By Graham Andrews and Amanda Shaffer
Public confidence in higher education has eroded in recent years, driven by concerns about politicization, career preparation, and cost of attendance. Yet new findings from the Lumina Foundation-Gallup State of Higher Education study suggest that these worries do not extend to current students and graduates or reflect their real-world experiences and attitudes.
Differing Views of Campus Politicization
The public’s marked worries surrounding politicization at American colleges and universities stand in sharp contrast to students’ own perceptions of political discourse on campus, across the political spectrum. While 38% of the Americans who lack confidence in higher education say that politicization is a major issue, only a very small share of current students (2%) say their political views have made them feel unwelcome on campus. Moreover, this view is non-partisan; strong majorities of self-identified Republican, Democratic, and independent students alike report that their professors encourage open dialogue and make space for differing viewpoints.
Only a very small share of current students (2%) say their political views have made them feel unwelcome on campus.
Perceptions on Utility, Value of Degree
Similarly, skepticism about whether colleges teach job-relevant skills does not reflect student sentiment about their own preparedness. Students currently enrolled in college overwhelmingly believe that their studies are adequately preparing them for their future careers, with 93% expressing confidence that their degree is teaching them the skills they need to get the type of job they want, and 90% expressing confidence that their degree will help them get a job when they graduate.
93% of students currently enrolled in college express confidence that their degree is teaching them the skills they need to get the type of job they want.
Students’ faith in the value of their degrees carries over upon graduation, with a strong majority (80%) of bachelor’s degree holders saying their degree has been “critical” or “important” to reaching their career goals. Four in five bachelor’s degree holders who graduated in the last 10 years also reported obtaining a “good” job within one year of graduation.
While cost-related concerns are top of mind for Americans skeptical of higher education, students and graduates generally continue to view their degrees as worth the financial investment. Three-quarters of currently enrolled students say their education is worth the cost, as do 71% of graduates, indicating that the sense of value persists beyond graduation and does not erode once students leave campus to enter the workforce.
While public doubts about higher education continue to pose significant challenges for colleges and universities, this latest study from Gallup and Lumina foundation shows that students on campus, as well as college graduates, feel much more positive than the general public about their campus experiences and find their degrees well worthwhile. The lived experience of students and recent alumni demonstrate that a college degree continues to deliver value for Americans who invest in their education.
Graham Andrews is research analyst at AAU; Amanda Shaffer is junior research analyst at AAU.