Faith Facts

• America’s earliest colleges and universities were founded with explicit Christian missions
• Modern campuses often abandon Christian heritage in favor of secular ideologies
• Many young graduates now regret the cost and values of their college experience

The value of a college degree has become increasingly questionable for many American families grounded in faith. Once regarded as a gateway to opportunity, higher education now prompts critical questions about cost, purpose, and the loss of foundational biblical values.

It’s no secret that much of today’s college environment leans heavily toward political correctness and progressive ideals, often at odds with Christ-centered truth. Students and parents alike face rising tuition, mounting debt, and campuses where “indoctrination in political correctness” is more prevalent than the teaching of life-shaping wisdom.

A recent study cited in Newsweek highlighted that nearly one in four Generation Z graduates now regrets attending college. “As artificial intelligence transforms the workplace and student debt balloons, a significant portion of Generation Z now expresses regret over their college education. According to a new survey by Resume Genius, 23% of full-time Gen Z workers regret attending college, and 19% say their degree didn’t contribute to their career.”

Only a minority feel satisfied with their educational journey, with just 32% content with their chosen path. It’s clear that our universities have experienced a dramatic shift away from their original mission.

From their beginnings, America’s most esteemed institutions were entrenched in Christian worldview and devoted to God’s truth. Harvard, for instance, bore the motto “For Christ and the Church,” and early policies were steeped in biblical instruction. Yale, William and Mary, Princeton, Columbia, and Dartmouth were all established as bastions of faith, training ministers and upholding the teachings of Jesus Christ. One of Princeton’s early presidents, Jonathan Dickinson, boldly said, “Cursed be all that learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ.” Their official seals and charters left no doubt about the centrality of biblical principles in their missions.

Yet, over the centuries, these universities have abandoned their founding convictions. Instead, they have embraced a secular model that rejects biblical wisdom and fosters a spirit of moral relativism. The Church, historically the mother of universities as early as the University of Paris, is no longer the guiding influence. Dr. Paul Maier summarized this rich heritage when he said, “You had students from England, studying in Paris who decided to go to a place where the oxen crossed the river, Oxenford, otherwise known as ‘Oxford.’ And that gave birth to Cambridge. Cambridge gave birth to John Harvard, coming over to the United States, Harvard University in 1636. That was the background of our state university system, as well as our private university system, and so on to the universities we have today. Direct Christian origin.”

Today’s graduates are feeling the void left as universities cut ties with faith and foundational values. We are reaping the results: regret, confusion, and a struggle to find purpose in a world adrift from biblical moorings. The urgent need now is to reclaim the wisdom of our ancestors—where education existed to glorify God, not deny Him.

Let us advocate for higher learning that upholds faith, freedom, and responsibility. It is critical for Christian families to seek educational paths grounded in Christ, ensuring future generations are equipped to defend truth, serve others, and lead this great nation with godly conviction.

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