Gallup Poll Finds Record-Low 31% of Americans View College Education as Very Important

WASHINGTON — A record-low 31% of Americans believe a college education is "very important," according to a Gallup poll conducted Aug. 3-24. The figure represents a four-percentage-point decrease from the previous low recorded last year and marks the lowest point across seven measurements Gallup has conducted since 1978.

The findings reflect a significant decline from 2013, when 70% of U.S. adults considered a college education to be very important. Over the same timeframe, the proportion of adults who view college as "not too important" increased from 6% to 29%, while those describing it as "fairly important" rose from 23% to 39%. The 64-point gap between the "very important" and "not too important" categories in 2013 has narrowed to two points.

Gallup noted that the decline in perceived importance extends across all major demographic categories. While majorities of women, older adults, Democrats, Black and Hispanic adults, and college graduates viewed higher education as very important in 2019, each of these groups has experienced double-digit declines, even though they remain comparatively more likely than other demographics to value a degree.

According to Gallup, rising concerns regarding higher education costs may contribute to the trend. A separate Lumina Foundation-Gallup survey found that 12% of U.S. adults consider a four-year college education to be affordable.

Despite the broader skepticism, other recent research highlighted by Gallup shows mixed perspectives. The Lumina Foundation-Gallup State of Higher Education Study found that 73% of adults without a credential or degree, alongside 69% of college graduates, stated that obtaining a two- or four-year degree is at least as important as it was two decades ago. Additionally, the data indicated that most parents still prefer that their children pursue a degree immediately following high school.

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