The recent College Board Report 2007 that reports on yearly college tuition and student loan costs, shows an average increase of 6-7% in the cost of college in 2007, which is double the inflation rate in the USA. With the cost of colleges going up quickly, how will this affect the profile and makeup of the college student body? All across the USA, male enrollment in college is declining—is there a connection? In a related story, colleges are not making it any easier to get in—Towson University is terminating its “smart slacker” program designed to admit more men into the woman-dominated university by lowering the high school GPA requirements for men who had high SAT scores, noting a poor retention rate in said program.

Businesses typically cull many new recruits from colleges. Lower male enrollment in college may be a concern for most businesses.

Or is it a concern? Do businesses still have glass ceilings and slippery entranceways for women?

If a business truly wants to succeed, its parameters for success, and potential success, should be based on performance, regardless of gender, race, creed, etc. If the males in this country are slowing falling behind in school, not working as hard, or struggling to find scholastic success and motivation, doesn’t it make sense that smart, hard-working, motivated women who do gain scholastic success be the natural winners in business? Is it a problem that men could be losing out because they’re becoming slackers and playing console video games all day instead of studying and doing homework?

I don’t think it’s a problem (unless you're a slacker man, that is). I am a proponent of performance-based rewards and the true market system. If a person or business fails because of their poor performance, then this is natural and good for the market. It gives an incentive for people to perform well, so as not to fail. If more women and less males start succeeding in the business world, then so be it. The important thing is that businesses continue to succeed.

Likewise, the high increases in the cost of college will either be supported by the market or not supported. Perhaps only more wealthy people will be able to afford many colleges, and the unwealthy—although very smart and motivated—may not even bother applying, due to the high cost. This is definitely a concern. Yet there is an opportunity here for some colleges to scoop up excellent students by offering a lower cost—again, a market adjustment.

And businesses need to recognize that great future employees can come in any shape, color, and size, and from any school, not just the top expensive schools.