The Ivy League and other elite private colleges are losing esteem
Elite U.S. private universities like the Ivy League are facing growing skepticism over whether their soaring costs, politicized campus climates, and opaque admissions still justify their reputational advantage over strong public schools. Commenters argue over how much elite brands, networks, and financial aid really improve long‑term outcomes compared to state schools, citing mixed empirical evidence and stark differences by socioeconomic background. Underneath this is a broader collapse in trust in institutions, amplified by culture‑war battles over campus protests, Israel–Palestine, and perceived ideological capture in academia.
Perceived value of elite vs. state schools
- Many argue that, if admitted and cost is manageable, elite schools still offer unique opportunities: stronger peer group, brand, access to top labs and faculty, and better odds for certain careers (VC-backed startups, faculty jobs).
- Others think returns are overstated: for most careers, school brand matters mainly in the first 5–10 years, then experience dominates. Studies were cited suggesting similarly capable students do just as well at selective state schools.
- Some propose a strategy: do a cheap state-school STEM undergrad, then elite grad school.
Networking, class, and inequality
- Supporters stress the networking value: proximity to political heirs, billionaires’ kids, and very smart peers.
- Critics note that social and financial barriers make it hard for less wealthy students to “hang with” rich classmates; trips and lifestyles exclude them.
- There is debate on how much “connections” vs. personal drive or parental status drive long‑term success.
Employer attitudes and prestige trends
- Several commenters doubt the article’s claim that protests or “wokeness” are making employers shun elite grads, calling it punditry without data.
- Others say the relative advantage of Ivies has shrunk as tech hiring broadened and as distrust of universities, especially on parts of the right, has risen.
- Some insist elite degrees are still strong résumé assets, especially for founders raising money.
Cost, financial aid, and ROI
- Sticker prices (e.g., ~$90k/year private vs ~$40k/year in‑state) are widely seen as “bonkers.”
- However, elite privates are said to offer far better need-based aid than many state schools; for poor and some middle‑class students, net cost can be lower than public options.
- Others counter that high-achieving applicants could often get full rides at good state schools.
Politics, protests, and Israel/Palestine
- Large subthreads debate whether current Gaza protests meaningfully damage elite schools’ reputation or future hiring; many think past protest eras (Vietnam, Iraq) show these moments fade.
- There is intense disagreement over whether campus protests are antisemitic or anti‑Israel, whether they help or harm Palestinians, and how much outside actors (states, NGOs) influence them.
- Some see U.S. political protection of Israel as evidence of outsized influence; others argue elite academia has long been hostile to Israel and minimized antisemitism.
Admissions, merit, and institutional trust
- Commenters cite legacy preferences, athletic recruitment, scandal-driven distrust, the replication crisis, and affirmative action litigation as eroding the moral authority of Ivies.
- Others respond that similar issues exist at non‑elite schools, and that application growth means lower acceptance rates don’t necessarily imply greater true selectivity.
- Broader skepticism toward institutions since ~2016 is seen as a key driver of declining esteem for higher education overall.