We recently highlighted Johnson & Wales University’s trailblazing three-year degree program, which will launch in the fall of 2025 and be offered to students pursuing degrees in criminal justice, computer science, hospitality management and graphic design.

From our perspective, the concept is a praiseworthy one that has accurately assessed the primary barrier for those who wish to pursue higher education — the cost — and makes strides towards reducing that burden,  albeit with the necessary caveat that even three years at a private university such as JWU will still result in immense student loan debt for those not able to lessen the load through a combination of financial aid, scholarships and grants or help from sources such as family members.

While it is not a panacea for the rising cost of college, it should be seen as an inventive means of figuring out what the future of a college education could (and should) look like — and it’s something that Rhode Islanders should be proud they continue to lead the way on.

Seven years ago, Rhode Island began the Rhode Island Promise, which offered free tuition to CCRI and has resulted in thousands of teens enrolling who might not have otherwise believed they could pursue any higher education. Last year, the Hope Scholarship began at Rhode Island College, offering free tuition to juniors and seniors who have exhausted financial aid to incentivize them to finish their degrees during a crucial juncture when many drop out over financial concerns.

These are programs that provide a better chance for someone to participate and find a program and an educational journey that works for them, which we think is a net positive for a generation of focused, determined and educated Rhode Islanders — provided they are met with affordable housing and prosperous job opportunities here following graduation.

There is no question that the idea of what leads to a successful and fulfilling adult life is changing and has been changing for some time. The state’s emphasis on pushing career and technical education in high school to populate the skilled trades fields with young talent — while certainly an unwelcome sight to universities and colleges who rely on ever-increasing tuition dollars — is also a worthy endeavor. The road to a skilled and productive workforce relies on having both skilled tradespeople and the “traditional” concept of a college-educated professional.

What JWU’s three-year degree program shows us is that universities are starting to understand that the status quo expectation of a four-year degree that costs six figures is simply unattainable for too many people and their families. And there is a growing mountain of evidence that it is not the ticket to wealth and success that so many generations have been told it is.

One crucial point we would emphasize is to ensure there is still enough time in the curriculum to properly incorporate the honing of soft skills — critical thinking, problem solving and the willingness to communicate with and listen to others. Those skills, whether obtained through a free community college, a traditional four-year degree or a brand-new three-year program, are truly the ones that matter most in setting up someone for success.

If universities can churn out talented, well-rounded young adults for in-demand fields in one fewer year, it is a win for everyone.