David E. Stein is an entrepreneur and activist in Boston.
Americans are questioning the value of higher education. US student loan debt exceeds $1.8 trillion, with more than 40 million borrowers carrying federal loan balances averaging $40,000. A Pew Research Center survey finds that 49 percent of Americans believe a college degree is less important today than it was 20 years ago. Gallup finds that the belief that “college is very important” fell from 75 percent in 2010 to 35 percent in 2025. Many colleges are struggling, and some are closing.
At the same time, overall participation in national service programs, which include the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, City Year, and the military, has declined in recent years. Yet their missions, their formative influence on character development, and the benefits they offer to our country and to other countries have not diminished.
These programs can complement higher education by applying academic lessons, promoting independence, honing decision-making abilities, building organizational capacity, and fostering civic engagement, among other professional attributes. However, they rarely connect to college curricula.
That should change. There should be a durable partnership between institutions of higher education and national service organizations.
I envision a new academic pathway leading to a new degree — an accredited bachelor of arts and American service (BAAS) degree. It would combine three years of college education with a year of service at some point in the sequence.
This would reduce the cost of a college degree and provide meaningful career training. BAAS graduates would leave college more intellectually prepared, socially aware, and practically experienced — qualities the world urgently needs.
Coursework and service assignments would be designed to align with and mutually reinforce a student’s interests. Academic credit would be awarded for both traditional classroom instruction and applied learning in practical settings. The service component could include teaching in underserved schools, supporting public health initiatives, aiding disaster response efforts, assisting community development projects, or serving in defense and security roles. Training, mentoring, and structured projects would ensure that service enhanced intellectual growth rather than being a disconnected experience. The State University of New York is now awarding academic credit for students’ service with City Year.
A higher education degree that fuses academia with service would yield many societal benefits. Three years of tuition would be cheaper than four, and the cost of attendance could be further offset by the pay, housing support, and loan forgiveness available to people who work for various service organizations.
Some participants might choose to extend their service or pursue service-oriented careers after obtaining their degree. Even if they do not, they would enter the workforce with not only a strong academic foundation but also demonstrable practical skills. Employers across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors would benefit from a more broadly prepared workforce. Communities would be strengthened by service-oriented young adults addressing pressing challenges.
The BAAS would be more than “college plus service.” To confer this degree, colleges would need to streamline curricula and collaborate with service programs to ensure they complement academic goals. This would require colleges and service organizations to build formal partnerships with clear performance standards. Service placements with ongoing mentoring would provide BAAS students with broader knowledge, deeper practical understanding, and greater real-world impact than a traditional bachelor’s degree followed by separate service.
Massachusetts holds a prominent place in the history of American education. It is home to the first institution of higher learning in the country and the birthplace of standardized public education. Massachusetts has been a trailblazer in educational reform and experimentation, including the recently approved three-year degree programs at Merrimack College and Suffolk University. Our economy is powered by our educational institutions. It seems fitting that a three-year college degree program combined with American service should begin here.