Recent Gallup polling reported a sharp decline in how Americans view the importance of a college education: those saying an undergraduate degree is “very important” fell from 75% in 2010 to 35% now. [i] Soon after, The Atlantic ran a piece calling “the college backlash” a mirage. [ii]
If you’re a parent with a child approaching college age, you’re right to ask: what’s the real story?
The Truth About Polls: Who you ask – and how you ask – matters.
Gallup asked a broad national sample, “How important is a college education today?” That’s a legitimate question, but results depend heavily on question wording and respondent group.
In our ScholarShare 529[iii] research, we ask a different, more specific question – and we ask it to California parents: how important is college for your child? The answers tell a different story:
- 90% of parents strongly agreed, “I want my child to go to college.”
- 92% said “Helping pay for my child’s education is one of the most important things I can do.”
- Only 27% agreed “College is less important than it used to be.”
Bottom line: If you value education for your children, you’re in the majority.
Actions speak louder than headlines
Behavior often tells us more than opinions. Recent trends show:
- The number of high school students taking college classes rose 3% last year.[iv]
- The number of 18-year-olds attending college increased by nearly 2.5%.
- Overall, college enrollment has increased for three consecutive years and is at a ten-year high. Much of this growth comes from Black, Hispanic, Asian, multiracial, and low-income students, and community college enrollment is rising as well.
So, when we look at what people are actually doing, well, college is more popular than ever.
The proof is in the paycheck
The “college wage premium” — the typical earnings boost from holding a degree — was about 64% in the 1980s.[v] Today it’s roughly 89%. The Federal Reserve projects this premium will remain largely intact, declining modestly to about 76% by 2042.
That wage advantage is a strong practical argument for the continued value of a college degree.
A final thought
When someone says college is a bad choice, I say: I want to give my children the best chance of success — and today, that best chance still includes a college degree.
[i] https://news.gallup.com/poll/695003/perceived-importance-college-hits-new-low.aspx
[ii] https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/college-degree-value-enrollment/685384/
[iii] ScholarShare 529 Market Study (Dec 2023) among over 600 California parents with children under 18
[iv] https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/01/15/college-enrollment-10-year-high/
[v] https://www.clevelandfed.org/publications/economic-commentary/2025/ec-202504-college-labor-demand-21st-century
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