Thus, 56% of Americans are convinced that four years in a university is a wrong bet in life, and only 42% maintain their faith in higher education. Those who usually receive them are particularly skeptical of diplomas – young people between the ages of 18 and 34. Negative attitudes are gradually building: 10 years ago, 53% of Americans considered a degree useful for a good job and high income.
The main pushing factor is the high price of education. As Bloomberg recently calculated, tuition at Ivy League universities (a group of prestigious universities in the United States) will reach $90,000 per year in 2023, which is 1.5 to 2 times more expensive. only 8 years ago. Americans usually take out a student loan, which is sometimes repaid for up to 40-50 years.
Skepticism about higher education began to rise after the 2008 recession and worsened in the pandemic. Over the past 10 years, enrollment in American universities has declined by 15%.
