Majority of Americans Lack Confidence in Value of 4-Year Degree

Inside Higher Ed

Doug Lederman

April 3, 2023

All age groups are more likely to disagree than agree that getting a four-year degree is worth the cost, citing debt and doubts about skill development.

Tracking public opinion about higher education can be a confounding experience. Pollsters ask slightly varied questions on roughly similar themes, which can make comparing their results difficult and leave those interested in the results lacking clarity. That can result in headlines like these over the last couple of years: “Gen Z’s Distrust in Higher Ed a ‘Red Flag,’” “Public’s Impression of Higher Education Improves (Somewhat)” and “Not All Americans Think College Is Worth It.”

A new public opinion survey released Friday leaves relatively little doubt about the trend line on at least one key issue: the perceived value of getting a four-year college degree. It is declining and at this point is more negative than positive.

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