Public Opinion on Value of Higher Ed Remains Mixed from buzai232's blog

Public Opinion on Value of Higher Ed Remains Mixed

Over the last decade, the American public has increasingly lost confidence in the economic benefits of a college degree. Americans across the political spectrum are questioning whether a college degree is worth it in the face of an economy that they view as benefiting the rich at the expense of the lower and middle classes.To get more news about 美国毕业证, you can visit jzjy001.com official website.

A new study from Public Agenda, a nonpartisan research organization, released Monday reflects several public opinion surveys across the years that demonstrate increasingly pessimistic attitudes on the value of higher education. The study shows that most Americans are concerned with affordability, access and the overall payoff of a college degree. Among the most skeptical were young Americans without college degrees.

The results of the survey highlight the connection between the perceptions of the state of the economy and higher education. Although Democrats and Republicans remain divided on how to address college access and affordability, most agree that access to college is limited due to rising costs.

“Some people went to college for four years and then don’t even have a job with the degree they have. It’s money wasted and time wasted. I think college is very overrated and overpriced. The amount of people that go to college and the people that drop out doesn’t add up,” said a 20-year-old Black female respondent from Tennessee with some college experience but no degree.

As tuition prices and student debt rise across the country, many Americans on both sides of the political spectrum believe that colleges are not addressing the financial need of their students. Inadequate financial aid and student debt were both seen as serious problems in higher education that are limiting students’ opportunity.

Two-thirds of Americans, 67 percent, believe that although many people are qualified to attend college, the opportunity to do so is limited, a trend that has grown increasingly pessimistic since 1993, according to the survey.

Both Democrats and Republicans held negative views on the state of the economy and of higher education. Majorities of respondents—65 percent of Republicans and 81 percent of Democrats—agreed that the economy is rigged in favor of the rich. Additionally, 66 percent of respondents said they believe colleges are “stuck in the past” and do not meet the needs of the current student population. Democrats were 13 percentage points more likely to agree with this statement.