The Impact of Neoliberalism on College Students

Abstract

Neoliberalism has become the dominant socio-economic paradigm in the United States and as such has tremendous impact on all aspects of our lives. While there is increasing research on the impact of neoliberalism on a variety of areas, little research has been conducted regarding the neoliberal impact on education, particularly on students. At the same time, a variety of higher education scholars have documented rapid and fundamental changes occurring within our colleges and universities, faculty, and students. This paper aims to bridge the gap between these two bodies of literature and begin a conversation focusing on the negative impact of neoliberalism on our students and on higher education.