From the President

If you’ve been reading the news lately, you know that higher education is under a microscope. Critics are taking aim at the value, the rising costs and the very education that universities provide. These are valid concerns. And I believe universities have to do a better job answering them. To regain the trust of Americans, colleges need to focus on three things:

1. Return on investment. We need to be able to honestly assure our students (and their families) their degrees will open doors to careers that allow them to pay off any student debt and earn more than they would have without that degree.
2. Outcomes. From the first day on campus, colleges should prepare students for what comes next: fulfilling, good-paying jobs in growing industries — even jobs and markets that don’t yet exist. Achieving this isn’t just good for our students. It contributes to society and supports economic growth.
3. Lifelong skills. In our classrooms, campus clubs, athletic programs and internships, higher education offers a way for students to develop “durable” skills such as collaboration, creativity and critical thinking. These abilities will help them to succeed in their first job and all the way through to retirement.

At Bentley, ROI is in our DNA, and our focus on career preparation is second to none. Ninety-nine percent of our undergraduates are employed or planning to attend graduate school within six months of graduation, with a median starting salary of $72,000.

The true value of higher education is more than a financial transaction. It’s a transformational experience that can change students’ lives and profoundly affect their families for generations to come.

At our commencement in May, I shared the stage with 2025 Class President Aldo Hernandez-Godinez, a first-generation college student. Aldo said there were times when he questioned whether someone from his background belonged at a college. But he came to Bentley and made the most of every opportunity. By graduation, he had competing job offers and accepted a sales position at Workday in Boston.

ROI. Outcomes. Lifelong skills. Those are the obligations that colleges and universities have to our students as we adapt to this innovation age.