The FINANCIAL — Americans still believe a college degree is a helpful tool in today’s economy, but they also continue to feel life experience is more valuable.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 63% of Adults think a college degree is still a good financial investment in today’s economic environment. Twenty-five percent (25%) disagree, up six points from March 2010 . Twelve percent (12%) are not sure.
But adults under 29 are twice as likely as those over 65 – 34% to 17% – to think a college degree is not a good financial investment these days.
After all, 89% of all adults agree that it will be at least somewhat difficult for recent graduates to find a job in the current economy. That includes 56% who say it will be Very Difficult.
Still, most Americans (52%) believe everyone should attend a post-secondary school institution, whether it be college or some kind of vocational school. Thirty-seven percent (37%) don't think that's necessary. Eleven percent (11%) are unsure. These findings show little change from May 2009 .
Fifty percent (50%) of those under 30 don't see a need for post-secondary education, but most adults over 50 disagree.
The national telephone survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 27-28, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
Eighty-two percent (82%) of all adults agree that people learn more practical skills through life experiences and work after college. That finding shows virtually no change since early May 2009 . Only seven percent (7%) believe more practical skills are acquired in college, while 11% are undecided.
Adults over 40 feel more strongly than those who are younger that life experience is more valuable than a college degree.
Also consistent with past findings, 51% of Americans nationwide say just about any good student who wants to attend college can find a way to do so in America today. Thirty-six percent (36%) don't believe this to be true, while 13% are not sure.
Fifty-eight percent (58%) of men say just about any good student who wants to go to college can find a way to do so, a view shared by just 45% of women.
When it comes to which educational option offers the best value for the money, 31% of Americans say a four-year college does. Twenty-two percent (22%) feel that way about a two-year community college, while nearly as many (21%) say a master’s degree provides the best bang for the buck. Another 15% believe vocational school is the best choice, but only one percent (1%) say that of an online degree.
Seventy-one percent (71%) of adults say formal education is more important for success in life than street smarts.
Separate polling finds that 31% of Americans say it is too hard to get a student loan for college in this country today, while just 13% believe it’s too easy. Thirty-seven percent (37%) say the level of difficulty is about right.
Adults are closely divided now over how well colleges and universities protect their students. Just 39% say the institutions do enough to provide for the safety of their students , but 35% say the institutions do not do enough. Twenty-six percent (26%) are not sure.
www.rasmussenreports.com
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