Higher education in the united states between elitism and massification: the social and economic dimension of the crisis

- Джурило, Аліна Петрівна (orcid.org/0000-0002-5129-6724) (2026) Higher education in the united states between elitism and massification: the social and economic dimension of the crisis «Вісник науки та освіти (Серія «Філологія», Серія «Педагогіка», Серія «Соціологія», Серія «Культура і мистецтво», Серія «Історія та археологія»)», 1 (43). pp. 1861-1881. ISSN 2786-6165

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Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the transformations in the higher education system of the United States of America during the period 2009-2025 (four presidential terms of three heads of state) in the context of growing socio-economic, political, and institutional challenges. Particular attention is paid to the student debt crisis, which has reached unprecedented proportions and has become one of the key factors in the decline of public trust in universities. The dynamics of the growth in the cost of education, the role of federal financial aid, and the effect of “transferring” subsidies to increase fees for educational services are analysed. The article examines the evolution of federal higher education policy under the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations, including changes in accountability mechanisms, student debt forgiveness programs, and accreditation system reform. Particular attention is paid to the growing role of states in regulating higher education, the introduction of resultsbased funding, and experiments with free education in community colleges. Considerable space is devoted to analysing the politicization of the academic environment, ideological polarization, and discussions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that affect academic freedom and public trust. The crisis in research funding and its potential implications for US global competitiveness is described. The article concludes by outlining key lessons from the U.S. experience that may be relevant for higher education reforms in Ukraine and other countries undergoing educational transformation.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	US higher education, student loan debt, higher education reform, university accountability, academic freedom, education financing, politicization of education
Subjects:	Science and knowledge. Organization. Computer science. Information. Documentation. Librarianship. Institutions. Publications > 3 Social Sciences > 304 Social questions. Social practice. Cultural practice. Way of life (Lebensweise) Science and knowledge. Organization. Computer science. Information. Documentation. Librarianship. Institutions. Publications > 3 Social Sciences > 32 Politics Science and knowledge. Organization. Computer science. Information. Documentation. Librarianship. Institutions. Publications > 3 Social Sciences > 33 Economics. Economic science Science and knowledge. Organization. Computer science. Information. Documentation. Librarianship. Institutions. Publications > 3 Social Sciences > 37 Education > 378 Higher education. Universities. Academic study
Divisions:	Institute of Pedagogics > Department of Comparative Pedagogy
Depositing User:	Аліна Петрівна Джурило
Date Deposited:	02 Mar 2026 09:57
Last Modified:	02 Mar 2026 09:57
URI:	https://lib.iitta.gov.ua/id/eprint/748527

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