As recent college graduates struggle to secure stable employment, skepticism surrounding the value of a traditional college degree continues to grow. Many members of Generation Z, burdened by student debt and facing uncertain job prospects, are questioning whether higher education fulfills its long-promised return on investment. Yet at High Point University, a private institution located in suburban North Carolina, graduates appear to be defying this national trend. According to the school, 99.2% of the class of 2024 secured employment or continued their education within six months of graduation—more than fourteen percentage points above the national average.
High Point University attributes this success not solely to its academic programs, but to an intentional emphasis on developing life and career skills. Branding itself as the nation’s “premier life skills university,” High Point aims to prepare students for the workforce by complementing traditional coursework with instruction in communication, confidence, leadership, and adaptability. University President Nido Qubein even teaches a required course—Life Skills 101—which focuses on personal branding, public speaking, and professional presence. The school also brings in industry leaders, such as Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak, to serve as “innovators in residence” and mentor students directly.
Unlike many institutions where career preparation programs are offered only to upperclassmen or limited to business majors, High Point integrates professional readiness into the academic experience from day one. The university emphasizes qualities like emotional intelligence, coachability, motivation, and work ethic—traits employers frequently report as lacking among entry-level applicants. Indeed, a report by General Assembly found that fewer than half of workers, and only 12% of mid-level executives, believe new graduates are adequately prepared for the workforce. Business leaders, including Blackstone President Jon Gray and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, have echoed concerns that higher education is failing to develop practical competencies needed for real-world success.
For High Point, these critiques have become an opportunity to differentiate itself. The university’s message is clear: education should go beyond earning a degree. It should equip students with durable life skills and practical wisdom that remain valuable as industries evolve. To reinforce this mission, High Point offers seminars on job interviewing, professional networking, and workplace culture—giving students strategies to transform academic learning into career advancement.
Despite being located near several prestigious universities in North Carolina, High Point has experienced substantial growth under Qubein’s leadership. The student population has tripled over the last two decades, and fall 2024 enrollment reached a record 6,550 students. Part of this expansion has been driven by attracting affluent families; tuition and fees exceed $69,000 annually, though the university reports an average financial aid package of $23,000. The campus features high-end amenities—from outdoor heated pools and a full-service steakhouse to a mock airplane cabin used for networking simulations. While critics may view these as indulgent, Qubein contends that they are practical tools for preparing students for professional environments, not luxuries.
In an era when the relevance of higher education is increasingly questioned, High Point University positions itself as a counterexample: a place where personal development, professional readiness, and academic learning are intentionally intertwined. Whether this model will become a blueprint for other institutions remains to be seen, but High Point’s approach highlights a growing consensus among employers and educators alike—technical knowledge alone is no longer sufficient. Success in the modern workplace requires confidence, communication, adaptability, and the ability to connect with others. And those are skills High Point aims to ensure its graduates possess.