Americans value college less than ever, but here’s what salary data says

Americans’ belief in the necessity of a college degree has dropped sharply over the past decade. Only about one in three U.S. adults now say higher education is "very important," down from three-quarters in 2010, according to a new Gallup poll.

Yet Census Bureau data shows that college still pays off in significant ways, with median earnings for degree holders nearly double those of high school graduates.

How views on college have shifted

In Gallup’s latest survey, conducted Aug. 1–20, 35% of adults said a college education is very important. Another 40% rated it fairly important, while 24% said it is not too important.

That marks a steep decline since 2019, when 53% of Americans called it very important. In 2010, 75% felt that way. Meanwhile, the share who dismiss college as not too important has jumped from 4% in 2010 to nearly a quarter today.

What the salary data shows

According to U.S. Census Bureau figures, educational attainment remains closely tied to income:

• In 2024, the median earnings of full-time workers with a bachelor’s degree or higher were $91,250, compared with $50,640 for those with only a high school diploma.
• Households headed by someone with at least a bachelor’s degree reported a median income of $132,700 in 2024. That’s more than double the $58,410 median for high school graduates and nearly four times the $36,900 for those without a diploma.
• Even some college experience, without finishing a degree, pushed household income higher, with a 2024 median of $76,520.

The wage gap has persisted over time. In 2010, college graduates earned about $85,540 on average, while high school graduates earned $48,650 — a divide that has widened slightly in dollar terms over the past 15 years.

What we know:

Support for college has declined across every demographic.

• Younger adults were the first to report lower enthusiasm, but since 2019, older adults have caught up. Today, only about a third of each age group sees college as very important.
• Democrats, women, people of color and college graduates remain more likely than others to value higher education, though even within these groups, fewer than half now say it is very important.
• Republicans are far more skeptical: 39% rate college as fairly important, and another 39% say it is not too important.

What we don't know:

The survey did not ask Americans directly why their views on college have shifted. Rising tuition costs, the appeal of trade schools, the growth of online learning, and fears about how artificial intelligence could change careers are all possible explanations.

The backstory:

Despite declining confidence, Gallup polling for the Lumina Foundation suggests Americans still see benefits in a degree. A majority of adults without college degrees rate both associate and bachelor’s degrees as valuable. And 59% of parents say they hope their children pursue college immediately after high school.

The other side:

Critics, particularly Republicans, point to concerns about political agendas on campuses and whether colleges prepare students with practical skills. Gallup found that 38% of Americans lacking confidence in higher education cite politics, while 32% say colleges don’t teach the right things.

What's next:

If current trends hold, more Americans may view college as optional rather than essential. Still, the persistent income gap underscores why many households continue to see higher education as a path to financial security.