For years, the rising cost of college has led many families to question whether a four-year degree is worth the investment — and whether elite private colleges are financially out of reach altogether.

Davidson College hopes to change that perception. The school recently announced one of the most generous financial aid programs in its history, promising that students from families earning less than $85,000 annually can attend at essentially no cost, while many middle-income families will qualify for free tuition. College President Doug Hicks says the goal is simple: make Davidson more accessible to talented students who may never have considered applying because of the price tag.

But affordability is only one challenge facing higher education. Colleges are also navigating demographic shifts, skepticism about the value of a degree, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and questions about how to prepare students for careers that may not yet exist.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, summer reporting intern Cooper Hall talks with Davidson College President Doug Hicks about the college's new financial aid model, why he believes liberal arts education remains relevant and how Davidson is positioning itself for the future.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Crimson Park Digital. Get your brand seen, capture demand, and turn attention into revenue, now. Visit CrimsonParkDigital.com to get started.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com.