How important is college?

Starters
Written By Jonathan Milner

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 2010 what percent of American adults said a college education is very important?

  2. According to the polling data from the visual above, in 2025 what percent of American adults said a college education is very important?

  3. Based on the visual above, describe the trend in American adults’ value of college education between 2010 and 2025.

  4. What do you think most explains the trend you described above?

  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 you think the information from the visual above will impact college application rates?

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

  9. Why do you think Republicans and Democrats have such different feelings about the value of a college education, as shown in the visual below*?

  10. The cost of education has skyrocketed over the past decades, as has the amount of student loans. What is one policy the government could implement to make Americans value college education more?

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 lvies.

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

AP Government Exam Review Updated for 2026
$15.00

Glossary

Jonathan Milner

Civics Maven!

https://www.gopopro.com/
Previous

How many member of the current Supreme Court can you name?
Next

How much does the average American owe in student loan debt?