Abstract:

Most Americans do not think a college degree is worth the cost, according to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ)-National Opinion Research Center (NORC) poll. The non-partisan research organization reported 56% of Americans think earning a four-year degree is not worth the cost; only 42% responded positively. A decade earlier, 40% chose a negative view while 53% supported the value of a college degree. The most skeptical cohort in the recent study was people age 18-34 who held 4-year degrees. WSJ says this portends “a profound shift for higher education in the years ahead,” (Belkin, 2023).
Challenges from the pandemic left students emotionally reeling. An additional concern to college enrollment is the declining population rate. Add to this the reported decline in perceived value of college, and it seems apparent changes are ahead for academia. Indeed, these challenges behoove us as faculty to better understand our students, their motivations, and their concerns. This research presents qualitative findings in the form of verbatim written comments from 30 upper division college students in the southeastern United States. Their responses provide valuable insights into why they chose college, as well as what they value and what they resent.
As for why the current cohort of students chose to earn a four-year degree, the motivations generally fall into three areas.. Below are representative comments:
“Knew I wasn’t ready to enter the real world yet.”
“I didn’t want to rush into ‘real life’ so I decided college would give me time to think.”
“I wanted to be the first in my family to receive a bachelor’s degree. I also went to college to show my little sister that you can do anything you put your mind to.”
“My family made it seem like college was a must.”
Like the WJ-NORC poll, students were asked to explain if they thought a four-year college degree is worth the cost. Responses were fairly evenly split and widely varied:. The following comments were selected for their insights:
“Yes, because obviously a college degree is one of the easiest ways to a higher income and education. No, because I think that the entire system needs to be reformed.”
“I do think a 4-year college education is worth the cost. However, I do wish there was more classes that delt with peoples’ majors. We only spend two years doing our classes that are required for our major. I personal don’t think that is enough time.”
“I believe college students being required to complete core classes, like English, history, and science, is absurd. If students could begin courses meant to expand their education with the degree they are seeking I could see more value in a college degree and affordability.”
” I don’t. The degree I am trying to get is also being taught and received by students at techs schools as a two-year degree.”
“The cost of a four-year college education has gotten astronomically high to the point that most people cannot afford it and instead go into debt. If it continues to go this way, either people will stop going to college, or a whole generation will be in debt.”
The value of qualitative research is that it suggests strategy. This research is rife with strategic implications to improve both learning, and admissions. With college enrollment declining by some 1.3 million students over the last two years, this research is timely indeed.

Keywords:

College enrollment, generation Z, higher education, curriculum.