Archive · 12 Dec 2025
Americans question college worth amid job market shifts
More Americans are starting to think that going to college might not be worth it.
In the past, having a college degree made it easier to find a job, but now the job-finding rate for college graduates is similar to that of high school graduates.
This is because there are fewer entry-level jobs available.
Additionally, the cost of college has been going up, and people are worried about the value of a degree.
Some people, like Hannah Talley, are choosing to learn a trade instead of going to college and are finding success.
However, experts say that having a college degree can still be valuable in the long run, as college graduates typically earn more money over their lifetime.
So, while the value of college is being questioned, it's not clear that it's no longer worth the expense for everyone.
Job-finding rate for college-educated workers ages 22 to 27 has dropped sharply over the past 20 months, aligning with that of high school graduates.
Unemployment rate for 20-to-24-year-olds hit 9.2% in September, up 2.2 percentage points from a year prior.
63% of Americans now dispute the value of a college degree, up from 47% in 2017, due to exploding tuition prices and changing labor market dynamics.
Some individuals, like Hannah Talley, are choosing trade jobs over college and finding success, with Talley earning $53,000 a year as an auto mechanic.
Experts argue that a college degree is still a lifetime asset, with the average college graduate earning $1 million more over their lifetime than high school graduates.
- Who
- Americans, particularly young workers and college graduates
- What
- Decreasing perception of college value and shifting job market dynamics
- When
- Over the past 20 months, with significant changes noted in recent years
- Where
- United States
- Why
- Due to vanishing job prospects, exploding tuition prices, and changing labor market dynamics
- College grads' job-finding rate
- Dropped sharply over 20 months, now similar to high school grads
- Unemployment rate for 20-to-24-year-olds
- 9.2% in September, up 2.2 percentage points from a year prior
- Americans believing college improves job prospects
- 63% now dispute its value, up from 47% in 2017
- Auto mechanic's salary
- $53,000 a year
- Lifetime earnings difference
- College grads earn $1 million more than high school grads