{"id":167173,"date":"2024-05-23T09:57:05","date_gmt":"2024-05-23T13:57:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?p=167173"},"modified":"2025-05-07T10:22:16","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T14:22:16","slug":"public-views-on-the-value-of-a-college-degree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2024\/05\/23\/public-views-on-the-value-of-a-college-degree\/","title":{"rendered":"2. Public views on the value of a college degree"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We asked Americans what they think about the value of a four-year college degree from a few different angles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Is a degree important in order for someone to get a well-paying job in today\u2019s economy?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Has the value of a degree changed in recent decades?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can someone <em>without<\/em> a degree get a well-paying job?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How useful do people think their own education was in preparing them for a well-paying job?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is the cost of college worth it today?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;the-importance-of-a-four-year-college-degree&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-importance-of-a-four-year-college-degree\">The importance of a four-year college degree<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Four-in-ten Americans say it is not too or not at all important to have a four-year college degree in order to get a well-paying job in today\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=167402\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e5e5de\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e5e5de;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px\" height=\"364\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-01.png?w=310\" alt=\"Chart shows About half of Americans say having a college degree is less important today than it was 20 years ago\" class=\"wp-image-167402 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-01.png 620w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-01.png?resize=255,300 255w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-01.png?resize=345,405 345w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-01.png?resize=200,235 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-01.png?resize=260,305 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-01.png?resize=310,364 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-01.png?resize=420,493 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-01.png?resize=160,188 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-01.png?resize=320,376 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Only 25% say it\u2019s extremely or very important to have a college degree, and 35% say it\u2019s somewhat important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We also asked the public about the importance of a college degree now versus 20 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">About half of Americans (49%) say it\u2019s <em>less<\/em> important today than it was in the past for someone to have a four-year degree in order to get a well-paying job. About a third (32%) say having a degree is <em>more<\/em> important now, and 17% say its importance hasn\u2019t really changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"differences-by-party\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Differences by party<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=167403\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e5e5de\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e5e5de;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px\" height=\"437\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-02.png?w=310\" alt=\"Chart shows Half of Republicans say a college degree is not too or not at all important in order to get a well-paying job\" class=\"wp-image-167403 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-02.png 620w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-02.png?resize=213,300 213w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-02.png?resize=287,405 287w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-02.png?resize=200,282 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-02.png?resize=260,367 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-02.png?resize=310,437 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-02.png?resize=420,592 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-02.png?resize=160,226 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-02.png?resize=320,451 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Half of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents \u2013 compared with 30% of Democrats and Democratic leaners \u2013 say it\u2019s not too or not at all important to have a four-year college degree to get a well-paying job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And a majority of Republicans (57%) say having a degree is less important today than it was 20 years ago; 43% of Democrats say the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These partisan gaps hold even after controlling for differences in the educational attainment of Republicans and Democrats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"differences-by-education\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Differences by education<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">College graduates are more likely than those with less education to say that having a college degree is extremely or very important (30% vs. 22%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But views on whether having a college degree is more or less important today than it was 20 years ago don\u2019t differ significantly by education. Roughly half of four-year college graduates (51%) and those with less education (48%) say it\u2019s less important today for someone to have a college degree than it was in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adults with a postgraduate degree, however, have somewhat different views than those with a bachelor\u2019s degree on both of these measures. Some 35% of postgraduates say it\u2019s extremely or very important to have a four-year college degree in order to get a well-paying job, compared with 27% of those whose highest attainment is a bachelor\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And 39% of postgraduates \u2013 compared with 30% of those with a bachelor\u2019s degree \u2013 say it\u2019s more important to have a college degree today than it was 20 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"differences-by-age\">Differences by age<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=167404\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e6e7de\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e6e7de;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px\" height=\"397\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-03.png?w=310\" alt=\"Chart shows Views on the importance of a college degree now versus 20 years ago vary by age\" class=\"wp-image-167404 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-03.png 620w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-03.png?resize=234,300 234w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-03.png?resize=316,405 316w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-03.png?resize=200,256 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-03.png?resize=260,333 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-03.png?resize=310,397 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-03.png?resize=420,538 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-03.png?resize=160,205 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-03.png?resize=320,410 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Young adults stand out in their views on the importance of a college degree today versus in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among those ages 18 to 29, 44% say having a degree is more important today in order to get a well-paying job than it was 20 years ago. By comparison, 29% of those 30 to 49 and 30% of those 50 and older say the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;getting-a-high-paying-job-without-a-college-degree&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"getting-a-high-paying-job-without-a-college-degree\">Getting a high-paying job <em>without <\/em>a college degree<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Americans also have mixed views when it comes to whether someone without a four-year college degree could get a well-paying job in today\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=167405\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e4e7e2\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e4e7e2;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px\" height=\"484\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-04.png?w=310\" alt=\"Chart shows 34% say it\u2019s extremely or very likely someone without a degree could get a well-paying job today\" class=\"wp-image-167405 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-04.png 620w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-04.png?resize=192,300 192w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-04.png?resize=259,405 259w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-04.png?resize=200,312 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-04.png?resize=260,406 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-04.png?resize=310,484 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-04.png?resize=420,656 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-04.png?resize=160,250 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-04.png?resize=320,500 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Only about a third (34%) say it\u2019s extremely or very likely that someone withouta four-year degree could get this kind of job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nearly half say it\u2019s somewhat likely that someone without a college degree could get a well-paying job, and 20% say it\u2019s not too or not at all likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These views differ by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Partisanship:<\/strong> 42% of Republicans and 26% of Democrats say it\u2019s extremely or very likely someone without a four-year degree could get a well-paying job. Among Democrats, 25% say it\u2019s not too or not at all likely; just 15% of Republicans say the same.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Education:<\/strong> 28% of adults with at least a bachelor\u2019s degree say it\u2019s extremely or very likely that someone without a college degree could get a well-paying job today. This compares with 37% of those with some college and 36% of those with a high school diploma or less education.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;do-americans-think-their-education-prepared-them-for-the-workplace&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"do-americans-think-their-education-prepared-them-for-the-workplace\">Do Americans think their education prepared them for the workplace?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=167406\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e3e4df\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e3e4df;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px\" height=\"412\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-05.png?w=310\" alt=\"Chart shows A majority of Americans with at least a bachelor\u2019s degree say their education was extremely or very useful in preparing them for a well-paying job\" class=\"wp-image-167406 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-05.png 620w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-05.png?resize=226,300 226w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-05.png?resize=305,405 305w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-05.png?resize=200,266 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-05.png?resize=260,346 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-05.png?resize=310,412 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-05.png?resize=420,558 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-05.png?resize=160,213 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-05.png?resize=320,425 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When thinking about how useful their own education was in giving them the skills and knowledge needed to get a well-paying job, a majority of those with a four-year college degree or more education (58%) say it was extremely or very useful. (This finding excludes the 9% of respondents who said this question did not apply to them.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adults with a postgraduate degree are especially likely to say their education was extremely or very useful: 72% say this, compared with 47% of those whose highest attainment is a bachelor\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By comparison, adults with less education have more mixed views. Among those who have not completed a bachelor\u2019s degree, 38% say their education was not too or not at all useful in giving them the skills and knowledge needed to get a well-paying job; 35% say it was somewhat useful, and 26% say it was extremely or very useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These views don\u2019t differ as substantially by age or by party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;is-college-worth-the-cost&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"is-college-worth-the-cost\">Is college worth the cost?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=167407\"><img data-dominant-color=\"dde1d9\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #dde1d9;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px\" height=\"533\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-06.png?w=310\" alt=\"Chart shows Nearly half of Americans say college is worth the cost only if someone doesn\u2019t have to take out loans\" class=\"wp-image-167407 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-06.png 620w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-06.png?resize=174,300 174w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-06.png?resize=596,1024 596w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-06.png?resize=236,405 236w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-06.png?resize=200,344 200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-06.png?resize=260,447 260w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-06.png?resize=310,533 310w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-06.png?resize=420,722 420w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-06.png?resize=160,275 160w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_2-06.png?resize=320,550 320w\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked about the cost of college these days, many Americans question whether it\u2019s worth it if a student has to take on debt. Nearly half of adults (47%) say a four-year college degree is worth the cost, but only if someone doesn\u2019t have to take out loans in order to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Only 22% say college is worth the cost even if someone has to take out loans. And 29% say college isn\u2019t worth the cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, data from the Federal Reserve shows that more than four-in-ten adults who attended college <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalreserve.gov\/publications\/2023-economic-well-being-of-us-households-in-2022-higher-ed-student-loans.htm\">say they took out student loans for their education<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Views on the value of college differ by partisanship, education and age. But notably, in all groups except for Republicans, pluralities say the cost of college is worth it only if someone doesn\u2019t have to take out loans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"differences-by-party\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Differences by party<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A narrow majority of Democrats (54%) say the cost of getting a four-year college degree is worth it, but only if someone doesn\u2019t have to take out loans. A smaller share of Republicans (41%) say the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">About one-in-four Democrats (26%), compared with 19% of Republicans, say the cost is worth it even with loans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans are twice as likely as Democrats to say college is not worth the cost (38% vs. 19%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"differences-by-education\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Differences by education<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Americans with at least a four-year college degree are much more likely than those with less education to say that college is worth the cost even if someone has to take out loans (32% vs. 17%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those with a postgraduate degree are among the most likely to express this view: 37% say college is worth the cost even after taking out loans. This compares with 29% among those with a bachelor\u2019s but no postgraduate degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even so, across all education levels, more say a four-year degree is worth the cost only if someone doesn\u2019t take on debt than say it\u2019s worth the cost <em>with<\/em> debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those with some college or less education are about twice as likely as those with at least a bachelor\u2019s degree to say the cost of getting a degree isn\u2019t worth it at all (35% vs. 18%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"differences-by-age\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Differences by age<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Young adults are more likely than their older counterparts to say the cost of a degree is worth it only if someone doesn\u2019t take out loans: 55% of those ages 18 to 29 say this, compared with 48% of those 30 to 49 and 44% of those 50 and older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And 18- to 29-year-olds are less likely to say the cost isn\u2019t worth it at all (22% vs. roughly three-in-ten among older age groups).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We asked Americans what they think about the value of a four-year college degree from a few different angles: The importance of a four-year college degree Four-in-ten Americans say it is not too or not at all important to have a four-year college degree in order to get a well-paying job in today\u2019s economy. Only [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":581,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","sub_headline":"","sub_title":"","_prc_public_revisions":[],"_ppp_expiration_hours":0,"_ppp_enabled":false,"ai_generated_summary":"","bylines":[],"acknowledgements":[],"displayBylines":true,"prc_watchers":[],"relatedPosts":[],"reportMaterials":[],"multiSectionReport":[],"package_parts__enabled":false,"package_parts":[],"_prc_fork_parent":0,"_prc_fork_status":"","_prc_active_fork":0,"datacite_doi":"","datacite_doi_citation":"","_prc_seo_qr_attachment_id":0,"spoken_article_player_enabled":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[234,232,374,238,440,252],"tags":[],"bylines":[599,943,984],"collection":[],"datasets":[2740],"level_of_effort":[],"primary_audience":[],"information_type":[],"_post_visibility":[],"formats":[458],"_fund_pool":[],"languages":[],"regions-countries":[],"research-teams":[519],"workflow-status":[],"class_list":["post-167173","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-workplace","category-economic-conditions","category-higher-education","category-income-wages","category-recessions-recoveries","category-student-loans-1","bylines-dana-braga","bylines-kim-parker","bylines-richard-fry","datasets-american-trends-panel-wave-139","formats-report","research-teams-social-trends"],"label":false,"post_parent":167128,"word_count":1271,"canonical_url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2024\/05\/23\/public-views-on-the-value-of-a-college-degree\/","art_direction":{"A1":{"id":168521,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_24.05.23_NoncollegeAdults_Feature.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_24.05.23_NoncollegeAdults_Feature.png?w=564&h=317&crop=1","width":564,"height":317,"caption":"Apprentices learn how to plaster at a trade school in Auburndale, Massachusetts. (Jessica Rinaldi\/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)","chartArt":false},"A2":{"id":168521,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_24.05.23_NoncollegeAdults_Feature.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_24.05.23_NoncollegeAdults_Feature.png?w=268&h=151&crop=1","width":268,"height":151,"caption":"Apprentices learn how to plaster at a trade school in Auburndale, Massachusetts. (Jessica Rinaldi\/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)","chartArt":false},"A3":{"id":168521,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_24.05.23_NoncollegeAdults_Feature.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_24.05.23_NoncollegeAdults_Feature.png?w=194&h=110&crop=1","width":194,"height":110,"caption":"Apprentices learn how to plaster at a trade school in Auburndale, Massachusetts. (Jessica Rinaldi\/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)","chartArt":false},"A4":{"id":168521,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_24.05.23_NoncollegeAdults_Feature.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_24.05.23_NoncollegeAdults_Feature.png?w=268&h=151&crop=1","width":268,"height":151,"caption":"Apprentices learn how to plaster at a trade school in Auburndale, Massachusetts. (Jessica Rinaldi\/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)","chartArt":false},"XL":{"id":168521,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_24.05.23_NoncollegeAdults_Feature.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_24.05.23_NoncollegeAdults_Feature.png?w=720&h=405&crop=1","width":720,"height":405,"caption":"Apprentices learn how to plaster at a trade school in Auburndale, Massachusetts. (Jessica Rinaldi\/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)","chartArt":false},"social":{"id":168521,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_24.05.23_NoncollegeAdults_Feature.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_24.05.23_NoncollegeAdults_Feature.png?w=1200&h=628&crop=1","width":1200,"height":628,"caption":"Apprentices learn how to plaster at a trade school in Auburndale, Massachusetts. (Jessica Rinaldi\/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)","chartArt":false}},"_embeds":[],"watchers":[],"table_of_contents":[{"id":167128,"title":"Is College Worth It?","slug":"is-college-worth-it-2","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2024\/05\/23\/is-college-worth-it-2\/","is_active":false},{"id":167140,"title":"1. Labor market and economic trends for young adults","slug":"labor-market-and-economic-trends-for-young-adults","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2024\/05\/23\/labor-market-and-economic-trends-for-young-adults\/","is_active":false},{"id":167173,"title":"2. Public views on the value of a college degree","slug":"public-views-on-the-value-of-a-college-degree","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2024\/05\/23\/public-views-on-the-value-of-a-college-degree\/","is_active":true},{"id":167201,"title":"Acknowledgments","slug":"value-of-college-acknowledgments","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2024\/05\/23\/value-of-college-acknowledgments\/","is_active":false},{"id":167206,"title":"Methodology","slug":"value-of-college-methodology","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2024\/05\/23\/value-of-college-methodology\/","is_active":false}],"report_materials":[{"key":"_tazr84q6z","type":"topline","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_TOPLINE.pdf","label":"Topline","icon":"","attachmentId":167438},{"key":"_8h4jxz8x5","type":"report","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/05\/ST_2024.5.23_non-college-workers_REPORT.pdf","label":"Report PDF","icon":"","attachmentId":168660},{"type":"dataset","id":2740,"label":"American Trends Panel Wave 139","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/dataset\/american-trends-panel-wave-139\/"}],"report_pagination":{"current_post":{"id":167173,"title":"2. Public views on the value of a college degree","slug":"public-views-on-the-value-of-a-college-degree","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2024\/05\/23\/public-views-on-the-value-of-a-college-degree\/","is_active":true,"page_num":3},"next_post":{"id":167201,"title":"Acknowledgments","slug":"value-of-college-acknowledgments","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2024\/05\/23\/value-of-college-acknowledgments\/","is_active":false,"page_num":4},"previous_post":{"id":167140,"title":"1. Labor market and economic trends for young adults","slug":"labor-market-and-economic-trends-for-young-adults","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2024\/05\/23\/labor-market-and-economic-trends-for-young-adults\/","is_active":false,"page_num":2},"pagination_items":[{"id":167128,"title":"Is College Worth It?","slug":"is-college-worth-it-2","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2024\/05\/23\/is-college-worth-it-2\/","is_active":false,"page_num":1},{"id":167140,"title":"1. Labor market and economic trends for young adults","slug":"labor-market-and-economic-trends-for-young-adults","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2024\/05\/23\/labor-market-and-economic-trends-for-young-adults\/","is_active":false,"page_num":2},{"id":167173,"title":"2. Public views on the value of a college degree","slug":"public-views-on-the-value-of-a-college-degree","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2024\/05\/23\/public-views-on-the-value-of-a-college-degree\/","is_active":true,"page_num":3},{"id":167201,"title":"Acknowledgments","slug":"value-of-college-acknowledgments","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2024\/05\/23\/value-of-college-acknowledgments\/","is_active":false,"page_num":4},{"id":167206,"title":"Methodology","slug":"value-of-college-methodology","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2024\/05\/23\/value-of-college-methodology\/","is_active":false,"page_num":5}]},"parent_info":{"parent_title":"Is College Worth It?","parent_id":167128},"materialsOrdered":[],"chaptersOrdered":[],"partsOrdered":[],"partsEnabled":false,"datacite_doi":"","prc_seo_data":{"title":"Americans\u2019 views on the value of a college degree","description":"About half of Americans say it\u2019s less important today than it was in the past for someone to have a college degree in order to get a well-paying job.","og_title":"Americans\u2019 views on the value of a college degree","og_description":"About half of Americans say it\u2019s less important today than it was in the past for someone to have a college degree in order to get a well-paying job.","schema_type":"Article","noindex":false,"canonical_url":"","primary_terms":{"category":374,"formats":458,"research-teams":519},"custom_schema":[],"og_image":168521,"indexnow_submitted_at":null,"gsc_index_status":null},"prepublish_checks":{"prc-image-alt-text":{"status":"incomplete","message":"6 images are missing alt text.","data":{"count":6}},"prc-about-this-research":{"status":"incomplete","message":"Add an \"About this research\" details block.","data":null},"prc-paragraph-count":{"status":"complete","message":"Found 35 paragraphs.","data":{"count":35}},"prc-internal-link":{"status":"complete","message":"Found 6 internal links.","data":{"count":6}}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"relatedPostsOrdered":[],"bylinesOrdered":[],"acknowledgementsOrdered":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/581"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=167173"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167173\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":238034,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167173\/revisions\/238034"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=167173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=167173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=167173"},{"taxonomy":"bylines","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bylines?post=167173"},{"taxonomy":"collection","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/collection?post=167173"},{"taxonomy":"datasets","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/datasets?post=167173"},{"taxonomy":"level_of_effort","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/level_of_effort?post=167173"},{"taxonomy":"primary_audience","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/primary_audience?post=167173"},{"taxonomy":"information_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/information_type?post=167173"},{"taxonomy":"_post_visibility","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_post_visibility?post=167173"},{"taxonomy":"formats","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/formats?post=167173"},{"taxonomy":"_fund_pool","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_fund_pool?post=167173"},{"taxonomy":"languages","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/languages?post=167173"},{"taxonomy":"regions-countries","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/regions-countries?post=167173"},{"taxonomy":"research-teams","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research-teams?post=167173"},{"taxonomy":"workflow-status","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/workflow-status?post=167173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}