- Only one-in-four U.S. adults say it’s extremely or very important to have a four-year college degree in order to get a well-paying job in today’s economy. About a third (35%) say a college degree is somewhat important, while 40% say it’s not too or not at all important.
- Roughly half (49%) say it’s less important to have a four-year college degree today in order to get a well-paying job than it was 20 years ago; 32% say it’s more important, and 17% say it’s about as important as it was 20 years ago.
- Only 22% say the cost of getting a four-year college degree today is worth it even if someone has to take out loans. Some 47% say the cost is worth it only if someone doesn’t have to take out loans. And 29% say the cost is not worth it.
Is a College Degree Worth It in 2024? | Pew Research Center
The middle point is interesting – about half say a college degree is less important today than it was 20 years ago. The reason for that result is not explained. However, the changing population demographics may play a role – the young cohort of new job seekers has much less competition than in the past, and definitely much less than those entering the job markets in the 1970s and 1980s.
