Podcast Summary: This Is Purdue

Episode: "Is College Still Worth It? (And How It’s Rapidly Changing)"

Release Date: August 28, 2025
Host: Kate Young
Guests: Brent Yeage (President & CEO, Wabash; Purdue Engineering alum); Matt Butler (Senior Associate Commissioner & Chief Academic Officer, Indiana Commission for Higher Education; Purdue alum)

Episode Overview

This episode of "This is Purdue" dives deeply into the ever-evolving value of higher education and examines whether a college degree is still "worth it" in today’s rapidly shifting world. Host Kate Young is joined by two distinguished Purdue alumni: Brent Yeage, leader in the transportation industry and CEO of Wabash, and Matt Butler, a higher education and workforce policy expert. Together, they unpack Purdue University’s trailblazing approach to affordability, its strategic focus on bridging the gap between academics and industry, and the university culture that consistently produces graduates prized by employers worldwide.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Value of a College Degree Today (03:28–05:17)

• Public Perceptions vs Reality:
  Both guests push back on the narrative questioning the worth of college, highlighting data and first-hand experience.

  • Brent Yeage: “I think the process of going through a degree is forming…in terms of the maturity and the experiences and the problem solving and the resiliency of people.” (03:42)
  • Matt Butler: “66% of good jobs in 2031 will require a bachelor’s degree…and most of those will require even more.” (04:29)

• Beyond “College” as a Monolith:
  Butler emphasizes that postsecondary credentials encompass more than four-year degrees—credit certificates and apprenticeships are valuable.

Bridging Academics and Industry (05:18–06:18)

• Purdue’s Interdisciplinary Innovation:
  • Brent Yeage: Details growth of hybrid and interdisciplinary degrees at Purdue, especially in engineering and business.
    • “Fast forward to today and I think Purdue leads the way in that ability to create interdisciplinary...[and] hybrid degrees.” (05:22)
  • These graduates have a well-rounded view needed for fast-moving industries.

Affordability and Return on Investment (06:37–08:59)

• ROI as Multi-faceted:

  • Matt Butler:
    “ROI is a function of the sticker cost or the real net price…It’s also time, and then return on the investment after you land a career.” (06:39)
  • Technological changes mean some degrees are more career-relevant than others—but Purdue’s offerings remain strong (e.g., computer science).

• Accelerated and Flexible Learning Paths:

  • Butler and Yeage highlight Purdue’s 3-year degrees, dual credit acceptance (Indiana College Core), and online options (Purdue Global).
    • “All the institutions have to advance in that level. And I think Purdue is working through that.” (08:47, Yeage)
    • Personal story: Yeage shares how Purdue Global enabled his daughter-in-law to gain higher education in a flexible manner.

Real-World Research Collaboration: Purdue & Wabash (08:59–10:42)

• Industry Partnerships:
  • Brent describes a sustainability-driven R&D partnership with Purdue, where students work on capturing energy from trailer motion for refrigeration—a project integrating engineering, sustainability, and hands-on student experience.
    • “We now have four or five graduate students to get hands-on multi-year experience…to advance technology.” (10:33)

Tuition Freeze & Affordability (10:42–12:36)

• Statewide Tuition Freeze Inspired by Purdue:

  • Indiana’s 15 public colleges adopted a tuition freeze, modeled after Purdue’s 14-year tuition freeze.
    • “Purdue has set the standard...You can hold costs flat while delivering an ever increasingly better product.” (11:27, Butler)
  • Indiana ranks nationally for generous needs-based aid—making college more accessible.

• National Benchmark:

  • “What Purdue has done with freezing tuition...is the national benchmark. The value a Purdue student gets today is off the chart.” (12:36, Yeage)

Purdue’s Unique Value Proposition (13:25–15:36)

• Culture of Excellence & Grit:
  • Distinct institutional culture: pragmatic, precise, “gritty,” and highly attractive to employers.
    • “It’s about doing the work. It’s pragmatic, it’s gritty, and employers love that about Purdue…” (13:50, Yeage)
  • Land-grant mission sustains employer focus across disciplines.
  • Purdue ethos described as “no drama—people are just too busy to get in trouble.” (15:11, Butler)

Evolving Degree Programs & Student Preparation (15:36–20:21)

• Program Innovation is Here:

  • Multidisciplinary, dual, and apprenticeship programs are rising, and degree programs continually adapt to technological and market shifts.
  • “[There’s] careful curation…program reviews, employer boards…faculty knowing they need to keep abreast of development.” (16:47, Butler)

• Student Advice for Success:

  • Students should focus on finding their “fit” at Purdue, then build experience by participating in clubs and exploring interests.
    • “Be active…don’t waste your four years and say, I never plugged in. I have my degree, but I didn’t plug in.” (17:57, Yeage)

• What Employers Like Wabash Look For:

  • Practical application tied to degree, resilience, flexibility, seeking growth, and real-world experience matter alongside academic performance.

Purdue’s Employer Reputation (20:21–24:08)

• National Ranking & Employer Love:

  • Forbes’ “New Ivies” ranks Purdue among the top for creating job-ready graduates. Businesses value Purdue’s practical, industry-linked education.
    • “It’s one of the best times to be actually pursuing higher education…because of these employer synergies.” (21:50, Butler)

• Global Recognition:

  • Purdue’s brand is recognized worldwide; employers know its reputation for excellence, grit, and “making it happen.” (22:01–22:55, Yeage)

Lasting Skills & Critical Thinking (23:22–26:18)

• Key Takeaways from the Purdue Experience:
  • Brent Yeage: Emphasizes problem-solving confidence and ability to tackle complex problems methodically.
  • Matt Butler: Highlights value in independent research, multi-disciplinary study, critical writing skills, and scientific literacy—even outside one’s primary field.
    • “Really wrapping your head around something so you understand it from about every angle you can.” (25:11, Butler)
  • Both recommend purposeful study beyond one’s major for well-roundedness.

Encouragement Amid Uncertainty (27:10–29:48)

• Advice for Students and Grads:
  • Graduates should be proud and proactive; everything is an audition, so work ethic and attitude count.
  • “[T]he returns to postsecondary study are undeniable. You just have to approach it carefully and thoughtfully.” (28:20, Butler)
  • Brent Yeage: “If you go to Purdue, you remain at Purdue, you get your degree. You are heads and shoulders above the rest in your ability to go out and deal with whatever the world's giving you.” (28:47)
  • Don’t narrow your options or freeze: keep moving forward; the Purdue degree will carry you.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Purdue’s Culture:

  • “It’s pragmatic, it’s gritty, and employers love that about Purdue and it’s part of the brand.” — Brent Yeage (13:50)
  • “No drama. Or people are just too busy to get in trouble.” — Matt Butler (15:11)

• On Value and Affordability:

  • “What Purdue has done with freezing tuition…is the national benchmark. The value a Purdue student gets today is off the chart.” — Brent Yeage (12:36)

• On Preparing for New Workforce:

  • “Accelerate attainment and increase attainment for better bang for your buck…I see those are some real trailblazing areas Purdue’s working in.” — Matt Butler (07:43)

• On Recognition and Brand:

  • “No matter how far away I go, when I wear a Purdue shirt...I am recognized and commented on in the airport in Beijing or Shanghai or Copenhagen or wherever.” — Brent Yeage (22:01)

• On Advice for Students:

  • “Don't overthink...be active…don’t waste your four years and say, I never plugged in.” — Brent Yeage (17:57)
  • “Everything is sort of an audition...There are always people watching, even if you don't think so. That could lead to your next opportunity.” — Matt Butler (27:40)

• Key Soundbite – Summing Up Purdue:

  • “We are not like the rest. There's your provocative thing. We are not like the rest. We're better. So lean into it.” — Brent Yeage (29:23)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:28 – Is College Still Worth It? Brent & Matt’s answers
• 05:18 – Bridging academics & industry; rise of hybrid degrees
• 06:37 – The evolving measurement of ‘value’ in higher ed
• 08:05 – Innovations in the student experience; flexibility; Purdue Global
• 09:19 – Wabash-Purdue partnership: research, hands-on student experience
• 10:42 – Indiana tuition freeze inspired by Purdue
• 13:25 – What makes a Purdue degree a sound investment
• 15:36 – Degree innovation & adapting to employer needs
• 17:19 – CEO advice: setting up for student success
• 20:21 – Purdue ranked a “New Ivy” by employers
• 23:31 – Brent & Matt reflect on enduring skills from Purdue
• 27:10 – Advice & encouragement for grads and students
• 29:48 – “We are not like the rest. We are better.”

Closing Thoughts

Brent Yeage and Matt Butler paint a compelling, optimistic picture of Purdue’s leadership in making college relevant, affordable, and a proven generator of opportunity. The episode’s recurring theme: Purdue blends world-class academics, interdisciplinary options, grit, and real-world readiness—a combination setting it apart nationally and globally.

Final word:
“We are not like the rest. We are better. So lean into it.” — Brent Yeage (29:23)