2025 State of Higher Education Survey - Public Confidence Results
Survey
Jul. 2025
Sample Size:
1,402
Demographics:
US adults
Topics:
Value
Career Readiness
Top Findings:
- Increased confidence in higher education since last year is seen among most societal subgroups, including college graduates (up six percentage points to 48%) and those without a four-year college degree (up seven points to 40%).
- Compared with last year, more people — 12%, up from 5% — who are confident in higher education mention the innovations that come from it. There has also been a doubling to 14% in the percentage who say that U.S. colleges are some of the best in the world.
- Compared with 2024, more of those lacking confidence in higher education discuss political agendas (38%, up from 28%) or are critical of the way colleges are run (12%, up from 3%). Fewer critics of higher education mention its cost than did so a year ago (24%, down from 35%).
- About three-quarters of U.S. adults agree that higher education leads to greater innovation and discovery, while 69% say it results in better jobs and career advancement for individuals, and 66% say it promotes higher household incomes.