The Lumina Foundation and Gallup released the results of their 2025 “State of Higher Education” survey May 7, which offers an annual look at how Americans who have not obtained a college degree or credential view higher education. This year’s survey included responses from nearly 14,000 American adults aged 18-59 who are currently enrolled in, stopped out of, or never enrolled in a degree or credentialing program.
Key Findings
Americans value postsecondary education.
9 in 10 (89%) respondents believe that some form of postsecondary credential (graduate, bachelor’s, associate, certificate, or industry certification) is valuable.
Respondents placed the highest value on graduate and bachelor’s degrees and industry certifications, with roughly 7 in 10 saying they are “very” or “extremely” valuable. Fewer respondents, though still a majority, said certificate programs (58%) and associate degrees (55%) are equally valuable.
Americans are exploring their postsecondary options.
Interestingly, perceived value and personal interest aren’t always aligned. Interest in certificate programs (22%) was above that of bachelor’s degrees (18%) and industry certifications (16%).
About 1 in 4 adults not currently enrolled in a postsecondary program were interested in pursuing an associate degree (24%). Younger adults ages 18-25 and 26-35 (both 63%) were more likely than adults ages 36-59 (52%) to consider enrolling in a postsecondary program.
Respondents who had previously stopped out were the most likely (68%) to consider at least one degree or credentialing program; those who had never enrolled were least likely (38%).
Most Americans still think college matters.
72% of all respondents said a two- or four-year degree is just as important to career success today as it was two decades ago—if not more so.
The vast majority (91%) of students currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program reported feeling confident that their degree would prepare them with the skills they need for their desired career path. Over three-quarters of associate (89%) and certificate program (86%) students shared similar sentiments.
Across all degree and credential types studied, 86% of currently enrolled students were “confident” or “very confident” that completing their program would help them earn a wage that would allow them to live comfortably.
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