U.S. Higher Education System: A Growing Concern
A growing share of Americans believe the U.S. higher education system is headed in the wrong direction, with 70% expressing this view, up from 56% in 2020, according to a Pew Research Center survey.
The survey reveals that majorities across all major demographic groups share this concern, with both parties showing an increase of at least 10 percentage points since 2020.
Many Americans also give colleges and universities negative ratings in areas such as keeping tuition costs affordable and preparing students for jobs in today's economy.Seven-in-ten Americans now say the higher education system in the United States is generally going in the wrong direction.
This shift in public opinion comes as the Trump administration has taken several high-profile actions related to colleges and universities, including a proposal for nine universities to agree to policy changes in exchange for special access to federal funds.
Author's summary: Americans' trust in the U.S. higher education system is declining rapidly.