Money Matters - Is College Worth It? Survey

The math on college used to be simple: borrow now, earn more later. Not anymore. A new report from Credible finds that 48% of Americans don't think college is worth it in 2026.

 

• Nearly 2 in 3 (63%) wouldn’t take on student loan debt for a college degree today
• 58% consider college degrees a luxury
• 87% say alternatives to college are becoming more attractive (39% say trade schools are most attractive)

 

Despite these new insights, college degrees are still important to many: 55% still say their college degree provided a good ROI and 42% still view college as a necessity. But 60% believe you must earn a salary of $60k+ to justify the investment.

 

Take a look at the full report for additional insights into changing attitudes towards college.