The Skills Revolution: Why 63% of Americans Say Four-Year Degrees Aren't Worth the Debt - Chris John, University Herald

Something fundamental has shifted in American attitudes toward higher education. In a startling reversal, 63% of registered voters now believe a four-year college degree isn't worth the cost, according to recent NBC News polling—a dramatic increase from just 47% in 2017 and 40% in 2013. The numbers tell a story of eroding confidence. Only 33% now agree that a degree is worth the cost, down from 53% just over a decade ago. Even more telling: this sentiment isn't confined to those without degrees. College graduates themselves have flipped, with only 46% now saying obtaining a degree is worth the cost versus 63% in 2013. "The cost overwhelms the value," explained Jacob Kennedy, a 28-year-old Detroit resident with a two-year degree who now works in the service industry. "You go to school with all that student debt—the jobs you get out of college don't pay that debt, so you have to go find something else that can pay that debt."

https://www.universityherald.com/articles/80061/20251222/skills-revolution-why-63-americans-say-four-year-degrees-arent-worth-debt.htm