Most Americans believe that college is "not worth it" because the cost is too high for the job-seeking benefits of having a professional degree.
A new Wall Street Journal and NORC survey revealed that 56% of Americans believe that "people often graduate without specific job skills and with a large amount of debt to pay off."
WSJ NORC ToplineMarc 2023 by Verónica Silveri on Scribd
Forty-two percent say college is "worth the cost because people have a better chance to get a good job and earn more income over their lifetime." The survey was conducted among 1,019 people from March 1 to 13.
Student loans not a concern
The survey also asked Americans about their financial situation and asked to rate the problems as a "major concern," a "minor concern" or "not a concern." Sixty-seven percent stated that student loan debt is "not a concern," 17% indicated it is a major concern, and 16% indicated it was a minor concern in their lives.
People not going to college because of high costs
In 2022, NORC released a survey that found that most Americans believe high costs are the main reason people don't go to college, according to the pollster:
Seventy-five percent of Americans believe people do not attend college because they cannot afford it. Beyond the price tag, many believe that students may need to work immediately (62%), and more than half (59%) say that Americans could earn a good living without a college degree.
