The City University of New York’s College of Staten Island: Liberal Arts, Community (and) Impact

Liberal arts education, once central to American higher education, faces challenges, and two of them are: encroachment by professional and technical schools, perceived to provide higher incomes over a person’s lifetime, and lack of vocabulary to show advantages of a liberal arts education. The liberal arts remain vital for fostering critical thinking, democracy, and informed citizenship while delivering significant economic benefits. The City University of New York’s College of Staten Island exemplifies this impact, contributing millions annually to the local economy through operations, research, alumni earnings, and more, with strong returns for students and taxpayers. To ensure relevance and funding, educators must highlight the economic value of liberal arts education, demonstrating its importance for both individual success and societal progress.