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About two-thirds of Americans say four year college degree what is not worth the costAccording to a shocking new survey.
About 63 percent of Americans surveyed for one nbc news The survey last month agreed that a college degree “is not worth the cost because people often graduate without specific job skills and with large amounts of debt to repay.”
Only 33 percent agreed that a four-year degree “is worth the cost because people have a better chance of getting a good job and earning more money over their lifetime.” The remaining 4 percent said they were not sure either way. The outlet surveyed 1,000 registered voters between October 24 and 28.
This marks a dramatic change from the results of a similar NBC News poll in 2017, which showed that Americans were more evenly divided on the issueAt the time, about 49 percent of Americans said a four-year degree was worth the cost, while 47 percent said it was not worth it,
The divide was similar in 2013, when 53 percent of Americans surveyed in a CNBC poll said a college degree was worth the cost.
There’s also a big gap in attitudes between Democrats and Republicans, according to the latest NBC News poll. Only 22 percent of Republican voters said college is worth the cost, compared to 47 percent of Democrats. Independent voters fell somewhere between the two parties, with 32 percent saying a college degree is worth the cost.
Data published this year by US Bureau of Labor Statistics finds that having a four-year degree is associated with higher weekly earnings and lower unemployment rates compared to those who did not attend college.
However, the cost of college is increasing. According to the College Board college pricing 2025 reportThe average cost of tuition and fees at a public, four-year, in-state college for the 2025-2026 school year is $11,950, $340 more than the 2024-2025 academic year.
This price is steep for a private, non-profit four-year university, where tuition and fees cost an average of $45,000.
But the real cost of a four-year degree can be much higher, especially when you take into account other costs like housing and student loan interest.
According to a 2025 analysis, when loan interest and potential lost income are included, the cost of investing in a graduate degree could exceed $500,000. Education Data Initiative,
The survey shows that more Americans are now doubting whether college can give them a better life, according to Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research Associates, who helped conduct the NBC News survey.
“It’s remarkable to see such a dramatic change in stance on any issue, and especially on the central tenet of the American dream, which is a college degree,” he told NBC News. “Americans used to see a college degree as something to aspire to – it offers the opportunity for a better life. And now that promise is really in doubt.”