As students face rising tuition costs, increasing debt burdens, and uncertain employment prospects, a central question arises: Is college worth it? Although empirical research consistently finds that a college education is a profitable investment, media stories continue to cast doubt on the value of the degree. Findings from two recent studies provide compelling insights into not just how different groups of Americans view college education as a whole, but also the degree to which there is agreement on the aspects of a college education that matter for future success - namely, career success.
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As students face rising tuition costs, increasing debt burdens, and uncertain employment prospects, a central question arises: Is college worth it? Although empirical research consistently finds that a college education is a profitable investment, media stories continue to cast doubt on the value of the degree. Findings from two recent studies provide compelling insights into not just how different groups of Americans view college education as a whole, but also the degree to which there is agreement on the aspects of a college education that matter for future success - namely, career success. Is college worth the time and money? Are students learning what matters most for workforce preparation? Is there consensus on the virtues of being 'well-rounded', or is it time to emphasize specific job skills? And at a time of renewed focus on civic engagement, what role should higher education play in supporting communities and democracy?
To address these questions, the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) and the Bipartisan Policy Center partnered with Morning Consult to conduct a survey of 2,200 American adults. The survey was administered March 3-5, 2021. The findings are presented in this report, alongside results from AAC&U's recent survey of employers. Together these surveys highlight the nuances of public opinion on higher education - what is most highly valued about it and by whom, as well as its relevance to workforce success.
Judging from the persistent public narrative asserting that a college degree is overpriced, overvalued, and saddling students with lingering debt, one would think higher education has an image problem. Despite the prevailing rhetoric, however, a majority (60 per cent) of Americans still believe that a college degree is worth the time and money involved. But if those Americans also happen to be employers, nearly nine in 10 (87 per cent) of them believe that a college degree is 'definitely' or 'probably' worth the investment. Perspectives on the value of investing in a college degree also vary by income level, educational level, and political affiliation. Approximately three-quarters of American adults with an annual income greater than $100K (74 per cent) or who have a bachelor's degree (73 per cent) view a college degree as 'definitely' or 'probably' worth it, compared with only about half of respondents without a college degree (51 per cent) or who have an annual income below $50K (52 per cent). Similarly, respondents who identified as Democrats (70 per cent) were much more likely to believe a college degree is 'definitely' or 'probably' worth it than those who identified as Republicans (53 per cent) or independents (52 per cent).
Edited excerpt from publication.
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