Preface

Higher education in the United States is a complex system. It includes more than 6,000 colleges and universities with a wide range of educational programs that vary in length and focus. Federal and state governments have created a number of financial aid programs, including grants and loans, to help students, especially low-income students, afford higher education. With help from the government available, any student who would like to enroll should theoretically be able to find an affordable program that matches their interests. But the situation isn’t that simple. Even when students receive grants and scholarships to help them pay for college, the total cost of attending (which goes beyond tuition and fees) can still be unaffordable for many students unless they take out student loans. What is more, uncertain college outcomes and the tight labor market may convince many to get a job instead of enrolling in school.

Considering the high cost and potential debt of college and the state of the economy, students and their families can’t help but wonder if pursuing higher education is still worth it. In general, the answer is yes. Research shows that those with a bachelor’s degree earn significantly more than those with only a high school diploma, and, over time, the higher income will mean more wealth for these graduates. Unfortunately, though, college does not pay off for everyone. First, not every student who enrolls in college graduates. Only 60 percent of students at four-year colleges graduate within six years. At community colleges, the number is worse: only a third complete their programs after three years. And second, not all programs are high-quality and prepare students with the skills and knowledge necessary for the workforce. For example, many students enrolled at for-profit institutions found themselves worse off than before, unable to realize the earning gains they expected while being faced with student debt.¹

In recent years the question of whether college is worth it comes up often in the media.² Not only are students in doubt, but the general public is concerned as well. A Gallup poll in 2023 showed that only 36 percent of Americans have confidence in higher education, down from 57 percent in 2015.³ A Pew survey in 2024 found that only half of Americans think colleges and universities are having a positive impact on the country, down from 60 percent in 2012.⁴ Public trust for higher education may be declining, but this does not necessarily indicate that Americans think enrolling in college is no longer worth it, or say much about how they feel about different sectors of higher education, or how they think the system should change. Just as the higher education system is complex, so too are the opinions of Americans.

Varying Degrees, New America’s annual nationally representative survey, has documented the complexity of Americans’ opinions about higher education for the past eight years. Our year-to-year findings show that while a majority of Americans are unhappy with the way higher education operates, they still recognize the benefits of having a postsecondary credential and still want their children and family members to pursue one. And they want to see more investment from the state and federal government to make college more affordable. Even if Americans have lost confidence in the overall state of higher education, they still want more investment from the government to make college more accessible and affordable. Policymakers and college administrators need to keep this complexity in mind as they are working to restore public trust in the system.

In Varying Degrees 2024, we continue to ask questions about college cost and value for different types of postsecondary credentials, across different sectors of colleges and universities, trying to get at the complexity of the system.⁵ This year’s survey shows that a majority of Americans still think education after high school offers a good return on investment and support greater government spending to make colleges more affordable; however, compared to 2023, there has been some decline in public support for these ideas. While it is too early to tell whether the decline signals a downward trend, it is definitely a cause for concern.

Varying Degrees this year not only focuses on our core issues related to value, funding, and accountability, it also asks Americans extensively about college affordability, and their opinion about policy proposals to reduce the cost of attending. Findings from these questions will be helpful to policy debates as the country is preparing for the 2024 election. In addition, the survey, for the first time, asks about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education to understand where the public stands on the growing integration of AI into teaching and learning. This report and a follow-up series will discuss these findings more in depth. To explore the complete results of the survey, please refer to the data tool.⁶