For secondary long term growth they depend on research (tier one stuff ... so publications and research accolade) for several decades by now. Research success leads to secondary enrollment for the tails. You get this spiel during every Big10 et al. football commercials. Some professor of some research group talking about how their research is "making a difference" inviting gullible teenagers to join up and try. I fell for this too. Alright, already, but it screws over 90% of individuals. But then these guys (me and similars) go and do other stuff like industry or ERE or whatever. This is all good for us common folks.
However, in terms of large effects, only the good and rare stuff matters ... so please don't dilute the argument with hundreds of podunk institutions ... These are all good and fine doing important stuff for the general economy by educating people for industry but they're not what drives things forward for the national economy staying competitive
![Razz :-P](./images/smilies/icon_razz.gif)
The question is whether those who matter really [that is, the students deciding to enroll or abstain] believes in their personal ROI vs those ideas. Think of a US degree as a product but being promoted by how the US is perceived by the rest of the world? Then discount it by cost and convenience ... So your random above average intelligent 23 year old now has to balance 3 factors according to what they read in the news to make their decision ... If you're "hot shit"... where do you go to maximize your opportunities.
When I'm talking about long term consequences, I don't mean the average C, B, A student know puts in time and money to get their foot in the door. I'm talking A++ grade movers and shakers ... both the good and evil ones.
This is how the world system works ...