A new report released last week from public policy think tank New America underscores the nation’s complicated relationship with higher education and provides instructive insights for a sector struggling to define its place in the country. While the survey gives more evidence of the public’s waning trust in higher education, it reaffirms Americans’ belief in its economic value and their desire to personally benefit from it. The consistency with which people of both parties view the good and the bad of higher education is also an indication that when it comes to going to college, Americans may be more alike than they are different.  

Trends within the “Varying Degrees” survey, now in its eighth year, show that the public’s opinion of higher education continues to decline, with only 36% of all respondents saying the current state of higher education is fine as-is. The share of Americans who think that higher education is having a positive impact on the country today has dropped by 16 percentage points since 2019, to just 54 percent, in the latest report. Yet the survey also shows that despite its disillusionment with college, 70% of Americans want their children or family members to earn at least some kind of post-secondary degree and more than 75 percent think that the value of an associate and a bachelor’s degree is worth it even if students need to take out debt.

“The decline in public confidence for college is certainly concerning. But a decline in the public confidence of colleges and universities in general doesn’t necessarily mean that Americans no longer see colleges as worth it. Just as the higher education system is complex, so too are the opinions of Americans,” said Sophie Nguyen, a senior analyst at New America and one of the authors of the report.  

Indeed, the love/hate relationship that Americans appear to have with higher ed gives a glimmer of hope for the sector in a hostile political climate where conservative politicians, frustrated with the dominance of academia’s left-leaning factions, have been battling with the academy on a wide range of topics at both the federal and state levels. (In the survey, only 39 percent of Republicans think colleges and universities are having a positive impact.) Yet, despite comments like the one made recently by vice presidential candidate JD Vance, who vowed to “aggressively attack the universities,” not all Republicans view higher education as the enemy.  

On this score, data on economic mobility may be more influential than rhetoric. Research shows that those with a bachelor’s degree earn significantly more than those with only a high school diploma.  Just last week,Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce predicted that a bachelor's degree will significantly increase the chances of getting a “good job” in the future. (The report defines a "good job" as one that pays a national minimum salary of $43,000 to workers aged 25 to 44 and $55,000 to workers aged 45 to 64.)  

“The love/hate relationship that Americans appear to have with higher ed gives a glimmer of hope for the sector in a hostile political climate.”

In the New America survey, Democrats and Republicans agreed at similar rates (two-thirds) that those with at least some higher education will have better access to good jobs, better earnings, and greater financial well-being. When it comes to the benefits that those with higher education might bring to their communities, more than 80 percent of survey respondents agreed that they increase tax revenues, contribute to a skilled workforce, and create more jobs. Three in four believed that those with postsecondary credentials vote and volunteer more often and offer greater support for local businesses. Despite some variance, these beliefs were primarily party-neutral. 

The one area that shows the strongest alignment is the perception that college costs too much.  In the New America survey, nine in 10 respondents believe that people are choosing not to enroll in higher education because they cannot afford it. Eight in 10 think that this lack of affordability is the biggest barrier to enrollment for low income and first-generation students.  One of the most important findings in the survey is the fact that more than 70 percent of respondents (85 percent of Democrats and 66 percent of Republicans) said the presidential candidates’ stances on higher education affordability will be important to their votes. While it is yet unclear how the candidates will address affordability from an education policy perspective, it is worth noting that voters will be watching. 

On the question of who should pay for college, the survey shows a predictable gap between party affiliation, reflecting divergent philosophies on whether higher education is meant for public good or private gain. The authors write, “This question has seen a decline, since we started asking, in those believing the government should be responsible, particularly since 2020. This year just over half of Americans—56 percent— believe the government has the primary responsibility for funding higher education, with 43 percent believing individuals should fund higher education because they personally benefit. There has always been a sharp partisan divide in the response to this question, and this year was no exception. Nearly eight out of ten Democrats believe that the government should fund higher education because it is good for society, whereas nearly seven out of ten Republicans believe that students should fund higher education because they personally benefit.” 

“Nine in 10 respondents believe that people are choosing not to enroll in higher education because they cannot afford it.”

Yet here the survey delivers another reason to check one’s assumptions. Despite philosophical differences, about seven out of 10 of all respondents agree that states should spend more tax dollars on public two- and four-year colleges and universities with Democrats and Republicans both agreeing, though at different rates. Additionally, the vast majority of Americans (80 percent) agree that the federal government should increase the maximum award for Pell grants so that students with the greatest financial need receive more grant-based assistance.

Another point of consistency which emerged from the survey is the view that higher education, as an industry, does not spend money wisely or run efficiently. Given tuition rates that are unattainable for many Americans, this perception may be contributing to the waning public trust. The call for more transparency in higher education is also widely held.  Approximately 65 to 75 percent of respondents agreed that institutions should lose access to taxpayer dollars if students have poor outcomes which raises questions about whether institutions are providing sufficient information to students and families. “Over the years,” the authors write, “Americans have made clear that data transparency is important, with near universal agreement across party lines.”