According to his loop, poor state funding also forces universities to focus on marketability for tuition dollars.

The combination of institutions and families change in focus entice universities to change and tweak their programs to frame a credential style process, where the goal is the credential for a job market and not the education of the person. As a side effect, Higgins argued that the arts and humanities and general education has declined and have become half-hearted in the approach.

He said while the original intent of general education might have been to more well-round students and open them up to other aspects of learning, the purpose has become shadowed with many students seeking classes that fill requirements.

The change in focus also changes the perception of higher education to be for personal private good instead of the public good, Higgins said. Instead of higher education being an important, beneficial aspect of the collective good, it is a private good.

Higgins said this then loops back to state funding. Because the shift in the public mindset, there is less of an interest at the state level to fund higher education.