Americans seem to be of two minds about the importance of a college education. On one hand, surveys consistently show plummeting support for the long-held notion that a four-year degree has significant value. On the other hand, college enrollment continues to grow. What’s going on?
In November, NBC News became the latest outlet to report a dramatic decline in public sentiment regarding the value proposition of a college degree. In NBC’s poll of 1,000 registered voters, just 33 percent of respondents agreed that bachelor’s degrees are “worth the cost” because graduates generally enjoy greater employment and earning potential, while 63 percent endorsed the view that degrees are not “not worth the cost” because graduates often lack specific job skills and many leave school saddled with onerous debt.
When Gallup asked U.S. adults to rate the importance of college in 2019, 53 percent indicated that it was very important, but that was already down from 70 percent in 2013 and 75 percent in 2010. In September, the firm found that the percentage of respondents describing college as not important had more than doubled since 2019. Underscoring the trend, detractors accounted for just 4 percent of respondents in 2010.
And yet, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reports that U.S. college enrollment continued its upward trajectory last fall, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment reached 19.4 million students, an increase of 1 percent over the figure for 2024.
In the same vein, the University of California just announced record-breaking fall enrollment of 301,093 students. The number of California residents enrolled as undergraduates at UC campuses has risen for 10 consecutive years, and the system now boasts the largest student body in its history.
Some of the variance in polling and enrollment data can likely be explained by respondent demographics. It’s a fair bet that surveys of registered voters fail to capture the views of many rising college freshmen. There is also evidence to suggest that polling results generally skew older, meaning they disproportionately emphasize the views of older voters, as a result of response bias and other factors.
The apparent divergence in attitudes aside, the salient takeaway for me is this: Despite mounting adversity, today’s students remain determined to pursue postsecondary education. And this suggests a corollary: Our community should rally behind them and support their efforts to complete their studies.
As always, affordability remains top of mind for students and families, and this concern seems to be influencing enrollment decisions nationwide. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, enrollment at private four-year colleges has waned, and fewer people are earning master’s degrees. At the same time, enrollment is up at four-year public universities and at community colleges. This may suggest that students are seeking cost-effective programs that offer more flexibility and perhaps a greater focus on skills tied to future employment opportunities.
So, what can we do to help students in their pursuit of postsecondary education? First and foremost, we must increase the amount of financial aid available to local families, and by this I principally mean scholarship funding, for both undergraduate and graduate students. I believe it is especially important that we support students pursuing advanced degrees for professions that require them (medicine, law, etc.). College is an expensive proposition, and anything we can do to make it less so will only encourage more students and families to make the investment.
I also think many of us in the education space need to become better advocates for our nation’s system of colleges, universities, and trade schools. We need to push back forcefully against the notion that college isn’t worth the cost.
I draw inspiration from those students who continue to buck public opinion polling and are determined to make a better future for themselves. I hope others in the community do as well.
A version of this commentary appeared in the Santa Maria Times.