Students demand proof, but schools still sell dreams
Gen Z is rethinking the value of an MBA in an AI-driven job market.
The story
U.S. business school applications fell 25% in 2026, with Gen Z questioning the value of degrees amid AI-driven job market changes and economic uncertainty.
Source: fortune.com
Our reading
Business schools are still dangling the promise of a six-figure salary, but now students want to know if it’s worth the $300,000 price tag before they sign up. It’s like ordering a steak and being asked to pay for the menu first.
The irony is that while top MBA programs still offer strong job placement, the very people who could benefit most from them are the ones pulling back. It’s as if the system is trying to sell a goldfish to someone who’s already been bitten by a piranha.
But even as students question the value of degrees, CEOs are echoing the same doubts—just with more money and fewer regrets.
