A new Fox News poll shows Americans are becoming far more skeptical about the value of a college degree than they were two decades ago.
The survey found that voters are now much more likely to say young people should invest money and go straight to work rather than spend it on college tuition.
In 2006, most voters said a student with $100,000 should use the money for college. Today, the view has flipped, with 65% saying the money should be invested instead while the student enters the workforce.
The poll also found that more than 6 in 10 voters now believe college is less important to success than it was a generation ago.
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That marks a major reversal from 2006, when 84% of voters said college was more important to success than it had been 25 years earlier.
Voters have also grown much less willing to support the idea of getting a degree at any cost.
Twenty years ago, Americans were nearly split on whether a college degree should be obtained regardless of cost. Now, 73% say a degree is not worth getting at any cost.
The shift appears across age groups, political parties and education levels.
In 2006, majorities of young voters, older voters, college graduates, non-college voters, Democrats, Republicans and independents all generally believed college was worth the money and important for success.
Today, many of those same groups have moved in the opposite direction.
Despite that skepticism, voters are not completely dismissing higher education.
The poll found that 72% still have at least some confidence that universities provide a high-quality education.
Majorities also say they have confidence that colleges protect free speech, provide fair learning environments, respect students regardless of political views and prepare students for the workforce.
The biggest concern is money.
Only 45% of voters say they have confidence that universities put students ahead of profits.
That financial skepticism cuts across education lines, with college graduates and non-college voters showing nearly identical levels of doubt.
Republicans are especially skeptical of higher education.
Compared with Democrats and independents, GOP voters are less confident that universities provide high-quality education, protect free speech, prepare students for jobs and respect students with different political views.
Republican pollster Daron Shaw said GOP voters believe universities are not only too expensive, but have also been captured by “woke” administrators and professors.
Democrats remain more positive toward higher education, but even among them, concerns about cost and value have grown.
The poll reflects a broader national debate over whether college still delivers the economic return it once promised.
Rising tuition, student debt, doubts about campus politics and the growth of alternative career paths have all contributed to a major shift in public opinion.
For many families, the question is no longer whether college is prestigious, but whether the cost still makes sense.
Why It Matters
The poll suggests the traditional promise of college is weakening. Americans still value education, but many no longer believe a degree automatically justifies the cost. That could reshape politics, workforce training and how young people choose careers.
What Comes Next
Colleges may face growing pressure to lower costs, prove job-market value and rebuild public trust. Politicians are also likely to keep focusing on student debt, trade schools, apprenticeships and campus ideology.
A related clip showed Dave Ramsey warning a caller against taking on massive student loan debt, reflecting broader concerns about whether expensive degrees still pay off.
Dave Ramsey advises a girl not to take her scholarship and go into a $100k debt a year
Caller: “I got accepted into an ivy plus school for a very competitive graduate program so even with the scholarship I’m looking about $100k a year in student loan”
Dave: and how much does… pic.twitter.com/Km4w0a3AWg
— zaza (@zazaxbt_) May 24, 2026
