Varying Degrees How Americans Perceive Higher Education in 2019

Only one in three Americans think higher education is fine the way it is. It is no wonder there is a fair amount of pessimism: College costs are soaring, and students and families are increasingly on the hook to finance their own educations through earnings, savings, and loans. It seems every day there is an article about the burden and rapid growth of federal student loans, which now total over $1.5 trillion. Several recent high-profile scandals surrounding free speech, campus climate, and admissions to some of America’s most elite institutions may be contributing to this frustration too.