Many Americans say higher education is too expensive and not worth the cost. But ask them about a nearby community college and the response often changes.
The national numbers on higher education are bleak. A recent Gallup and Lumina Foundation survey found that only 38% of adults had a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in higher education. That figure was down from 57% in 2015. In a fall 2025 Pew Research Center survey, seven in 10 Americans said higher education is headed in the wrong direction, up from 56% in 2020.
But two-year community colleges are viewed differently, according to Gallup. Only 12% of adults said four-year colleges do an excellent or good job of keeping college affordable. For community colleges, that figure was 54%. Most people also gave them good marks for quality, access and workforce preparation.
