大学费用：高等教育价格及其对入学的影响

C O P Y R I G H T S TA N D A R D S This document contains proprietary research, copyrighted and trademarked materials of Gallup, Inc.Accordingly, international and domestic laws and penalties guaranteeing patent, copyright, The materials contained in this document and/or the document itself may be downloaded and/orcopied provided that all copies retain the copyright, trademark and any other proprietary noticescontained on the materials and/or document. No changes may be made to this document withoutthe express written permission of Gallup, Inc. Any reference whatsoever to this document, in whole or in part, on any webpage must provide a linkback to the original document in its entirety. Except as expressly provided herein, the transmissionof this material shall not be construed to grant a license of any type under any patents, copyright or Gallup®is a trademark of Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and copyrights areproperty of their respective owners. Table of Contents Introduction For many Americans, education after high school is expensive, if notcost-prohibitive. During the 2021-22 academic year, the averagecost of attendance ranged from $10,000 per year at public, two-year institutions to over $56,000 at private, four-year nonprofit colleges.1 The Lumina Foundation-Gallup State of Higher Education 2024 study shows that concernsabout college affordability are top of mind for Americans. This national survey focuseson three key segments of the U.S. adult population — those who are currently enrolled The survey shows that cost is a major perceived barrier to obtaininga college degree or postsecondary credential for all threesubpopulations. Cost is a top reason why currently enrolled Despite concerns about cost, fewunderstand the actual price of highereducation — specifically, the price ofobtaining a bachelor’s degree.Learningabout the actual cost of attendanceincreases unenrolled Americans’ More than half (56%) ofnever-enrolled and previouslyenrolled adults saycost is a“very important” reason whythey have not enrolled orreenrolled in college. Unenrolled Thirty-one percent of currentlyenrolledadults who haveconsidered stopping theircoursework cite cost as a Twenty-three percent of U.S.adults without college degreesestimate the annual net costof a bachelor’s degree from apublic college within $5,000of the actual cost. Half of adults Thirty-five percent of U.S. adultswithout a college degreesay allor most people in the U.S. haveaccess to quality, affordable Seventy-one percent of currentlyand previously enrolled U.S. adultswho have taken out loans reporthavingdelayed at least onesignificant life event because of Americans See the Value ofCollege, but Cost Continues toHinder Access More than half of U.S. adults say bachelor’s degreesare valuable. Most Americans say all types of postsecondary credentials are “extremely” or “very”valuable, including industry certifications (74%), certificates (64%), associate degrees(60%), bachelor’s degrees (75%) and graduate degrees (80%). This finding is true ofcurrently enrolled and unenrolled adults. Notably, 75% of adults previously enrolled in a Among adults without a college degree In general, how valuable are each of the following types of degrees/credentials? Two in five Americans believe degrees are importantpathways to successful careers. Forty-two percent of U.S. adults say having an associate or bachelor’s degree is moreimportant today than 20 years ago for achieving career success, consistent with figuresfrom previous years. Among adults without a college degree Compared to 20 years ago, how important is it for people today to have a two-year or four-yearcollege degree in order for them to have a successful career? “I’m under the impression that it’s worth it as long as you have an go [to college] and theydon’t really know what to do,and then they end up just with a lotof debt that they can’t payoff. But I think it’s very worth — Sarah C.,White female,21, never enrolled Currently enrolled students believe two- and four-year degrees promote career success,and unenrolled adults feel similarly: Forty-two percent of adults who never enrolled in adegree program and 38% who were previously enrolled in a degree program believe a Among adults without a college degree Compared to 20 years ago, how important is it for people today to have a two-year or four-yearcollege degree in order for them to have a successful career? Americans say concerns about cost — not value — deterthem from pursuing college. Consistent with findings from prior administrations of the Lumina-Gallup State of HigherEducation survey, the majority of unenrolled U.S. adults in 2023 continue to cite cost as a“very important” reason why they are not currently enrolled in any postsecondary program. Impact of Cost on Pursuing a Degree or Postsecondary CredentialAmong adults unenrolled in a certificate, certification, associate or bachelor’s degree progr