Growing share of Americans say the U.S. higher education system is headed in the wrong direction

U.S. Higher Education System: A Growing Concern

A growing share of Americans believe the U.S. higher education system is headed in the wrong direction. According to a new Pew Research Center survey, 70% of Americans say the system is going in the wrong direction, up from 56% in 2020.

Both parties have seen an increase of at least 10 percentage points in the share of people who say the higher education system is going in the wrong direction since 2020.

Many give colleges and universities negative ratings for keeping tuition costs affordable.
Preparing students for jobs in today's economy is also a concern.

This shift in public opinion comes as the Trump administration has taken several high-profile actions related to colleges and universities.

Majorities across all major demographic groups share the view that the U.S. higher education system is going in the wrong direction.

Author's summary: Americans increasingly doubt the US higher education system.

Pew Research Center — 2025-10-15

U.S. Higher Education System: A Growing Concern

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