Americans’ outlook on the value of college is split between a belief in the power of a degree and serious doubts about affordability.
Degree-seekers, graduates and employers think costs put a crucial credential out of reach for many potential students, according to a new survey by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation.
“Americans haven’t lost faith in the value of college, but they’re increasingly unsure they can afford to take part,” said Courtney Brown, vice president of impact and planning at the Lumina Foundation. “That gap between belief and access should be a wake-up call.”
Here are key stats from the poll: only a quarter of adults without a degree believe most people can pay for a quality education, and that number has dropped 10 points over the last two years. Three-quarters of these survey participants also say that earning a credential is as important now as it was 20 years ago.
Most employers agree that a diploma remains a strong indicator of a candidate’s qualifications, and that “the importance of a degree or credential at their
organization will stay the same or grow over the next five years.”
The survey also found:
- 58% of adults without a degree have thought about enrolling in the past two years.
- 67% of students are pursuing a degree because they expect better job opportunities.
- One in three students has thought about stopping out or leaving school in the past six months. The main reasons are mental health challenges, followed by the cost of school.
- About half of student loan borrowers have delayed major life plans such as saving for retirement or continuing their education because of loan debt.
Access and affordability—and advising
Comprehensive advising in high school can empower students to overcome many of the barriers identified in the Gallup/Lumina poll. Tennessee’s Advise TN program serves as one state-level model for putting low-income and first-generation students on the path to higher education, according to a Brookings analysis.
Advise TN’s specialized advisors focus solely on college-access services, have dedicated space within their high schools, and don’t have any other teaching or counseling duties, Brookings points out. These advisors also spend considerable time with students filling out difficult and technical paperwork, such as the FAFSA.
The college-going rate increased by 4% at high schools with an Advise TN advisor. Students who met with an advisor were 7% more likely to enroll in college than those who had no record of attending a session, Brookings concluded.
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