College Confidence is at an All Time Low

GOING TO COLLEGE ISN’T AS POPULAR AS IT USED TO BE–WHAT THAT MEANS FOR YOU

Should everyone go to college? Some people choose a gap year after high school. Others start into their working lives. Others do a mashup of something in between, but many people, if they’re in a position to do so, at least consider college. However, it’s not as much of the default path as it used to be. There’s a marked shift that’s especially evident when comparing pre-pandemic to post-pandemic enrollment levels, with 15% fewer enrollees in 2022 than in 2010, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Experts blame several things, including a declining birth rate(there’s simply fewer 18-year-olds nowadays) and lower interesting two-year higher education programs in particular. In general though, the mood surrounding college is at an all time low. The results of a 2025 poll by Gallup shows that public confidence in colleges in America has crashed to 36%, down from 57% in 2015.

One of the biggest objections to college is simply that it costs too much as tuition has skyrocketed to levels unheard of compared to when our parents were in school. In today’s interesting economy, a college degree is often super expensive to navigate. Plus, it takes a long time and graduation isn’t guaranteed. Only 54% of college students finish with a degree within six years. Then, if you don’t get a job that’s high-paying enough straight out of college, or worse, if you’re unable to finish, you’re saddled with a financial burden that can follow you for decades. Moving back in with your parents or taking a barista job after graduation probably isn’t ideal, but it’s a common reality – why is that?

Another objection is that college can offer a dubious value. The ROI (return on investment) of a degree is so varied depending on the college you go to, and there’s no guarantee you’ll come away with real world skills. Getting the best out of your college experience is more or less a large, risky gamble. Consider the following:

“The landmark national study of student learning, Academically Adrift (2011) found that 36% of students nationwide, after four years invested in college, came away with little to no statistically significant increases in ‘general collegiate skills’ —critical thinking, complex reasoning, and clear writing. These finding shave been echoed by the 2020 NSSE data reporting that only 40% of seniors gained reasoning skills.”

If you’re a college student right now, think back to what motivated you to attend. Was it at your parent’s insistence? Was it the pressure of wanting to fit in? Was it just the next step in life? Or was it something more akin to a calling?

The bottom line is that you simply don’t have to go to college, and it should never be the default. True, there’s immense cultural pressure to go, but just because all your friends are doing it, doesn’t mean you have to. College can definitely be an option, and it may even be a good option, but is it the right option for you? If you’re meant to do something else, and you’re truly depending on God for direction and guidance, then maybe He’s got something else in mind for you.

College as an institution isn’t going to automatically guarantee you the finer things in life, much less your happiness in fulfilling your purpose. It’s critical to reflect on your investment. If you’re supposed to be in college, then be in it 100%. Engage in every opportunity with eyes wide open that college is just a temporary thing, and it truly is only what you make of it.

zerohedge.com/political/college-all-fallacy