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By Sam Stevenson
Associate News Editor
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Most Americans now believe a four-year college degree is no longer worth the price, marking a sharp shift in attitudes toward higher education, according to national polling data.
Why It Matters
Rising tuition, growing student debt, and changing job-market realities have steadily eroded confidence in college as a guaranteed path to success.
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What was once seen as essential is now widely questioned across generations and political lines.
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What To Know
A national online I&I/TIPP Poll conducted from February 24 to 27 surveyed 1,456 U.S. adults about whether a four-year college degree is worth the cost for most Americans today.
Nearly six in 10 respondents said it is not worth the cost, compared with about a quarter who said it is worth it, while the remainder were unsure.
The poll’s margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Americans Are Turning Away From College
Not long ago, college was widely promoted as the clearest route to a stable, middle-class life.
And now, that belief appears to have faded, according to a new survey.
According to the poll, 59 percent of respondents said a four-year degree is not worth the cost, while just 24 percent said it still pays off, and another 16 percent said they were unsure.
Compared with earlier decades, the shift is striking.
In 2013, a Gallup survey found that 70 percent of Americans believed college was worth the price.
No Demographic Group Is Fully Convinced
Responses showed broad agreement across political, racial, and social groups.
Conservatives (58 percent not worth it, 29 percent worth it), moderates (61 percent not worth it, 21 percent worth it), and liberals (60 percent not worth it, 20 percent worth it) all leaned heavily toward viewing college as a bad financial deal.
Similar views were shared among white, Black, and Hispanic respondents, with no group expressing majority support for the value of a four-year degree.
Parents, once among the strongest advocates for higher education, also expressed doubts, with more than half (56 percent) saying higher education is not worth the cost, versus just 39 percent saying it is, a notable signal from families directly weighing tuition bills and long-term debt.
Trade Schools and Work Gain Ground
When asked what they would encourage a high school graduate to do today, respondents overwhelmingly favored alternatives to college.
A majority (55 percent) chose skilled trades or vocational training, while fewer than a quarter (22 percent) recommended pursuing a four-year degree.
Taken together, nearly two-thirds of respondents preferred a non-college path.
Age Divides but Doubts Persist
Younger Americans remain somewhat more open to college than older generations, yet even among those aged 18 to 24, college did not emerge as the clear favorite.
Among Americans aged 18 to 24, only 28 percent said they would encourage a high school graduate to pursue a four‑year college degree, compared with 37 percent who preferred a skilled trade or vocational path, and 18 percent who said entering the workforce directly. Another 18 percent said they were unsure.
Older age groups showed even stronger preferences for vocational training, reinforcing the idea that confidence in college weakens with experience and exposure to real-world costs and outcomes.
Earnings, Jobs and Debt Shape Perceptions
College graduates still earn more on average than those without degrees, but that gap has narrowed in recent years.
Student debt also looms large. The average graduate carries tens of thousands of dollars in loans, with far higher burdens for those pursuing advanced degrees.
For many families, that debt has become a lasting financial strain rather than a short-term investment.
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