A new Gallup poll indicates a steady decline in American trust toward colleges and universities, driven by political agendas, high costs, and workforce preparation worries. While Utah residents show slightly higher confidence in their state institutions, national figures reveal deep demographic and political divides, and growing skepticism about AI's impact on degree value.
A recent Gallup poll reveals a complex picture of American confidence in higher education, with notable differences between Utah ns and the national average. In Utah, 67% of residents report having "a great deal" or "a fair amount" of confidence in the state's colleges and universities, while confidence in national institutions drops to just over half at 53%.
This mirrors a national trend where overall trust in higher education has been declining. Only 38% of U.S. adults express "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in the country's colleges and universities, down from 42% the previous year. Conversely, a growing segment of the population expresses distrust, with 25% of Americans now having "very little" or "none"-a significant increase from just 10% in 2015. The poll highlights stark demographic divides in perceptions of higher education.
Women are more confident than men, with over three-quarters of females reporting at least some level of trust compared to a slightly lower figure for males. Racial disparities are also evident: 72% of white respondents express at least some confidence, but over a quarter hold very little or none; in contrast, 80% of non-white respondents report positive levels of trust.
Educational attainment strongly correlates with confidence, as 80% of college graduates express at least some trust, while 26% of those with only a high school diploma or less have little confidence. The most pronounced gap is political: more than a third of Republicans report "very little" confidence, versus only 12% of Democrats. Democratic confidence, while higher, has also been eroding over time.
Respondents who lack confidence point to three main reasons: perceived political agendas on campuses (31%), the high cost of college (30%), and inadequate preparation for the workforce (25%). Other concerns include poor administration, low educational quality, and interference from the Trump administration. Conversely, those with confidence cite benefits like development of critical thinking and skills, informed citizenship, and improved job prospects. For the first time, the survey asked about AI's impact on the value of a college degree.
Nearly half of Americans (46%) believe AI will make degrees less important in the next five years, while only 20% think they will become more important. Despite declining public confidence, experts note that enrollment has not yet seen major drops, as parents and students continue to weigh costs against potential outcomes
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