Academically Adrift: Limited Learning On College Campuses

In spite of soaring tuition costs, more students are attending college every year. A bachelor's degree is now often required for many professions, with parents planning for college expenses early. However, a key question is whether undergraduates are truly learning during their studies.

Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa's research, using surveys, transcripts, and the Collegiate Learning Assessment, found that 45% of over 2,300 students showed no significant improvement in skills such as critical thinking, reasoning, and writing after their first two years. The findings suggest that many students are distracted or unengaged, and that institutional priorities may not emphasize student learning.

The book offers sobering insights for students, faculty, administrators, policymakers, and parents about the state of higher education and its core mission.