Higher education will change. Eventually, it will change quite a lot. It has to. To suggest otherwise is to say that costs can increase toward infitity. When will it change? How will it change? These are the questions to ask. I see that already, many of our community colleges are evolving into skills training centers along the lines of what is suggested in post 39 (good post). I see certificate programs and two-year degrees in electronics, plumbing, mortuary science, and even very specific business tools like MS Office. A lot of this material is ideal for being taught via much more efficient ways using advanced technology, which can bring down the long-term costs. Much of this knowledge does not need legions of professors primarily involved in basic research to generate the basic knowledge to be taught.
The more difficult part of the question is, what happens to the traditional liberal arts? In my own personal view, the loss of the liberal arts model would be a great tragedy. Perhaps I’m being romantic and nostalgic. But I find great value in a liberal arts education. We may come to the realization as a society that while everyone needs advanced training for work, not everyone needs a full, four-year liberal arts education. And how such an education is delivered will have to change. Dramatically. But I hope that we don’t totally throw the baby out with the bath water.