Almost six in ten individuals who’ve graduated from college believe their studies gave them necessary workforce skills. However, the Pew Research Center also documents that incomes for folks sans degrees have been on the rise for the past decade.
Collectively, Americans hold differing views on the value of higher education and whether or not it’s worth it. One force driving this is the significant student loan debts that many folks are taking on in the name of a college education.
Some people believe there are other ways to obtain valuable skillsets, while avoiding debt in the tens of thousands. The horror stories of folks struggling to pay off their loans post college – or being so cash-strapped that their minimal payments are only going towards the interest – are also a factor.
A decline in college enrollments
The rise of people questioning the necessity of college degrees tracks with a notable drop in attendance at higher education establishments.
Earlier this year, the public learned of a roughly 15% decline, which is something of a first for this country. Judging from the Pew Research Center’s latest findings, one shouldn’t hold their breath waiting for a surge in new college enrollments.
