Additional Coverage:
- Surprising new data shows Americans may be losing faith in the real value of college degree (marketrealist.com)
Is the American Dream of a College Degree Fading? New Poll Reveals Widespread Skepticism
A surprising new poll indicates a significant shift in American attitudes toward higher education, with a majority now questioning the value of a four-year college degree. Once considered a cornerstone for financial stability and career advancement, the traditional path to a degree is increasingly viewed as a costly gamble, leaving many graduates with substantial debt and a lack of practical job skills.
The NBC News poll, a collaboration between Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research Associates and Republican pollster Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies, found that a striking 63% of Americans believe a four-year college course is simply “not worth it” due to the escalating costs. This marks a dramatic change from 2017, when 49% still saw the degree as important, and 2013, when that figure stood at 53%. Only 33% of respondents now agree that a degree offers a better chance at a good job and higher lifetime earnings.
This evolving perspective is largely attributed to a confluence of factors, including skyrocketing tuition costs and an economic landscape where income often struggles to keep pace with rising student debt. The impending impact of artificial intelligence on the job market is also cited as a potential influence on how individuals perceive the long-term utility of a college degree.
“It’s just remarkable to see attitudes on any issue shift this dramatically, and particularly on a central tenet of the American dream, which is a college degree,” stated Jeff Horwitt. “Americans used to view a college degree as aspirational – it provided an opportunity for a better life. And now that promise is really in doubt.”
The pollsters noted the widespread nature of this skepticism, with Bill McInturff adding, “What is really surprising about it is that everybody has moved. It’s not just people who don’t have a college degree.”
The findings cut across political lines, with a significant majority of Republicans (74%) expressing that a college degree is not worth it, compared to 22% who believe it is. Among Democrats, the sentiment is more divided, with 51% expressing doubt and 47% still seeing the value.
Preston Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, explained, “Some people drop out, or sometimes people end up with a degree that is not worth a whole lot in the labour market, and sometimes people pay way too much for a degree relative to the value of what that credential is.” He concluded that “These cases have created enough exceptions to the rule that a bachelor’s degree always pays off, so that people are now more sceptical.”
The data suggests a critical re-evaluation of higher education’s role in achieving the American Dream, prompting questions about accessibility, affordability, and the practical value of a college degree in today’s rapidly changing world.