How important is college?

Critical Analysis

Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:

1. According to the polling data from the visual above, in 1978 what percent of American adults said a college education is very important?

2. According to the polling data from the visual above, in 2026 what percent of American adults said a college education is very important?

3. Describe the trend in the percentage of Americans who rate a college education "very important" from 2013 to 2026. Then identify the year in which "fairly important" first passed "very important."

4. There are many reasons people are losing faith in the value of a college degree, including: Exploding Costs and Affordability Crisis, Student Loan Debt, Job Market and Return on Investment (ROI) Doubts, Shift Toward Alternative Pathways, Political and Cultural Divides. What do you think best explains the changing public opinion on the value of college education?

5. How would you answer the poll above?

6. There are substantial differences in lifetime earnings by educational attainment. Men with bachelor's degrees earn approximately $900,000 more in median lifetime earnings than high school graduates. Women with bachelor's degrees earn $630,000 more. Men with graduate degrees earn $1.5 million more in median lifetime earnings than high school graduates. Women with graduate degrees earn $1.1 million more. Do you think the visual above is good or bad new?

7. How do demographics impact feelings about the value of college education as shown in the visual below*?

8. Gallup's question offers only three answer choices. Explain how question wording and the range of answer choices can shape poll results, and describe one way a differently worded question might produce different findings.

9. Explain how a change in public opinion like the one shown could affect the policy agenda in Congress. Use one specific higher education policy area, such as student loans, Pell Grants, or workforce training.

10. Most public colleges get significant funding from state governments. Using the principle of federalism, explain how a state legislature might respond differently to this opinion trend than the national government would.

Write and Discuss

Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.

Act on your Learning

Talk to three college graduates and ask them to describe the impact their college education had on their life.

Get Creative

Imagine two versions of yourself in 20 years: one with a college degree, one without. How different would those people be? Write a one minute dialogue between those two future versions of yourself.

Learning Extension

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