Recent findings from a Fox News poll reveal a dramatic shift in American voters’ attitudes towards higher education. Once considered a crucial stepping stone to success, a college degree is now viewed with skepticism by many. The poll shows that 65% of voters believe that prospective students should invest their money elsewhere and enter the workforce directly, a stark contrast to views held two decades ago.

Changing Perceptions Across Demographics

The change in perception spans various demographic groups, including age, education level, and political affiliation. In 2006, majorities across these groups believed in the value of higher education. Today, those same groups largely hold the opposite opinion, with many parents advising high schoolers to skip college and invest their money instead.

Despite this shift, there remains a level of confidence in certain aspects of higher education. A majority of voters express confidence in universities’ ability to provide a high-quality education (72%), protect free speech (63%), and prepare students for the workforce (58%). However, skepticism persists regarding the financial motives of universities, with only 45% of voters confident that institutions prioritize students over profits.

Partisan Views on Higher Education

Republicans, in particular, express greater skepticism towards higher education. Their confidence in universities’ ability to provide a high-quality education, protect free speech, and prioritize students over profits is significantly lower than that of Democrats and independents. The poll highlights concerns among Republicans about the perceived influence of leftist ideologies within academic institutions.

Conducted by Beacon Research and Shaw & Company Research, the survey included 1,002 registered voters and was carried out from May 15 to 18, 2026. The results reflect a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points, with higher error margins for subgroup results.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.