A Meaningful Education Is About More Than The Name on Your Diploma

Written By Zach Service

While students select their university based on a variety of different criteria, prestige tends to play a large role in the selection process. In doing so, they may overlook certain values that shape a transformative education including personalized guidance, an intimate campus community, and unique interdisciplinary opportunities. These characteristics are central to independent higher education. 

Zach Service

Independent colleges operate outside of direct government control, and are financially sustained by tuition, endowments, and donations. This independence allows them to cultivate distinctive missions, close-knit communities, and tailored learning environments. 

So, what exactly differentiates independent colleges from public institutions? And what special value do they offer? 

Denison graduate Zach Service emphasizes that education is more than earning a degree. It’s also about developing qualities—like empathy, respect, compassion, and creativity—and the nontechnical values that translate into the world and life after college. They don’t just teach students what to think—they teach them how to think, with openness to diverse perspectives, respect for differences, and a posture of empathy. 

In operating independently of government systems, these schools can offer a more flexible educational experience that allows professors to tailor instruction to the unique needs of their students. Through this flexibility, a space for mentorship, professional guidance, and meaningful community building becomes possible and further strengthens the student experience. For example, private nonprofit four-year colleges have a six-year graduation rate around 77.5%, compared with about 67.4% at public institutions showcasing their capacity for retention. 

As Service put it, “The liberal arts don’t just teach you about the world; they teach you how to live in it with perspective, compassion, respect, and creativity.” Independent colleges embody this truth by fostering qualities that extend far beyond the classroom. 

The impact of independent colleges overflows into the lives of those in college communities and to the entire nation. According to the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the economic contribution of private, nonprofit higher education grew from $591.5 billion to $651.9 billion during the 2021–2022 academic year. Not only do they prepare graduates, but they also strengthen the nation. 

The difference is visible in the lives of alumni. As a graduate of an independent college, Service demonstrates the lasting outcomes of this kind of education. His passion for learning, his professional success, and his commitment to community stand as a testament of the value independent colleges bring to society. 

Ultimately, the opportunity to pursue higher education—especially through an independent institution—opens doors to academic growth, professional success, community building, and personal transformation. It is an experience that shapes not only what students know, but who they become.

About the Author
Zach was born in Belarus and grew up in Denver, Colorado. Unsure of what he wanted to do career-wise, he decided to pursue a broad education in the liberal arts. He enjoys art, music, film, history, and science. Zach graduated from Denison University with a degree in Communication, hoping to follow in his mother’s footsteps with a career in marketing.