American higher education faces a credibility crisis: Fewer than half of Americans believe colleges are headed in the right direction. Stories of unemployed graduates saddled with crushing debt fuel skepticism about whether college is worth the investment.

Some blame a rise in college costs. Others say institutions no longer demonstrate the same economic benefits they once did. College leaders may claim the criticism is misguided.

Either way, one thing is clear: Higher education needs reinvention to once again be viewed as a guaranteed path to economic prosperity. And policymakers, colleges and administrators must embrace this change.

This isn’t just a branding problem — it’s a threat to American economic competitiveness. When families lose faith in college’s value, they’re less likely to participate in it. Fewer students means less political support for higher education funding, which leads to higher costs for the remaining students, further eroding confidence.

We need to break that cycle sooner rather than later. In just six years, an estimated 72 percent of jobs will require postsecondary education or training. The economy is becoming more knowledge-intensive, not less. The disconnect between public perception and economic reality undermines the skilled workforce America needs to compete globally.

But there’s good news — the most powerful tools for rebuilding trust in higher........

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