Available September 9, 2025

Attending college has long been a rite of passage for millions of teens. But that well-worn path has taken a wrong turn, denying admission even to super-achievers and putting intolerable stress on family finances.

New York Times bestselling author Jeff Selingo reveals how to build a list of colleges that will lower the application process stress and inspire students’ futures. Written in an engaging style, Dream School explains why elite college degrees turn out to matter less than you think, why many parents and students are choosing value over prestige, and how to make sure the degree really pays off. The book includes a list of 75 accessible and affordable colleges to help you focus your search.

While many have long believed that admissions is merit-based, rewarding the best students, Who Gets In and Why presents a more complicated truth, showing that “who gets in” is frequently more about the college’s agenda than the applicant. In a world where thousands of equally qualified students vie for a fixed number of spots at elite institutions, admissions officers often make split-second decisions based on a variety of factors—like diversity, money, and, ultimately, whether a student will enroll if accepted.

Full of tips, advice, and insight, this wise, practical guide will help every student, no matter their major or degree, find real employment—and give their parents some peace of mind.

From the bestselling author of College Unbound comes a hopeful, inspiring blueprint to help alleviate parents’ anxiety and prepare their college-educated child to successfully land a good job after graduation.

Saddled with thousands of dollars of debt, today’s college students are graduating into an uncertain job market that is leaving them financially dependent on their parents for years to come—a reality that has left moms and dads wondering: What did I pay all that money for?

Incisive, urgent, and controversial, College (Un)bound is a must-read for prospective students, parents, and anyone concerned with the future of American higher education.

What is the value of a college degree?

The four-year college experience is as American as apple pie. So is the belief that education offers a ticket to a better life. But with student-loan debt surpassing the $1 trillion mark and unemployment on the rise, people are beginning to question that value. Is a college diploma still worth pursuing at any price?

Higher education expert and award-wining author Jeffrey J. Selingo captures in four perspectives–the student’s, the professor’s, the university’s, and the online course provider’s–why today’s average MOOC student can benefit tremendously from MOOCs, if they only know a bit about how to navigate the MOOC universe. MOOC U. provides a path to success for the six million and rising students who have signed up for a free online course.