Gallup Poll Shows Falling Public Confidence in U.S. Institutions

A new Gallup survey released in July 2026 found that public confidence in American higher education slipped to 38 percent, down from 42 percent the previous year. The decline was observed across all education levels and was linked to concerns over campus politics, rising tuition costs, and the perception that colleges are not adequately preparing graduates for the job market. The poll also noted that 46 percent of respondents believe artificial‑intelligence advances will diminish the value of a college degree.

In a related Gallup poll covering a broader set of institutions, confidence in television news fell to 14 percent and confidence in newspapers to 17 percent, both near historic lows. Republicans expressed markedly lower confidence in these media outlets than Democrats, while overall confidence in U.S. institutions stood at 27 percent. The surveys underscore a bipartisan trend of waning trust in key pillars of American public life.

Both polls highlight growing skepticism toward institutions traditionally seen as pillars of democracy and education, suggesting broader implications for civic engagement and policy debates.