Americans Still Believe in the Value of Higher Ed – But They Want More From It

Posted by Gates Foundation on August 5, 2025

Media headlines about higher education, especially over the last few months, often highlight skepticism, political division, and affordability challenges. But the latest public opinion research tells a more nuanced—and in many ways, more encouraging—story.

In their ninth annual Varying Degrees survey on perceptions of higher education, our partners at New America found that Americans across the political spectrum, continue to believe in the value of postsecondary education. 73% say that education after high school is a good return on investment, including majorities of both Democrats and Republicans (which while still high is down from 75% in 2024). Most Americans also agree higher education has a responsibility to equip students with the skills needed to success in their careers (96%), help them become critical thinkers (93%), and informed citizens (91%).

At the same time, concerns remain. Only about half of Americans believe it’s possible to get a high- quality, affordable education after high school. The cost of college continues to be cited as the top barrier to enrollment and completion. And while views on who should pay differ sharply by party, there is broad bipartisan support for increased public investment in higher ed, particularly through need-based financial aid and Pell Grants.

These findings are consistent with the Gallup-Lumina State of Higher Education 2025 report that offers additional insights from students and prospective learners. Interest in postsecondary education remains high, especially for associate and bachelor’s degrees—and more than 8 in 10 adults without a credential say they’re likely to enroll in the next five years. But cost and mental health concerns continue to pose serious challenges to persistence and completion.

Encouragingly, these data points reinforce what we’ve heard from students and partners on the ground, as well as the latest enrollment data. According to the National Student Clearinghouse, undergraduate enrollment rose by 3.5% this spring, marking a second year of growth. Community colleges are leading the recovery, with enrollment up 5.4% year-over-year and vocational programs up 11.7%—bringing community college enrollment nearly 20% above its pandemic low. These gains are being driven in part by older students and a growing demand for flexible, affordable, career- aligned learning options. And yet still, enrollment remains 15–20% below its 2010 peak, highlighting how far the sector must go in fully recovering from pandemic-era and long-term enrollment declines.