent graduates has been a persistent concern. Many degree h
Toeing the Edge of the Demographic Cliff
GBH recently took College Uncovered on the road to the University of Massachusetts Boston, in the city’s Dorchester neighborhood, about eight miles from some of the nation’s well-known Ivy League institutions. We chose UMass Boston not just because it’s in our backyard, but because campuses like it represent where most students in the U.S. actually go to college. Roughly 80 percent of stu
Reengaging “Stop-Out” Learners
Millions of Americans have left college before earning their degrees. Some schools are trying to re-engage those so-called “stop-out” learners to bolster their classes amid growing uncertainty about enrollment.In this episode of College Uncovered, GBH’s Kirk Carapezza explores how local institutions are partnering with national organizations like ReUp Education to reconnect with former st
Rethinking The Liberal Arts
Recent graduates are facing a tough job market. Young people – and even colleges – are asking fundamental, existential questions: What does it mean to be educated? And will an expensive college education help set in motion a future career? As enrollment declines, costs rise, and political pressure intensifies, some colleges and universities are rethinking the liberal arts. They’re restruc
'The Worst College Football Team In The Country'
College football bowl season is underway, with wall-to-wall games on TV, packed stadiums and multi-million-dollar broadcasts dominated by a few dozen powerhouse programs.In Amherst, Massachusetts, it’s quiet. That’s because the University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen just finished the 2025 season without a single win, the only team in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision to do s
OK Computer. OK College?
Artificial intelligence is still new on college campuses, but it’s already transforming how professors teach and how students learn. Surveys show most students now rely on generative AI for everything from applying to college to getting through it. Some educators are leaning in, treating AI as a teaching partner. Others are leaning out, doubling down on in-person, discussion-based learnin
The New College Compact
Across the country, public universities are being flooded with requests for syllabi, reading lists, course materials, and data on international students. One company is behind many of those requests - Metric Media. Part of a growing network of conservative-led groups, Metric Media says it’s enforcing civil rights laws and holding taxpayer-funded institutions accountable. But critics see s
Science In Reverse
The government rescinded billions in federal research grants during Trump’s first few months in office — cutting fellowships, scholarships, and postdoc programs that support the next generation of scientists.A federal judge recently ordered the restoration of some National Institutes of Health grants. A battle over National Science Foundation funding is still playing out in court.So what
Why Do Colleges Rarely Revoke Tenure?
Harvard just did something it hasn’t done in decades — it fired a tenured professor.Francesca Gino built her reputation studying honesty. Then she was accused of faking data. In May, Harvard’s top governing board revoked her tenure and ousted her from the Business School.But why is stripping tenure so rare — not just at Harvard, but anywhere? How common is research fraud? And why are coll
Apprentices of the World, Unite!
Is the four-year college degree losing its grip on the American Dream? Just as American colleges reach the demographic cliff in 2026, higher education in the U.S. is facing mounting pressure from all sides. President Donald Trump has targeted several highly-selective, wealthy universities, slashing federal research funding and questioning their tax-exempt status – painting them as overpri
Cyber School
Here’s a milestone you might not have heard about: It’s projected that this year, for the first time, more college students will take all of their courses online than will take all of their courses in person.Online higher education has come a long way since its predecessor, the correspondence school. The universal shift to remote learning during the pandemic only accelerated that momentum
The Old College Try
The single fastest-growing group of students in college? This may come as a surprise — they’re still in high school.So-called “dual enrollment” — also known as “early college” and “concurrent enrollment” — seems a win-win. Institutions get students, at a time when demographic shifts are making that more difficult; that’s especially true at community colleges, whose enrollment has declined
The Student Trade Wars
U.S. colleges have long relied on international students – and the big tuition checks they bring – to hit enrollment goals and keep the lights on. But now, just as the number of American college-aged students starts to fall – a trend known as the “demographic cliff”– global tensions are making international students think twice about coming to the U.S. for college.In this episode, hosts K
The Revenge of the Humanities
American higher education is approaching a sharp drop in college-aged students — a trend known as the demographic cliff. At the same time, following decades of declining enrollment, humanities programs are being forced to adapt or risk disappearing altogether.In this episode of College Uncovered, hosts Kirk Carapezza and Jon Marcus explore how some colleges are rebranding liberal arts as
The Missing Men
Something has been happening on college campuses that’s as surprising as it is dramatic: The number of women enrolled has overtaken the number of men.Women now outnumber men by about 60 percent to 40 percent, and that gap keeps getting wider. And men who do enroll are also more likely to drop out.There are a lot of reasons for this. Boys get lower grades than girls, on average, in element
“Tag, You’re In!” – The Rise of Direct Admissions
The anxiety-inducing college admissions game is changing – what if colleges started applying to you instead of the other way around? With declining birth rates and growing skepticism about the value of a degree, higher education is facing an enrollment cliff, set to hit hard in 2026. That’s 18 years after the Great Recession when many American families stopped having babies. As competitio
The Demographic Cliff
Most Americans would probably rather forget the Great Recession that began in 2007. But as long ago as it may seem, it triggered something that is about to become a big problem: Americans started having fewer babies, and the birth rate hasn’t recovered since. That means a looming decline in the number of 18-year-olds. Since those are the traditional customers for universities and colleges
College Uncovered Season 4 is here!
College Uncovered Season 4 is here! We’re standing on the precipice of a “demographic cliff” threatening higher education. A drop in the number of 18-year-olds that are alive right now – triggered by a decline in birth rates after the 2008 Great Recession – is forcing colleges to rethink everything. Schools across the country are changing admissions, restructuring financial aid, rebrand
What Comes Next On Campus?
Throughout the 2024 presidential campaign, President-elect Donald Trump railed against colleges and universities for being too expensive, too partisan and too “woke.”Trump’s anti-elite, anti-immigration tone channeled the frustrations of many working-class Americans — and led him to a decisive win at the polls. So, with Trump returning to the White House for a second term, how much of his
Abortion on the ballot … and in the mail
Greater Boston – a region famous for its sheer number of colleges – is also home to an underground network that helps women receive abortion pills. Every week, a group including many Boston-area college and medical students meets to put together abortion pill care packages to send to women who need them. While the founders call them “pill packing parties” the work is not without risk. Wom
The Politics of the College Presidency
College presidents serve for less than six years on average. For women and people of color, that tenure is even shorter – a full year shorter. So what’s going on? College presidents are under fire for what they say about issues like systemic racism, abortion access and war in the Middle East, as well as what they do — or don't do — about campus protests. So why would anyone want to be a c
DEI Backlash
Colleges that embraced diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives (DEI) in the wake of the 2020 murder of George Floyd by police are now fearing litigation and quietly eliminating their DEI programs. North Carolina is one of the latest to do so. At least 20 states have Republican proposals aimed at limiting DEI programs at public universities. State schools in Wisconsin and Alabama are p
The Rural Higher Education Blues
Delta State University in rural Mississippi eliminated it’s highly regarded music department. It’ also cut English, math, chemistry, and about a third of the courses that it used to teach.And Delta State’s far from alone. Arkansas State, the University of North Carolina – Greensboro, Youngstown State in Ohio, West Virginia University have all made significant course cutbacks.That’s a pro
The Borrowers' Lament
More than 40 million Americans have student loan debt, but should the government forgive all or part of it? It’s a debate that’s a source of extreme political division. Opponents call it a transfer of wealth from the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder to the top and people with college degrees; supporters say forgiveness gives some breathing room to graduates who are being crushed by the
The Politics of Protest
Following intense, sometimes violent protests on college campuses last spring, colleges are taking new steps to encourage more civil dialogue and debate among students who disagree. Some schools are offering new guidance and coursework around how students should speak to one another in an effort to bridge deep differences. At the same time, colleges are tightening restrictions on campus p
Un-Welcome to College
Divisive protests, police crackdowns, and a chilling backlash against free speech are among the reasons that a growing number of students say they don’t feel welcome on some college campuses. Conflicts over abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and DEI, as well as what can and can’t be taught in classrooms are stirring up campus life against the backdrop of a contentious presidential election. A major
College Uncovered Season 3 is here!
College Uncovered Season 3 is here! In our first two seasons, GBH and The Hechinger Report explored the business of college admissions and paying for your education. Now we’re back with a special election year season, helping you navigate the politics of American colleges and universities.College Uncovered is hosted by Kirk Carapezza and Jon Marcus, journalists with decades of experience
[Bonus]: Dear College - Jenessa Otabor
College application essays demonstrate literacy and creativity of high school students striving for higher education. As the producers of the "Dear College" podcast have found, what this rising generation says about themselves says a lot about all of us. In this bonus episode of "College Uncovered," Jenessa Otabor shares how a recent educational opportunity turned from stressful to reward
[Bonus]: Dear College - Tayana Antoine
The essay is a vital piece in the college application puzzle; portraying the strengths and challenges of aspiring high school students. In this bonus episode of "College Uncovered," Tayana Antoine describes for the producers of the "Dear College" podcast, the similarities between a teen mom and an older sister. How her dual role as caretaker for her siblings and maturing adult sometimes c
What Do College Students Learn, Anyway?
While there are a lot of tests to get into college, there are no exit exams to get out. Despite the soaring price of tuition and the benefits a degree offers, researchers have found that undergrads often spend little time studying compared to other activities like working, socializing or partying. As a result, many show limited gains in critical thinking — the hallmark of American higher
Junk Fees
Students at one New York university have a surprise awaiting them: an $8,000-a-year “academic excellence fee.” We have to ask: Isn’t academic excellence included in tuition? In fact, tuition is only part of the cost of college. Like car dealerships, schools are nickel-and-diming consumers with huge fees — fees for student activities, fees for athletics, fees for building maintenance, fees
The Other College Debt
Student loans aren’t the only kind of university debt. Colleges and universities have borrowed billions, mostly to build new dorms, dining halls and facilities, spaces they may – or may not – need as student enrollment declines nationally. Today, nearly 10 cents of every dollar in university budgets helps pay interest on institutional debt.“College Uncovered” is made possible by Lumina Fo
The Real Cost of "Free"
To boost enrollment and meet workforce needs, more states are offering free community college programs. But do these programs effectively help students graduate from college? And by offering college for free, does that diminish its value? We look at the research, as well as a new free college program in Massachusetts and an old one in Tennessee, where community college has been free for y
Closing Time
Okay, so you’re going to college. But will the college you pick still have its lights on before you graduate? It’s a question more and more families face as colleges experience financial and enrollment challenges that force them to close or merge. We’ll look at what colleges are doing to stay alive, whether should states disclose institutions’ financial health to consumers, and what happe
Loss Leaders
Universities dole out more than half of the revenue they collect from tuition in the form of discounts and financial aid in their efforts to attract students. The US average is 56 percent. If a private company discounted its products by more than half, it would probably go out of business. So why do colleges use this self-destructive business model that leaves many prospective students th
Bait and Switch
Colleges work hard to make their prices seem much lower than they actually are. The problem has become so frustrating for families that now there’s an effort to fix it. But don’t hold your breath. Colleges are fighting attempts to make financial aid forms easier to compare and more understandable. We’ll give you tips on how to negotiate for more financial aid and ask for a better offer.“C
Buyer Beware
Congratulations, you got accepted to college! The next notification you’ll get: a financial aid offer, telling you what it will cost. And those financial aid offer letters are notoriously indecipherable and misleading, making it difficult to make college cost comparisons or even know how much you’ll owe.“College Uncovered” is made possible by Lumina Foundation.----------Credits:Hosts: Kir
College Uncovered Season 2 is here!
College Uncovered Season 2 is here!----------Credits:Hosts: Kirk Carapezza & Jon MarcusSupervising Editor: Megan WoolhouseEditor: Jeff KeatingExecutive Producer: Ellen London Mixing and Sound Design: David Goodman & Gary MottTheme Song and original music: Left-RomanArtwork: Matt Welch Project Manager: Meiqian HeConsulting Producer and Head of GBH Podcasts: Devin Maverick RobinsCol
The Enrollment Industrial Complex
Colleges are quietly buying – or as they like to spin it, licensing – lists of potential student names and personal information from companies administering tests like the SAT and ACT. The goal? Recruit, but also recruit to reject. The more applicants a college recruits, the more selective and prestigious they seem in the college rankings.In this final episode of Season One, Kirk and Jon
The “M” Word
Some colleges and universities now spend more on marketing than on financial aid.They’re hiring marketing professionals who have worked at Fortune 500 companies and using digital marketing tools to follow you around the internet. They know how much time you spend on a website, when you save something for later, and what other sites you visit. A growing number also sneakily collect your pe
Graduation Frustration
A bachelor’s degree in four years is one of the most basic promises colleges make, and one of the biggest frustrations their customers face.Fewer than half of students will actually graduate in four years. And the numbers are even worse for Black and Hispanic students.Consider this surprising number: at more than 100 US colleges and universities, not a single student graduated within four
The Transfer Trap
Many students go to a two year or community college thinking it’s a bargain: attend for two years, then transfer to a four year school, saving tens of thousands of dollars in tuition. But it doesn't always work out that way. Nearly half of all college credits don't end up transferring when a student changes schools.Kirk Carapezza and Esteban Bustillos talk about why the transfer system sh
The Meritocracy Myth
While colleges make it seem like they choose applicants solely on their merit as students, that’s not always the case. Former admissions officer Kyra Tyler shares her experience working in an admissions office, where she was asked to prioritize less academically qualified students with family connections and wealth.GBH’s Kirk Carapezza and GBH guest host Kana Ruhalter also dive into new r
Secret Sophomore Admissions
Getting turned down by your dream college doesn’t always mean you’ve been categorically rejected. Some applicants who fail to get in as freshmen, for example, are invited back … as sophomores. They don’t even need to reapply. It’s one of many secrets admissions officers prefer to keep quiet.Colleges don’t do this kind of thing out of the goodness of their hearts. They know a shamefully hi
Affirmative Action … for the Rich
The 2019 Varsity Blues scandal exposed just how far rich, famous and entitled parents would go to get their kids into big name colleges.But the truth is there are many ways colleges already give preferences to wealthy students. And they are completely legal. GBH’s Kirk Carapezza and Jon Marcus of the Hechinger Report dig into how college admissions favor students who can pay giant tuiti
Misleading U
Colleges are increasingly hard up for students so they make a lot of promises they don’t keep. In this episode, GBH’s Kirk Carapezza and Jon Marcus of the Hechinger Report talk with students, economists and industry experts about what you need to know before handing over that giant tuition deposit.And it all starts with how much college will cost. Although it’s one of the biggest lifetime
Introducing: College Uncovered Season 1
Higher education looms large in the American psyche: as the route to prosperity, a good job and a stable career. But the college dream can also be the source of crushing debt, an unfinished degree, and, sometimes, both.----------Credits:Hosts: Kirk Carapezza & Jon MarcusSupervising Editor: Megan WoolhouseEditor: Jeff KeatingExecutive Producer: Ellen London Mixing and Sound Design: Dav
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