Is College Worth It?
2024-07-17
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1A new study says that Americans have increasing questions about the value and cost of a college education.
2Most of the people taking part in the study felt that higher education in the U.S. is headed in the "wrong direction."
3Gallup and the Lumina Foundation carried out the study.
4It found that only 36 percent of adults said they had a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in higher education.
5That confidence level has decreased steadily from 57 percent in 2015.
6That was the first year in which Gallup measured confidence in higher education.
7The decline is seen in all subgroups of people including sex, age, and political ties.
8Among Republican Party members in the study, the number of people with high confidence in higher education has dropped 36 percentage points over the last 10 years.
9That is far more than for Democratic Party members or independents.
10Some of the opinions in the study might show concerns about the high cost of college and how race and other subjects are taught.
11Fifty-nine-year-old Randy Hill is a registered Republican in Connecticut and a driver for a car service.
12He told the Associated Press, "It's so expensive, and I don't think colleges are teaching people what they need to get a job."
13Hill said his nephew plans to do a welding apprenticeship after high school instead of going to college.
14The June 2024 study found that 36 percent of adults feel strong confidence in higher education.
15That percentage is unchanged from the year before.
16But the researchers said they were concerned that fewer Americans were saying that they had "some" confidence, and more were reporting "very little" or "none."
17This year's findings show almost as many people have little or no confidence, 32 percent, as those with high confidence.
18Experts say that fewer college graduates could worsen labor shortages in fields from health care to information technology.
19For those who do not go to college, it often means lower lifetime earnings.
20Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce said lifetime earnings for those without a bachelor's degree could be 75 percent less than for those with a degree.
21The center also said that during an economic downturn, those without college degrees are more likely to lose their jobs.
22Courtney Brown is a vice president at Lumina, an education nonprofit group.
23It aims to increase the number of students who seek education beyond high school.
24She said, "What's shocking to me is that the people who have low or no confidence is actually increasing."
25This year's study added new, detailed questions in an effort to understand why confidence is shrinking.
26Almost one-third of people in the study said college is "too expensive."
27About 25 percent thought students are not getting the right education or taught what they need to succeed.
28The study did not ask about the protests against the war in Gaza this year that divided many college communities.
29But people who took part said they had concerns about indoctrination, political bias, and that colleges are too liberal.
30Among those who said they lack confidence in college, 41 percent said political activity was a reason.
31Sixty-seven percent of adults in the study said colleges are headed in the "wrong direction."
32That is more than two times higher than the 31 percent who think that colleges are going in the right direction.
33Gallup noted that when people express confidence in higher education, they are thinking of four-year colleges.
34But the study found that more people have confidence in two-year community colleges.
35Forty-nine percent of adults said they have "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in two-year programs, compared with 33 percent of Americans who feel that way about four-year colleges.
36California college student Kristen Freeman said she understands why.
37"It's about saving money. That's why I went to a two-year. It's more bang for your buck," said Freeman who is a 22-year-old sociology major at Diablo Valley Community College.
38She plans to go to San Jose State University for the final two years of college.
39Freeman said she understands the concerns about indoctrination and whether college prepares students for life and work.
40But she feels the only way to change structural problems is from the inside.
41"I am learning about the world around me and developing useful skills in critical thinking," Freeman said.
42"I think higher education can give students the spark to want to change the system."
43I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
44And I'm Anna Matteo.
1A new study says that Americans have increasing questions about the value and cost of a college education. Most of the people taking part in the study felt that higher education in the U.S. is headed in the "wrong direction." 2Gallup and the Lumina Foundation carried out the study. It found that only 36 percent of adults said they had a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in higher education. 3That confidence level has decreased steadily from 57 percent in 2015. That was the first year in which Gallup measured confidence in higher education. 4The decline is seen in all subgroups of people including sex, age, and political ties. Among Republican Party members in the study, the number of people with high confidence in higher education has dropped 36 percentage points over the last 10 years. That is far more than for Democratic Party members or independents. 5Some of the opinions in the study might show concerns about the high cost of college and how race and other subjects are taught. 6Fifty-nine-year-old Randy Hill is a registered Republican in Connecticut and a driver for a car service. He told the Associated Press, "It's so expensive, and I don't think colleges are teaching people what they need to get a job." Hill said his nephew plans to do a welding apprenticeship after high school instead of going to college. 7The June 2024 study found that 36 percent of adults feel strong confidence in higher education. That percentage is unchanged from the year before. 8But the researchers said they were concerned that fewer Americans were saying that they had "some" confidence, and more were reporting "very little" or "none." This year's findings show almost as many people have little or no confidence, 32 percent, as those with high confidence. 9Experts say that fewer college graduates could worsen labor shortages in fields from health care to information technology. For those who do not go to college, it often means lower lifetime earnings. 10Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce said lifetime earnings for those without a bachelor's degree could be 75 percent less than for those with a degree. The center also said that during an economic downturn, those without college degrees are more likely to lose their jobs. 11Courtney Brown is a vice president at Lumina, an education nonprofit group. It aims to increase the number of students who seek education beyond high school. She said, "What's shocking to me is that the people who have low or no confidence is actually increasing." 12This year's study added new, detailed questions in an effort to understand why confidence is shrinking. 13Almost one-third of people in the study said college is "too expensive." About 25 percent thought students are not getting the right education or taught what they need to succeed. 14The study did not ask about the protests against the war in Gaza this year that divided many college communities. But people who took part said they had concerns about indoctrination, political bias, and that colleges are too liberal. Among those who said they lack confidence in college, 41 percent said political activity was a reason. 15Other findings 16Sixty-seven percent of adults in the study said colleges are headed in the "wrong direction." That is more than two times higher than the 31 percent who think that colleges are going in the right direction. 17Gallup noted that when people express confidence in higher education, they are thinking of four-year colleges. But the study found that more people have confidence in two-year community colleges. 18Forty-nine percent of adults said they have "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in two-year programs, compared with 33 percent of Americans who feel that way about four-year colleges. 19California college student Kristen Freeman said she understands why. 20"It's about saving money. That's why I went to a two-year. It's more bang for your buck," said Freeman who is a 22-year-old sociology major at Diablo Valley Community College. She plans to go to San Jose State University for the final two years of college. 21Freeman said she understands the concerns about indoctrination and whether college prepares students for life and work. But she feels the only way to change structural problems is from the inside. 22"I am learning about the world around me and developing useful skills in critical thinking," Freeman said. "I think higher education can give students the spark to want to change the system." 23I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 24And I'm Anna Matteo. 25Jocelyn Gecker reported this story for The Associated Press. Hai Do adapted it for VOA Learning English. 26_______________________________________________ 27Words in This Story 28confidence -n. a belief that something is good or worthwhile 29decline -n. the process of becoming smaller, less effective or worse 30expensive -adj. costly 31apprenticeship -n. a position where a person is taught a trade and serves as an assistant to an established tradesman 32bachelor's degree -n. a degree given by a college or university for completing a course of study that usually takes four years 33indoctrination -n. a process that conditions people to believe certain ideas 34bias -n. the condition of being influence more by one set of ideas than another 35more bang for your buck -idiom doing something that gives the greatest effect at the lowest cost 36spark -n. a small amount of fire or electricity that can start a fire