Nearly one-third of U.S. adults, 32%, said they have very little or no confidence in higher education, up from 23% of respondents who said the same last year, according to new research from Gallup and Lumina Foundation. Meanwhile, the share of adults who reported strong confidence in higher education, 36%, stayed the same compared to last year. The percentage of those who said they have only some confidence in higher education dipped from 40% last year to 32% in 2024. The results show adults are increasingly questioning higher education, with the sharpest changes in views among Republicans. Respondents with low faith in colleges frequently cited their belief that the institutions are attempting to “indoctrinate” students, fail to teach students relevant skills and leave graduates struggling to find jobs.
