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Is College Still Worth It? (And How It’s Rapidly Changing)

August 28, 2025 · 34 min

Show notes

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Matt Butler, the senior associate commissioner and chief academic officer for the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, and Brent Yeagy, president and CEO of Wabash National Corp.


Matt is a Purdue College of Liberal Arts alum and a higher education and workforce expert, previously serving as a senior policy advisor for former Gov. Eric Holcomb. Now he works to ensure that Indiana’s postsecondary offerings are meeting current and future workforces where they are. Brent has spearheaded strategic direction and operations for Wabash since 2018. As a campus partner and Purdue College of Engineering alum, he’s seen firsthand how Boilermakers are driving innovation and excellence at scale.


And today – in an intriguing roundtable discussion – they’re diving into a hot-button issue: Is college still worth it?


In this episode, you will:

  • Hear why a college degree remains crucial, now more than ever, empowering students to grow and plan for their futures.
  • Discover why a Purdue degree is an invaluable investment from both industry and government perspectives.
  • Learn how Purdue’s continued frozen tuition benefits bottom lines for Indiana students and families, addresses student debt, and sets a national standard.
  • Understand what traits and experiences top employers are seeking from new graduates and why Purdue’s role as a premier land-grant research institution is key to providing students with well-rounded opportunities.
  • Gain insights into Purdue and Wabash’s strategic relationship and how it’s delivering top-tier sustainability research and innovation in the transportation industry.
  • Find out how the university’s evolving offerings and the state’s higher ed initiatives overall are enhancing the ROI for students and families.


You don’t want to miss this timely episode with Boilermakers who are making great strides in Indiana higher ed and industry innovation to provide a wealth of academic and professional opportunities for current and future college students!

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