Public confidence in American colleges and universities has declined significantly, prompting a discussion among North Texas higher education officials about how to restore that trust. The conversation took place Tuesday at Southern Methodist University during a panel hosted by The Dallas Morning News. Moderated by higher education reporter Milla Surjadi, the session examined the challenges institutions face in justifying the value of degrees amid skyrocketing tuition, political interference, and the rise of artificial intelligence.
The panel featured Warren von Eschenbach, president of the University of North Texas at Dallas; Michael Harris, dean of SMU’s Simmons School of Education and Human Development; Nakia Douglas, former executive director of Dallas Education Collective; Sondra Barringer, an associate professor of higher education at SMU; and Marc Christensen, the incoming executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Texas at Dallas.
According to Gallup data, only 42% of Americans expressed a lot of confidence in higher education in 2025. This figure represents a slight increase from the all-time low of 36% recorded in the two preceding years. Historically, universities served as reliable pathways to stable careers and free speech. However, Harris noted that the landscape shifted after World War II due to heavy federal investment in research. As public support waned in the 1980s, institutions began relying more on tuition, contributing to a student debt crisis that currently affects 43 million Americans, according to the Federal Student Aid office.
Barringer questioned how institutions can justify increasing prices while claiming degrees are worthwhile, particularly regarding the consequences of student debt. She and Christensen agreed that public perception focuses too heavily on cost rather than the long-term quality-of-life improvements associated with higher education. Douglas added that for families in survival mode, the immediate economic burden of college often outweighs potential future gains.
