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- According to a new poll, only 36% of Americans believe higher education is fine as it is.
- Despite declining confidence, 75% believe that higher education is still a good investment.
- Over 80% consider the cost of university studies to be a major obstacle.
The 2024 “Varying Degrees” survey shows a clear loss of trust in the higher education system.
Only 36% of respondents believe the current state of higher education is satisfactory, a decline from previous years and underscoring growing concerns about the effectiveness of the system. The perception that higher education offers a good return on investment has also declined, with 75% of Americans reiterating this belief, down from nearly 80% in 2019.
Despite declining confidence, the majority of Americans still recognize the value of higher education. Over 70% of respondents want their children or family members to pursue a graduate education. In addition, more than 75% believe the value of an associate's or bachelor's degree outweighs the financial burden, even if it means taking out loans.
College Affordability
College affordability remains a critical issue: more than 80% of Americans cite college costs as the primary barrier to enrollment.
The poll suggests a shift in opinion about the government's responsibility for funding higher education. While fewer Americans now believe it is primarily the government's responsibility, a clear majority still support increasing state and federal funding to make higher education more affordable.
This includes supporting needs-based grants and partnerships between the federal and state governments to reduce tuition fees at public universities.
Cross-party agreement on the crisis
Interestingly, the poll shows that there is cross-party agreement on higher education issues.
Both Democrats and Republicans recognize the shortcomings of the current system and the financial hurdles it creates. Despite these shared concerns, policy differences remain, particularly over the role of government in funding higher education.
A clear majority of Democrats believe that primary responsibility should lie with the state, while Republicans tend to favor individual financial responsibility.
The poll also highlights the importance of higher education affordability in the upcoming election. More than 70% of Americans, including 85% of Democrats and 66% of Republicans, say candidates' stances on this issue will be crucial to their voting decision.
This widespread concern suggests that higher education policy could be an important factor in the political discourse leading up to the 2024 elections.
The full survey and data can be found here.
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