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“Americans Are Losing Faith in the Value of College. Whose Fault Is That?”

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“Americans Are Losing Faith in the Value of College. Whose Fault Is That?”

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College wage versus college wealth premium

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College wage versus college wealth premium

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Tough explains that the wage premium, the income difference between graduates and high school students, has stayed close to 65 percent for many years. But when wealth is measured, including debt and assets, the benefit mostly disappears for younger generations, especially Black and Latino graduates after 1980. One study even concluded the wealth premium for postgraduates born in the 1980s was “indistinguishable from zero” (Tough).

In my opinion, this show how misleading it is to focus only on salary. Wealth is what let people save money, buy homes, and plan families. To me, this evidence proves that debt cancels out most of the gains that wages suggest.

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Tough describes how Ivy-Plus institutions preserve privilege. Research found that children from the richest families were twice as likely to be admitted as middle-class peers with the same test scores. Graduates from these colleges were also much more likely to secure elite jobs and join the top one percent of earners.

From my perspective, these numbers is hard to ignore. Personally, I think these colleges function less as equalizers and more as systems that pass privilege to the next generation. That makes me question how fair the idea of merit really is.

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Tough compares the U.S. with other countries. In nations like France, Denmark, and Germany, tuition is basically free, and in Japan and Canada it is around $5,000 per year. In America, families carry most of the cost, and enrollment has been falling since 2010.

To me, this contrast make it clear why students abroad continue enrolling while Americans hesitate. Personally, I think the U.S. has turned higher education into a financial gamble, unlike many other nations that treat it as a public service.

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The cost of college education in America

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The cost of college education in America

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Tough highlights that tuition has doubled at public universities and nearly doubled at private ones since the 1990s. Private colleges now average about $58,000 annually, while public universities average around $19,000 after aid. Student debt has grown from $500 billion in 2007 to $1.6 trillion, and more than half of borrowers owe more than what they borrowed at first.

Personally, I think this evidence are overwhelming. For me, it proves that the system has changed: instead of being an investment, college now feels like a trap. I strongly believe this explains why so many students are losing trust in higher education.

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Liberal ideology promotion college campus

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Liberal ideology promotion college campus

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Tough shows that Republican confidence in universities has collapsed. In 2015, 56 percent of Republicans had a lot of confidence in higher education, but by 2023 the number was only 19 percent. A survey found that most Republicans thought professors pushed their own political and social views in class.

In my opinion, this help explain the partisan distrust. At the same time, I think focusing too much on politics misses the real financial issue. From my perspective, students’ biggest problem is debt, not what professors think, and that side is sometimes overlooked.

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Tough notes that enrollment has been shrinking. Undergraduate numbers dropped from over 18 million in 2010 to under 15.5 million in 2021. The share of high school graduates who went directly to college also fell from 70 percent to 62 percent, and nearly half of parents now prefer their children not to pursue a four-year degree.

From my perspective, this reflect more than statistics. To me, it is a cultural change—college is no longer assumed to be the best or only path. Families are openly questioning if it is worth it, and that doubt shows how attitudes have shifted.

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Tough uses Douglas Webber’s findings to show how payoff depends on both tuition and major. If tuition is free and graduation is certain, the outcome is very positive. But at $50,000 a year the odds drop to about a coin flip. STEM and business majors improve the chance, while arts and humanities often see negative returns in that situation.

I think this finding make sense but also feels unsettling. Personally, I dislike reducing education to pure numbers, yet the evidence is too strong to ignore. In my opinion, students should know these risks before borrowing, because the choice of major clearly shapes the result.

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Tough, citing Douglas Webber, compares higher education to a casino to highlight its unpredictability. If tuition is free, the odds of financial success are very high, but when the cost rises to $50,000 a year the chance drops to only a coin flip. Webber explains that college has shifted from a safe investment into a gamble that can either give a big win or cause financial disaster.

To me, this metaphor capture the reality best. Personally, I think it is powerful because it reflects both the hope and the fear students feel. In my opinion, many people my age now treat college as a gamble instead of a guarantee.

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Wage premium — The boost in earnings that comes from having a college degree compared to only a high school diploma. Tough shows this gap in pay is still real, but it does not tell the whole story.

Wealth premium — The advantage in total assets that graduates once held over non-graduates. Tough notes this has shrunk for younger generations, since loans eat away at their financial gains.

Outlier — Tough describes the U.S. as standing apart from many countries, with higher tuition costs and lower levels of enrollment than its peers.

Casino — A metaphor Tough uses to show that paying for college now feels risky, with results depending on tuition level, choice of major, and background.

Privilege — The built-in advantage that wealthy families hold in admissions to selective colleges, which helps reproduce inequality across generations.