Brooke Sample, Columnist

Liberal Arts Colleges Are Having an Existential Crisis

Students increasingly doubt the value of their degrees. Schools should use this moment to figure out how to stay relevant — and in business.

May 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC

By Brooke Sample

Brooke Sample is an editor for Bloomberg Opinion and member of the editorial board. She was previously an editor at Metal Bulletin, Bauer Media Group and the Virginian-Pilot.

Survival of the fittest.
Photographer: CynthiaAnnF/iStockphoto/Getty Images

Provide news feedback or report an error

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

This is the Weekend Edition of Bloomberg Opinion Today, a roundup of the most popular stories Bloomberg Opinion publishes each week based on web readership. New subscribers can sign up here; follow us on Bluesky, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn and Threads.

Read the whole thing.