Americans' View of College Importance Drops to Historic Low, Gallup Finds
A Gallup poll shows only 31% of U.S. adults now consider a college degree “very important,” the lowest level since the survey began in 1978.
Gallup’s newest poll indicates that a record low 31% of Americans deem a college education “very important,” a steep fall from the 70% level recorded in 2013. The decline is evident across every demographic, with the proportion viewing college as “not too important” climbing to 29%. The organization attributes the trend partly to the high cost of tuition, noting that only a small minority consider a degree affordable.
Confidence in higher education institutions has also slipped, with just 38% expressing a high degree of trust, down from the previous year. Nevertheless, the majority of parents continue to aspire for their children to pursue a college degree immediately after high school. Gallup’s long-running series, which began in 1978, underscores a broadening skepticism toward the value of higher education in the United States.
Why it matters
Shifting attitudes toward college could affect enrollment, workforce skills, and higher-education funding.
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