Overview
- An NBC News survey finds 63% of registered voters say a bachelor’s degree is not worth the cost, while 33% say it is.
- The poll of about 1,000 registered voters was conducted Oct. 24–28 by Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies, with a 3.1-point margin of error.
- Views have reversed over the past decade: in 2013, 53% called a degree worth the cost and in 2017 the public was roughly split at 49% to 47%.
- Partisan gaps are pronounced, with about 22% of Republicans, 47% of Democrats, and 32% of independents saying a four-year degree is worth it.
- College Board data show public in-state tuition has roughly doubled since 1995 and private tuition is up about 75%, even as BLS figures show degree-holders earn more and face lower unemployment, fueling interest in vocational and two-year programs.