Americans' Confidence in Higher Education Rises First Time in Decade

For the first time in a decade, Americans' confidence in higher education has increased, rising to 42% from 36% in the past two years, according to a Lumina Foundation-Gallup survey. The share of Americans expressing little or no confidence dropped significantly from 32% to 23%, with notable increases in confidence across racial groups, including Black and Hispanic Americans, as well as across political parties. Democrats remain the most confident at 61%, but independents and Republicans also showed gains, with Republicans increasing confidence by six points to 26%, reversing much of the decade-long decline driven largely by conservative skepticism. Reasons for growing confidence include recognition of American colleges as among the world's best and increased appreciation for innovation in higher education, while concerns persist among detractors about political agendas, high costs, and perceived irrelevance of curricula. The increase in confidence spans both two-year and four-year institutions, signaling a broad-based improvement in public perception despite ongoing political and cultural challenges facing the sector. This trend emerges amid heightened scrutiny and criticism of higher education institutions, including from the Trump administration and conservative media, underscoring a complex and evolving public dialogue on the value and role of colleges in society.