We discuss whether the admissions process is actually identifying students who will succeed or simply encouraging families to build increasingly polished applications. Mark explains the value of holistic admissions while acknowledging that competitive admissions can become “gamified,” particularly for well-resourced families. 

We also examine the demographic and financial pressures facing colleges, including declining numbers of traditional-age students, institutions admitting students partly to meet revenue needs, confusion surrounding sticker price versus actual net price, and the growing importance of considering a college’s financial health as part of the selection process. Mark strongly agrees that financial viability should now be part of the due diligence performed by families and college counselors.   

We also explore what happens after a student enrolls, including the transition from admissions to student support, retention and graduation rates, and the importance of understanding the students a college serves before judging its outcomes. 

Our conversation turns to new approaches to college pricing that give families greater certainty about what they will actually pay, as well as how artificial intelligence is changing applications, college research and questions about future careers. 

While no one can confidently predict which occupations AI will disrupt, Mark emphasizes the enduring importance of communication, critical thinking, reasoning and collaboration. 

The  biggest takeaway from the conversation is that families should not make the college decision based simply on prestige, selectivity, marketing or a familiar name. They should investigate financial stability, affordability, academic and career fit, graduation prospects and long-term value—and use all the independent information available to make the most informed decision possible.    

Gary Stocker and Marc DeBoer discuss how the value of college extends beyond academics to include personal growth, relationships, networking, leadership opportunities, and career preparation. But they argue that families need to determine whether those experiences justify the price and potential debt. Graduation rates are especially important because taking five or six years to earn a degree adds tuition costs while delaying entry into the workforce. 

Gary emphasizes that a college’s financial health also matters because financially stronger institutions are generally better positioned to maintain programs, services, faculty, and the experiences students expect throughout their enrollment.  

The conversation also challenges families to look beyond superficial campus-tour questions and investigate whether a college can actually deliver what it promises. Students should examine four-year graduation rates, the number of students completing their intended major, the likelihood that the program will remain available, career outcomes, and the institution’s overall financial stability.

A low-completion major can be particularly risky at a time when financially pressured colleges are eliminating programs. Ultimately, Gary argues that the most valuable resource a family puts into college isn't simply money—it is time.

Students only get one opportunity to be 18, 19, 20, and 21 years old, so the college decision should focus on whether the institution can make those four years academically, professionally, financially, and personally worthwhile. As he puts it, families can borrow money for college, but they “can’t borrow another four years” of their child’s life. 

Gary Stocker and Marc DeBoer argue that families need to look beyond admissions materials and campus marketing when making one of their largest financial decisions. They discuss several risks that may not be obvious during the college search, including the possibility that a student’s chosen career may not provide the expected job opportunities, that a major could be eliminated before graduation, and that changing majors or transferring colleges can add significant time and expense. 

They also explain that many so-called scholarships are really tuition discounts designed to entice students to enroll, and they encourage families to pay more attention to retention and graduation rates than to how selective a college appears to be. 

The conversation then turns to a college’s financial strength and its ability to support students for four years. Stocker explains the importance of examining endowment size and how aggressively a college is drawing from that endowment, warning that unusually high withdrawals—or the use of restricted funds for other purposes—can indicate financial stress. 

The hosts also highlight deferred maintenance as an often-overlooked warning sign, including deteriorating buildings, outdated technology, poor campus infrastructure, and insufficient investment in facilities. 

Marc adds that students should develop a strong relationship with their academic advisor and create a four-year course plan early, since limited course availability can turn a four-year degree into five or six years. 

The episode concludes by emphasizing that college can still be an excellent investment, but families should independently examine financial health, graduation outcomes, academic stability, and campus investment rather than relying solely on a college’s marketing.

The hosts emphasize that these warning signs can disrupt a student’s education, delay graduation, and reduce the quality of the college experience even when the institution’s doors remain open.

Gary and Marc encourage families to look beyond polished campus tours and reassuring marketing messages. They recommend examining graduation rates, financial results, endowment strength, deferred maintenance, borrowing, rumors of layoffs or program reductions, and whether a college is adding unusual sports programs primarily to increase enrollment.

Their central message is that families need independent information because colleges have strong incentives to present themselves positively even when they are under financial pressure. The episode concludes with Gary introducing the upcoming My College Decision Lens, designed to match a family’s priorities with college outcome and financial data, and announcing that the podcast will begin livestreaming on September 3.

Gary Stocker and Marc DeBoer challenge the common argument that open admissions naturally lead to poor student outcomes, arguing that access to college should not be confused with success in college. They discuss whether colleges have a responsibility to graduate the students they enroll or whether the burden rests entirely on the student. Gary made the case that institutions accepting tuition from students who are not academically or financially prepared—without providing a realistic path to graduation—creates what he describes as a "predatory revenue model." Marc countered by presenting the college perspective, arguing that institutions provide advising, tutoring, and other support services, but students must ultimately choose to use them. 

The conversation then shifts to practical advice for families evaluating colleges. Gary and Marc emphasize that four-year graduation rates and first-year retention rates are two of the strongest indicators of whether a college is fulfilling its educational mission. Rather than relying on marketing messages or broad claims about opportunity, they encourage parents and students to compare colleges based on measurable outcomes, arguing that institutions with stronger graduation and retention rates generally have better systems to support student success. They also discuss the long-term consequences of low graduation rates, including increased student debt, delayed careers, and the financial pressures colleges face when they continually recruit replacement students to offset those who leave. The episode concludes by announcing the launch of a live-stream version of the podcast, where listeners will be able to ask questions and engage directly with the hosts. 

It is simply the same type of discount you get for cars, computers, camera's.  It is a similar business model to the Kohl's retail stores.  They discount their clothes to generate cash to keep their business running.  

Colleges can't do that because the revenue from tuition is only sporadic (2-4 times per year)

In this week's podcast show, Marc and Gary discuss why those discounts are not necessarily a good thing for the college - and ultimately for the student.

For example, if a college doesn't have the financial resources to offer a course section in your student's major, that could delay graduation by a semester or even a year.  We also talked about the opportunity cost associated with not graduating in 4 years associated with those delays.

Gary and Marc also tackle the hidden costs that many families overlook, including changing majors, taking longer than four years to graduate, and the opportunity cost of delayed entry into the workforce. They discuss the growing financial pressures facing private colleges, the shift of students toward public universities and larger brand-name institutions, and the long-term implications for smaller colleges struggling to attract students. Whether you're a parent, student, grandparent, or counselor, this episode provides practical insights to help you look beyond the tuition number and make a more informed college decision. 

The conversation expands to examine how AI may reshape college admissions, essay writing, workforce preparation, and the future role of higher education itself. The hosts discuss whether colleges should disclose their use of AI in admissions decisions, how students can use AI ethically for brainstorming and studying, and whether schools have a responsibility to teach responsible AI use rather than resist it. While both agree that AI is here to stay, they differ sharply on its long-term impact: Marc believes students who master AI will thrive in an increasingly automated world, while Gary worries that relying on prompts instead of human judgment and experience could erode the critical thinking skills that education is meant to develop. The episode leaves listeners with a central question: in an AI-driven future, how do we balance efficiency with authentic learning?

The episode begins with listener questions about college pricing, admissions yield, and college closures. Gary explains that many private colleges heavily discount tuition — citing a recent report showing an average first-year discount rate of 57% at private colleges — meaning families often pay far less than the published “sticker price.” The hosts encourage parents to understand the difference between list price and actual tuition fees charged.

They explain the concept of admissions yield, which measures how many accepted students actually enroll. Gary argues that admissions yield reflects market confidence in a college: schools with stronger reputations and student outcomes tend to attract more students who accept their offers.

Another major discussion centers on the risk of college closures. Gary emphasizes that no one can predict with certainty whether a college will close, but families should examine financial data, enrollment trends, endowment strength, and graduation rates to assess institutional stability. He frames this as part of the mission of College Viability — helping families “inspect” colleges the same way consumers inspect homes or cars before making major purchases.

The core theme of the episode is redefining what “good” means in a college decision. Marc explains that most families focus on prestige, rankings, acceptance letters, and reputation when choosing a college, but after graduation they judge success very differently — based on debt levels, graduation timelines, happiness, and employment outcomes. He argues that families should reverse their priorities and focus on outcomes first, not marketing or rankings.

Gary reinforces this argument by emphasizing objective data points families should track, including:

• Four-year graduation rates
• First-year retention rates
• Enrollment trends
• Endowment strength
• Endowment per student

He argues that colleges with weak graduation or retention rates are signaling operational or financial problems that families should not ignore.

The hosts also criticize college rankings systems, describing many of them as “beauty pageants” driven more by perception and marketing than meaningful student outcomes. Gary argues that rankings providers are financially connected to colleges and rarely offer truly critical evaluations of institutional risk or student success.

Toward the end of the episode, the conversation broadens to the future of higher education. Gary argues that many smaller, financially challenged colleges are struggling in a declining market and cannot compete with major university brands for students. Marc adds that headline enrollment growth statistics may hide deeper challenges, especially among smaller undergraduate institutions facing demographic declines.

Overall, the episode encourages families to move beyond prestige and marketing and instead evaluate colleges through the lens of outcomes, financial stability, and long-term student success.

Gary notes that too many colleges don't even graduate 50% of their students in 4 years.  Marc shares that too many parents assign responsibility to colleges for their student's success.

Share your thoughts to me at gary@collegeviability.com

Available in the new College Viability Inspection Report, these are the top 3 they discussed.
1. Enrollment trends
2. Endowment value (effectively a college's savings account)
3. 4-year graduation rates

Here is the link to the College Viability Inspection Report.

Here is an example of what a report looks like.  (By the way, the financial report part is FREE.)

This week Marc and Gary look at retention (staying at a college) from perspective not normally shared in the higher education news media.

We sit around our virtual table and provide that perspective that students and parents need to make the best possible college decision.

Join us as we sit at your kitchen table for our College Chat.

Most students fall in love with a college campus.  In this episode, we ask parents and students alike to make sure that colleges they love during the tour can deliver the college education needed.

From Emotion to Evaluation

Before you fall in love with a college campus, run a simple mental shift:

Instead of asking:
 Do I love this campus?

Ask:
Will this college still get me to graduation day?
Will this college keep my major or eliminate it?
Does this college have the resources to keep the buildings and grounds safe?

That means looking at:

•  Enrollment trends (growing or shrinking?) 
•  Graduation rates (who actually finishes? Most colleges take longer than 4 years to graduate students.) 
•  Financial health (stable or stressed?) 
•  Program strength (expanding or being cut?) 

This is the difference between choosing a place… and choosing a future.

That everyone should go to college.

Going to college guarantees you a good job.

 That students must discover their life passion at age 17.

 Or that the best strategy is simply applying to as many schools as possible and hoping for the best.

The problem?

 A lot of that advice is based more on tradition and urban myth than reality.

In this episode, Marc and Gary break down the admissions myths that quietly hurt families—and replace them with a more practical way to think about choosing a college.

Because when it comes to admissions, good information can save a lot of money and stress.

It sounds dramatic—but it’s becoming a very real question. Across the country, colleges are quietly cutting majors, merging programs, and in some cases closing altogether.

In this episode, Marc and Gary talk about the question families rarely ask during campus tours: Is this college financially healthy enough to get my student across the finish line?

We’ll break down the warning signs, the numbers schools don’t like to highlight, and a few simple ways parents and students can do their own “viability check” before committing four years and a lot of tuition dollars.

Pull up a chair. This is the kind of college conversation that should probably happen around the kitchen table.

Almost everyone assumes their student will graduate in 4 years.  Yet only 43% of American 4-year public and private colleges graduates students in 4 years.  Every additional year needed adds additional costs.  It also leads to  . . . . 

Opportunity costs:  If a student can't start earning a post-degree income in 4 years that is lost income they will almost certainly never recover.  Students and parents are best served to consider if a college is historically graduating students on time.  At College Viability, we use a minimum threshold of 50%.   If a college you are considering doesn't graduate at least half of its students in 4 years, consideration of colleges that do may be in order.

If you are a student or parent and take a spin with the new College Viability Transparency Tool, click here.

Do you want to see how many students completed your major and a college?  Click here.