We are living through an existential crisis, and it’s hard to limit the daily challenges to a single-digit set of issues. At the college level, National Institute of Health funding for vital research was halted, at least for now. K-12 schools are still making up ground from the COVID-19 disruption, and the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education is looming, threatening a range of services for our most vulnerable children. Executive orders restrict the teaching of slavery and promote funding for private school vouchers. Add to this the number of students who are not attending because of immigration enforcement. People are exhausted and desperate for some good news. Well, we now have some about how higher education remains a source of unity.

Despite the virulent and largely inaccurate charges levied against higher education, the American public may hear it but clearly doesn’t buy into the raft of misinformation. In a recent Lumina/Gallup poll, seven out of 10 adults without a college degree believe both a bachelor’s degree and an associate’s degree are either extremely or very valuable. And despite the costs, a majority in the poll believe college will pay off within five years.

In perhaps the best piece of news, a poll of college students about the quality of their college classes found that 72% consider their classes to be either “excellent” or “very good,” and half were very confident their college education and degree would result in positive career opportunities, demonstrating how higher education remains a source of hope.

This positive view of higher education also extends to seniors in high school. In 2025, the percentage of seniors who have filled out their FAFSA forms has increased by 13% over 2024, and the percentage of seniors filling out the Common App for college admissions increased by 4%, with the number of first-generation college goers increasing by 13%.

According to the National Student Clearinghouse of Research, the largest gains are among students from low-income neighborhoods. This is significant because the decline in birth rates has affected the size of the youth population. Add all of this to the fact that nationwide this past fall college enrollment was up by 3.4%, it is clear that the notion that “college doesn’t matter” has little truth.

Read the full article about higher education as a source of hope by Stanley Litow at The 74.