The future of higher education is in crisis. Between falling undergraduate enrollment, rising student debt, program elimination, and widespread faculty burnout, families across America are left wondering: Is college worth it? In "The Conversation on Higher Ed," editor Mary Churchill explores the complicated landscape of academic life in the current era, examining issues ranging from free speech on campus and the implications of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning to the erosion of academic tenure and the profound impact of diversity in academia. Despite major sociopolitical shifts affecting campuses across the nation, higher education remains a key component of an engaged and well-functioning society. These essays from "The Conversation" explain the forces reshaping the future of higher education in the United States and outline constructive solutions to ensure that higher education contributes to a better future for everyone, not just the privileged few. The Critical Conversations series collects essays from top scholars on timely topics, including water, biotechnology, gender diversity, and more, originally published on the independent news site The Conversation.