Gallup poll: Record-low number of Americans view college as ‘very important’

A recent Gallup poll reveals that a record-low 31% of Americans believe attending college is ‘very important’ for success. This represents a significant decline from 2013, when 70% of adults held this view.

While 39% of respondents consider college ‘fairly important,’ the percentage of people who view higher education as ‘not too important’ has risen to 29%, up from 6% in 2013. The perceived importance of a degree has plummeted over the last decade, falling even below the 1978 baseline of 36%.

The shift in sentiment is observed across political lines, though Democrats (40%) remain more likely to view college as ‘very important’ compared to Republicans (22%) and Independents (34%). Factors such as the rising cost of higher education may contribute to this trend; a separate survey indicated that only 12% of adults find a four-year degree affordable.