I saw this going viral about college grade inflation:

Grade inflation is far worse than the chart above makes it look because college also became much much less selective. By 2012 the total *per capita* number of college As awarded to Americans was about 870% of the number in 1965, assuming equal class loads. pic.twitter.com/fkgEqr2EWb

— Ben Landau-Taylor (@benlandautaylor) November 3, 2024

He’s conflating many things. College was not necessarily more selective in the past, but rather much less common, as far fewer people bothered applying. This had the effect of making college appear more selective or exclusive, not that rejection rates were higher compared to today. Credentialism was also less of a factor, whereas now a degree is often essential for a good career and entry into the middle class. As a result, combined with generous financial aid, college enrollment rates have surged, making higher education far less exclusive than it once was.

However, today’s top colleges are considerably more selective and competitive compared to those same colleges generations ago. Acceptance rates have plunged:

Thus, today’s applicants are arguably smarter and better-prepared, such as taking advanced-level courses in high school and achieving top-percentile test scores. Students cannot be both increasingly coddled or held to lowered standards, and at the same time these top schools are more competitive and the bar for admissions is higher–these trends are inherently contradictory.

Many on the center-right cannot bring themselves to accepting the evidence that today’s elite college students are more meritocratic compared to in the