AI and the Fight for the Value of a College Degree

The tangible impact of AI has arrived, from data center booms to hiring freezes, and higher education is squarely in its path. In this episode, Jarrett Smith, Scott Rhodes, and Jeff Kallay dig into what AI means for the value and relevance of a college degree. Along the way they challenge some popular narratives: that every student is an enthusiastic AI adopter and that the AI job loss story is as dire as the headlines suggest. The conversation lands on a hopeful note, with concrete ideas for how institutions can defend and even strengthen the value of what they offer. Key Takeaways Students Are More Skeptical Than You Think: Far from cheating their way through school, many students, including computer science and engineering majors, view AI as a threat to learning, creativity, and their own humanity. Gas on the ROI Fire: There's no strong evidence AI is dissuading students from college altogether, but it has intensified existing doubts about tuition pricing, degree relevance, and speed to career, pushing students to reconsider where they enroll, how much they'll pay, and how long they'll stay. Rigor Is the New Currency: Elite institutions are thriving because they project rigor, transformative experiences, and confidence. Schools that prove their students can think, create, and solve problems have a story AI can't undercut. Episode Highlights [00:13] Setting the table: AI's tangible impact finally hits higher ed. [01:40] Skeptics, not cheaters: why students are warier of AI than the headlines suggest. [02:28] The normalization speed run: from cheating panic to everyday study tool in a single year. [06:38] The creator generation: a generational theory for why Gen Z sees AI as a false prophet. [08:35] Gas on the fire: how AI amplifies long-simmering doubts about ROI and degree relevance. [10:52] The polish problem: why a perfect job application now raises eyebrows. [13:03] Blue books and big questions: rethinking majors and what a degree should certify. [16:41] The layoff narrative: separating real AI displacement from corporate cover. [21:07] Where to steer the ship: rigor, outcomes, and putting AI 101 in the core curriculum.