Opinion | There’s a lot of angst about young men today. How can higher education help?

August 10, 2026 - 21:28

There is a growing sense of unease about the state of young men in America. We hear about falling enrollment, rising loneliness, and a search for meaning that often leads them down unproductive paths. The question is not just why they are disengaging, but what institutions like colleges are actually doing about it. As Brian J. Bruess recently pointed out, if we are worried about where these men are getting their answers, we should also ask where they feel truly known, challenged, and valued.

Higher education has a unique window here, but it often misses it. Many campuses focus on retention data and graduation rates, which are important, but they miss the deeper issue of belonging. A young man who shows up to class but never connects with a mentor, a coach, or a small group of peers is likely to drift. The answer is not to coddle him, but to give him real responsibility and clear expectations. That means creating spaces for honest conversation about masculinity, purpose, and failure, without turning those spaces into lectures.

The most effective approach is often the simplest: direct faculty engagement. A professor who learns a student's name, asks about his goals, and holds him to a high standard can change his entire trajectory. Too many young men are slipping through because no one on campus is paying close attention. Colleges need to build structured opportunities for that kind of connection, whether through first-year seminars, service projects, or athletic teams that emphasize character over winning.

If we ignore this, we should not be surprised when young men look elsewhere for identity and direction. The classroom can still be the best place for that search, but only if we make it a place where they are seen and pushed to grow. The time to act is now, before more of them decide that college has nothing to offer them.