In the latest national survey, just 31% of U.S. adults described a college degree as very important. This marks a four-point decline from the previous year’s 35% and represents the lowest proportion recorded since Gallup first asked the question in 1978, when 36% responded positively.
The shift is stark when viewed against the backdrop of 2013, when a robust 70% of respondents said a college education was essential. The gap between those who view college as essential and those who deem it “not too important” has collapsed from 64 points in 2013 to a mere two points today, underscoring a dramatic re-evaluation of higher-education value.
Poll findings and historical context
The Gallup poll tracked responses over a decade, comparing data from combined June 2019 surveys with the most recent August 2025 and 2026 collections. Across the board, the share of adults labeling college as very important slipped, while the share characterizing it as fairly important rose from 23% to 39%. Even the “not too important” category surged from 6% in 2013 to 29% now, indicating that skepticism is spreading across the population.
Demographically, the decline is not confined to a single segment. Women, middle-aged and older adults, Democrats, Black and Hispanic respondents, as well as college graduates—all of whom gave majority support in 2019—have recorded double-digit drops in the “very important” rating. This broad-based erosion suggests that doubts about higher education are permeating almost every household type.
Rising costs and perceived affordability
Gallup points to affordability as a primary driver. In a companion Lumina Foundation-Gallup study, only 12% of U.S. adults considered a four-year college education affordable. That sentiment aligns with the relentless climb in tuition fees and a national student-loan balance that now exceeds $1.86 trillion. The financial strain appears to be reshaping public perception of the return on a college investment.
When tuition outpaces wage growth, the calculus of “is college worth it?” becomes increasingly skeptical. Many respondents cite the burden of student loan debt as a deterrent, especially as repayment terms evolve under federal policy changes slated for 2026 through 2028.
Demographic shifts and parental expectations
Interestingly, the gap between public opinion and personal experience remains wide. The same Lumina-Gallup State of Higher Education study found that 73% of adults without a degree still consider earning a two- or four-year credential at least as important as it was two decades ago, and 69% of college graduates share that view. Moreover, most parents expressed a preference for their children to pursue a degree immediately after high school, indicating that while the abstract value of college is being questioned, concrete family plans often still include a traditional degree path.
This paradox mirrors the tension between macro-level skepticism and micro-level decision-making. Families may doubt the systemic benefits of higher education yet continue to invest in it for their own children, hoping to secure individual economic mobility.
Policy implications and what to watch
Gallup’s findings coincide with a broader decline in confidence toward higher education institutions, which fell to 38% in a July trust survey (down from 57% in 2015). At the same time, federal initiatives are expanding alternatives to the four-year track, such as new Workforce Pell Grants for short-term job-training programs and upcoming revisions to student-loan terms beginning in 2026.
Observers will likely monitor enrollment numbers for the fall 2026 term, FAFSA filing volumes for the 2027-28 academic year, and early uptake of Workforce Pell awards. These metrics will reveal whether the attitudinal shift translates into concrete changes in college attendance and funding choices.
