9 in 10 Americans Believe Cost Is the Main Reason People Don’t Go to College, Survey Shows

Nine in ten US adults believe the high cost of education is the primary reason Americans decide not to pursue higher education, according to a recent survey from New America, a liberal think tank.

The annual survey “Varying Degrees 2024” aimed to learn more about Americans’ perspectives on higher education issues, including affordability, and found that confidence in higher education in the United States is declining, Erudera.com reports.

Among 1,705 respondents, only 36 percent said higher education is “fine how it is.” The proportion of Americans who think higher education provides a good return on investment has dropped from 80 percent in 2019 to 75 percent this year.

Additionally, eight in ten Americans think the lack of college affordability is the biggest barrier to enrollment for students who come from low-income households and those who are the first in their families to enroll in college. Seven in ten respondents cite rising costs as a major barrier to enrollment for students of color.

“Nearly 60 percent of Americans believe that students can cover the cost of attending a two-year community college using only grants and federal student loans, but just 42 percent think students can do so at a four-year college,” the report explains.

91 percent of respondents who politically identify themselves as Democrats said costs are a major barrier for low-income people to attend college, compared to 80 percent of Republicans.

At the same time, 88 percent of Democrats believe cost is the main reason why many first-generation students choose not to go to college. 77 percent of Republicans agree.

When asked how many people they think can study at universities delivering affordable and high-quality education, 34 percent of Republicans said most people can access this education compared to only 18 percent of Democrats.

“Having said that, a third of Republicans still think affordable higher education is inaccessible for most people,” the report adds.

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, according to the findings of this survey, 71 percent of Americans will consider the issue of higher education affordability when deciding which candidate to support.

Many Americans end up in student debt due to college being too costly. A national survey conducted earlier this year by Lumina Foundation and Gallup found that many prospective students go to college with less budget than the “sticker price” advertised by the college due to financial aid offers.

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