In praise of higher ed In praise of higher ed In praise of higher ed

As UW alumni well know, the University of Washington, and public universities like us, exist to advance the public good—to provide educational opportunities and to find solutions to our greatest challenges through research, scholarship and creativity.

Provost Tricia Serio. Photo by Mark Stone.

Public research universities are among the nation’s most important assets, powering innovation, growing our economy and transforming the lives of individuals, our communities and the world.

After World War II, state and federal governments began making significant investments in teaching, research and outreach at colleges and universities. Nearly a century later, our exceptional ecosystem of public research universities has become vital to our nation’s security and future prosperity.

There are many important paths for individuals to contribute to our society. For about one-third of 18- to 24-year-olds, that path is enrollment in a four-year institution. And public colleges and universities make that possible by educating 75% of our nation’s students.

Over their lifetimes, college graduates earn over 70% more than those with only high school diplomas, and they report better physical health, mental health and overall well-being. These personal benefits also have public benefits, including higher contributions to the tax base and lower government expenditures. Moreover, college graduates are more engaged in their communities; they are more likely to vote in elections, and they work to solve problems within their neighborhoods, towns and cities.

In spite of all the good higher education does, public confidence has been on the decline. In 2015, Gallup reported that 57% of Americans had a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in higher education. But by summer 2024, that number dropped to 36%. And while the vast majority of Washington state residents polled last fall hold a favorable opinion of the UW, 57% felt that the University had little or no impact on them or their families. And there is a perception—even among some of our own alumni—that a UW education is expensive and out of reach.

In truth, a Husky education is affordable, accessible and focused on Washington’s students. Last fall, we enrolled a record number of state residents—73% of all new UW undergraduates. And 28% of our first-year students are the first in their families to attend college. Nearly two-thirds of our undergraduates receive financial aid. And, thanks to support from donors and state and federal grants, 71% of our students graduate with no known debt. The rest finish college owing, on average, $20,000.

Our state’s economy is stronger because of the nearly $21 billion in economic activity and 111,950 jobs that the UW supports or sustains. And UW Medicine delivered 2.5 million outpatient visits, $836 million in uncompensated care and more than 1,000 interventional clinical trials in 2023 alone.

The University has long embraced a holistic pursuit of societal benefit. We’re bringing special focus to efforts like fostering a healthy democracy, finding climate solutions, meeting behavioral health demands and designing, building and using AI-enabled technology to accelerate discoveries.

Every day, I visit with inspiring students, staff and faculty who are changing the world through their work at the UW. In the same way, the UW created the foundation for all of the contributions our alumni have made throughout their careers. Your support for and celebration of our work can help us turn the tide of public trust and expand the learning, innovation and problem solving that allow us to tackle our most pressing challenges today and long into the future.

Tricia Serio is provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the UW.