While public confidence in higher education has declined sharply in recent years, current students and graduates report far more optimistic experiences. The College Reality Check: What Students Experience vs. What America Believes report from Lumina Foundation and Gallup examines this divide, highlighting public skepticism alongside the positive outcomes described by those on campus and beyond.
Although significant partisan gaps in confidence persist among adults, such differences are not observed among students themselves. Three-quarters of graduates say their degree was important to their career success, and most recent bachelor’s degree graduates secured a good job within a year of graduation. Cost remains a top concern, yet the majority of students and alumni continue to view a college degree as worth the investment.