Gallup researcher: Americans still value degrees despite decade‑long drop in confidence

Zakranowski, a senior education researcher at Gallup, told Midwestern Higher Education Compact attendees that public confidence in higher education has declined sharply over the past decade, but that Americans continue to place high value on postsecondary credentials and degrees.

Gallup tracking since 2015 shows a more than 20‑point drop in the share of Americans saying they have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in higher education, Zakranowski said, adding that "in 2025... we saw a 6 point rebound," which he cautioned may be noise. He emphasized a distinction between trust in institutions and belief in the value of degrees: "I've never, in my 6 years at Gallup, seen any indication that Americans' confidence in the value of a degree... is wavering."

Why it matters: declining institutional trust can alter public support, enrollment choices and political pressure on colleges and universities even when the underlying value proposition remains strong. Gallup data presented by Zakranowski showed that roughly 6 in 10 parents want their oldest child to attend a two‑ or four‑year college and that about 70% of Americans rate at least one postsecondary credential as extremely or very valuable.

Key findings presented

- Public confidence: Gallup measures indicate a decade‑long decline that affected broad groups — by age, party and region — although the most recent fielding showed a modest uptick in mid‑2025. Zakranowski said the trend is "precipitous" and not statistical noise.

- Cost perceptions and net price: Using a prompted comparison ("sticker price" $25,000 for an in‑state public flagship), Gallup estimated average net tuition actually paid at about $15,000. Zakranowski said only about 17% of respondents guessed the net annual tuition within $5,000 of that figure and that "less than 1 in 5 Americans think that 4‑year colleges and universities are charging fair prices to their students." He urged clearer public communication about net price versus sticker price.

- Return on investment: Combining Gallup data with Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census earnings data, Zakranowski reported that the average bachelor's degree graduate breaks even on costs and opportunity costs about eight years after graduation, while stressing substantial variance by major and individual circumstances.

- Campus climate and student trust: Gallup survey results show roughly three‑quarters of currently enrolled bachelor's students agree "I can express my opinions freely" on campus, but only about six in 10 agreed that their institution makes decisions that "consider and advance the best interest of the students," leaving about 41% who disagree.

Audience Q&A and follow up

During a question period, attendees pressed on distributional issues: how long the high end of the breakeven tail lasts, whether loan borrowing can be disaggregated from lifestyle spending, and how outcomes differ by major. Zakranowski said Gallup does not currently break loan burden into lifestyle versus education components and that some of the more granular analyses (by major, detailed payback tails) would require additional data; he offered to follow up. He also said Gallup is expanding alumni sampling of two‑year colleges to improve evidence for community‑college and apprenticeship pathways.

What speakers recommended

Zakranowski and audience members emphasized messaging and local storytelling: equipping graduates and parents to share concrete, relatable accounts of how college affected careers and lives, and expanding work‑based learning options so students can "learn and earn" while enrolled.

Next steps

Zakranowski recommended Lumina Foundation resources and said Gallup will release additional two‑year alumni analyses; attendees invited Gallup to present to state stakeholders and trustee groups.

The presentation concluded with the moderator thanking Zakranowski and the session moving on to scheduling follow‑up briefings.