It's clear their earnings will be significantly less than those who have a college degree. As citizens they are less likely to participate in the democratic process. They will pay less in federal, state, and local taxes, and are more likely to need support from government social services. Those who don't earn a college degree are also more likely to commit a crime and die sooner than those who graduate. American business leaders are rightly concerned that the nation cannot compete in a global economy without a better educated workforce.
Higher education needs to educate more people, more effectively than it is doing currently.
More students need to persist to graduation, gaining the knowledge, skills, and attitude of inquiry that encourages them to be continuing learners. While we are quite successful with bright, highly motivated students whose learning styles are like the faculty, that is, willing to discover much on their own, we must find ways to engage equally bright, but less-motivated students in the learning process. These students don't lack the ability to be successful in our classrooms and laboratories. They lack the self-discipline. They don't know how to learn.