7 in 10 Americans think US education is headed in the wrong direction: Why are schools and colleges losing credibility?

Americans are questioning the direction of their education system. A recent Pew Research Center survey, conducted from September 22 to September 28, 2025, among 3,445 US adults using Pew’s American Trends Panel, finds that 70 percent of adults believe US colleges and universities are moving in the wrong direction, up from 56 percent in 2020. This concern is spread across different groups. Four-year college graduates are slightly more likely to feel this way than non-graduates, and majorities across age, income, and political lines share the view. The rise in concern points to a bigger conversation about what higher education really gives students. From rising tuition and financial pressure to job preparation and campus life, many Americans are wondering if colleges are doing their part.