There is no doubt that education is never a waste of time. Furthermore, there is little doubt that higher education can be an investment in your future.

However, the benefits of college are hotly debated. When the cost of acquiring a college degree is considered, as well as the increasing learner debt, one has to wonder if the university system can be improved.

Select a major

The first step in constructing my ideal university would be to assist students in deciding between their passion and what the rest of the world tells them they should study. While it is true that students should make intelligent decisions, they frequently choose a major based on what their parents want or what will make them the most money when they graduate.

Students should choose a major that suits their enthusiasm. This is critical. If you’re going to spend the next 50 years of your life working, it should be something you enjoy and are passionate about. This translates into job happiness, which in turn affects general happiness and life satisfaction.

Remove the nonsense.

This brings me to my next criterion for creating an ideal institution. Given the rising expense of attendance, degrees should be designed such that students only need to take the courses required for their degree. Why is it necessary for a music major to take a lab science course? Why, for example, would a math major need to learn a second language?

To be fair, these classes have their advantages. However, they are not required for the majors. A university student should ideally be allowed to take only the coursework required for the degree they are pursuing. Eliminating superfluous classes could slash 2-3 semesters off the time required to get a degree. Imagine being able to graduate in two and a half to three years instead of four. The money saved would be enormous, and the student would benefit much.

Graduating with a degree faster also allows the learner to enter the labor force sooner.

Increase the number of online options

More universities offering online degrees would make a lot of sense in today’s digital world. There are various possibilities available currently, but students should thoroughly research their accreditation to ensure the University is trustworthy.

Having more universities, including those that are already well-established brick-and-mortar institutions, offer degrees exclusively online would alleviate some of the undeserved stigma associated with an online degree.

Learners today are mobile and technologically sophisticated. It would be tremendously useful to be able to acquire a degree from anywhere and at any time. This would allow students to work while studying, live at home, and complete their degrees at their speed. All of these advantages are advantageous to the learner.

Furthermore, online education should be significantly less expensive than its brick and mortar counterpart, simply because the physical upkeep is much, much less.

My ideal university would allow students to focus fully on their major without the need for superfluous general education classes, to get their degree faster and study entirely online. It’s past time for universities to catch up.