Texas Wesleyan University is partnering with the City of Fort Worth to revitalize east Fort Worth and areas around the campus.
Samuel O’Neal
soneal@star-telegram.com
A college degree is worth $1.2 million. This is a transformative financial reality for students and families.
In recent years, the return on investment in higher education has become a hotly debated question. It focuses on tuition costs and student debt. Beyond this debate, employers cite persistent workforce skill gaps. With the demand for skilled tradespeople growing and perceptions of blue-collar careers continue to shift, the conversation has become more complex.
Concerns are valid. But we should ask a more pointed question: How are universities making a college degree financially worth it?
As president of Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth’s first institution of higher education, my primary role is to ensure that the areas of study we offer produce results for both students and the workforce. Universities have an obligation to prove, semester by semester and program by program, that the degrees they provide position graduates for measurable success.
This means our university must be transparent with students and families about outcomes ranging from the knowledge and skills gained, the career pathways available and the workforce demand that graduates will see. When universities are clear, the outcomes are evident.
The financial case for higher education
Harvard University researcher David Deming’s analysis puts the earnings advantage in clear terms. A bachelor’s degree graduate will earn a median of $2.8 million over a lifetime, compared to $1.6 million for someone whose highest credential is a high school diploma. That $1.2 million difference is life changing. The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce documents that the national median annual salary for bachelor’s degree holders is $43,600, an 86% earnings advantage over peers without a degree.
At Texas Wesleyan University, our graduates exceed that national benchmark. According to the most recent Federal Higher Education Scorecard data from the U.S. Department of Education, Wesleyan graduates earn an average of $68,788, which is 83% higher than the national average for high school graduates. Research cited by Texas A&M University finds that Texas workers with a bachelor’s degree earn median lifetime earnings of $2.9 million, ranking 13th nationally.
Earnings data alone does not capture the full picture. The structure of the future workforce adds to the importance of earning a college degree. According to the Texas Workforce Commission, 71% of projected job growth in the state will require education and training beyond a high school diploma. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that by 2032, more than 5.25 million workers with postsecondary credentials will be needed nationwide.
This means 4.5 million jobs will require a bachelor’s degree or higher. Compounding that demand, 18.4 million workers are expected to reach retirement eligibility within the same timeframe.
In the fast-growing Dallas-Fort Worth region, the stakes are high. An educated population is not just a civic duty, it is also an economic requirement. The question is not whether jobs will require degrees. They will. The real question is whether universities can produce graduates in the numbers and with the preparation the workforce demands.
Universities can do more than just provide degrees
Workforce preparation requires more than awarding diplomas. It requires universities to understand where the economy is heading and build programs around that direction.
Students walk past the ’T Wes’ sign on the Texas Wesleyan University campus in Fort Worth on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
At Texas Wesleyan, that commitment is reflected in both what we offer and how we are recognized for delivering it. In U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 rankings, Wesleyan earned distinction as a top performer in social mobility, a recognition of our ability to help first-generation and Pell Grant-eligible students convert a degree into real economic advancement.
Newsweek’s America’s Best Colleges for Women 2026 rankings also highlights our university’s commitment to expanding access for students who may have had fewer pathways available to them. These recognitions are evidence that what we offer is working.
Wesleyan just recorded its largest first-year class in institutional history, a 10% enrollment increase. This growth was achieved without sacrificing our intentional, high-personalization environment, which is our signature experience. With an average 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio, our faculty know students by name, by need and by goal.
Similar intentionality shapes our academic programs. This year, Texas Wesleyan launched a bachelor of arts in humanities and artificial intelligence, designed not to teach the mechanics of AI but to develop graduates who can build ethical, human-centered processes around it. Next year, the School of Business plans to add a master of science in project management for the artificial intelligence economy, a program in which graduates can earn up to six industry-recognized certifications. These credentials are already recognized and sought by leading Fortune 500 companies.
Artificial intelligence will be the defining technology of this era. What it will ultimately mean across industries remains to be seen. What is clear is that universities must equip graduates not only to work within the shifts it causes but to lead through them.
So, yes, college is worth it. Worth the investment, the sacrifice and the commitment students and families make. However, value is not a given. Universities must demonstrate it through honest and strategic program outcomes, meaningful employer partnerships and genuine commitment to the success of all students.
The question about higher education is a serious one. At Texas Wesleyan University, we are building degrees that make a difference. For our students, for our employers and for the future of Fort Worth. Wesleyan provides a clear and resounding answer.
Dr. Emily W. Messer is president of Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth.
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