Most Feel That College Doesn't Provide Good Value for the Cost

A majority of Americans say the higher-education system in the United States fails to provide students with good value for the money, according to a study by the Pew Research Center.

A survey of 2,142 adults found that 57 percent believe higher education does a poor or only fair job of providing good value compared with the cost; 75 percent say college is too expensive for most Americans, even though 86 percent of college graduates say college has been a good investment for them personally.

Among those who leave college with debts from student loans, 48 percent say that paying off that debt made it harder to pay other bills; 25 percent say it has made it harder to buy a home, and 24 percent say it has affected their career choices.