Is College Worth the Cost? The Public Remains Divided

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.

By The VCU Wilder School Office of Research and Outreach
July 11, 2025

As has been the case for many American institutions, 2025 has brought change and uncertainty to universities across the country. Schools have faced funding cuts and program closures while enrollment trends continue to fluctuate. While some universities are seeing an increase in student enrollment, others continue to see declines. Considering these developments, it is crucial to understand how the public views college education. To what extent is a college degree still needed? Are these degrees worth the cost? If they are not worth the cost currently, what could be done to help keep costs down?

In Virginia, the average total cost of college at a 4-year institution is currently $28,640 a year (lower than the $38,270 country-wide average). To better understand public perspectives of higher education, the Winter 2024-2025 Wilder School Commonwealth Poll asked the following questions:

1. Do you agree or disagree that the current cost of a four-year degree at an in-state college or university in Virginia is worth it?

2. What do you think would help make the cost of college more affordable?

3. What best reflects your opinion of the value of a college education?

Data for this poll was obtained via telephone interviews with a representative sample of 806 adults, ages 18 or older, living in Virginia. Telephone interviews were conducted by landline and cell phone from December 18, 2024 to January 15, 2025. The margin of error was +/- 4.73 percent.

In addressing the first question of if the cost of a four-year degree is worth it, 41 percent agreed that it is worth it and 53 percent disagreed. This is a slight increase from when we asked the same question one year ago, when only 39 percent of people thought that a college degree was worth it (and 50 percent said that it was not).

When we consider the demographic breakdowns, we found that those most likely to say that college is worth the cost include Democrats, those aged 65 and up and those with at least some college experience.

The public also shared their thoughts on what might make college more affordable. Of the four options presented, poll participants felt that cutting costs and making community college free for all were the most effective options (with 53 percent and 52 percent supporting, respectively). Forty-six percent of participants thought that it could be helpful to invest more of the state budget in higher education while 41 percent agreed that a tuition freeze could help make college more affordable.

Democrats (67 percent) and Independents (51 percent) were more likely to support the free community college option while Republicans (60 percent) tended to favor mandating cost reductions at Virginia’s universities.

Finally, participants shared their overall thoughts on the value of a college degree and, again, opinions were mixed. Forty-three percent of participants said that they highly value a college education and believe that it is an important factor in an individual’s success. A slightly larger amount, 44 percent, were not quite as enthusiastic and said that while they previously placed high value on a college education, they now do not feel that it is as important to an individual’s future success. Eleven percent said that they see a college degree as having minimal value and do not believe that it plays an important role in future success.

More than half of Democrats (55 percent) and Independents (53 percent) said that they believed in the continuing value of college education while 54 percent of Republicans said that they once valued college highly but now see it as less essential. Generally, those with lower incomes were also more likely to say that they still highly valued a college degree; racial and ethnic minorities were also more likely to value a college degree than white individuals.

Though higher education can provide incredible opportunities for many, the debates discussed in this article are likely to continue and the future of higher education remains unknown. Will the public begin placing more value on a college degree or will more people decide that a degree is no longer as important as it once was? Will colleges pivot toward placing a greater focus on degrees with clear employment opportunities or toward certifications and micro credentials as we are already seeing in some cases? While the answer to these questions remains to be seen, considering polling results such as these can help policymakers, practitioners and educators better understand these trends in higher education.

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Author: The Wilder School’s Office of Research and Outreach advances research and training that informs public policy and decisionmaking to improve our communities. Drawing on the wide-ranging expertise of Wilder School faculty, we provide services including polling, research support, leadership development and training and program evaluation to clients in governments, nonprofits, businesses and the public across Virginia and beyond. Twitter: @VCUWilderSchool

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