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This month’s Public Insight reviews new findings from about public confidence in higher education and about students’ experiences at public regional universities. The findings illustrate what Americans, parents, and students are looking for in a college experience.

Fielded in June, asked 1,001 Americans about their confidence in higher education. The results show that only 38 percent of Americans have “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of faith in the US higher education system. Thirty-seven percent have some confidence in higher education, and 25 percent have “very little” or “none.”

The findings show a continued downward trend in public confidence since 2015, except for a mild uptick last year. Like in previous years, there is a sizable partisan gap when it comes to confidence in higher education. While Republicans’ confidence has stayed steady at 23 percent this year, Democrats’ confidence has fallen sharply, dropping from 61 percent in 2025 to 50 percent this year—the lowest share recorded since 2015.

Concerningly, since 2024, those with only a bachelor’s degree have expressed confidence in higher education at nearly the same rate as those without a college degree: just 36 and 35 percent, respectively. The only group with slightly higher confidence are those with graduate degrees: even so, only half said that they have faith in the system.

Looking more closely into why Americans are or are not confident in higher education, respondents who lack confidence cited perceived political agendas on campus (31 percent), high costs of college (30 percent), and colleges not preparing students well for the workforce (25 percent) as their top reasons. Interestingly, for the first time this year, artificial intelligence (AI) emerged as a factor in declining public confidence, though only 2 percent of respondents identified it as a reason.

Among those who are confident in higher education, the most commonly cited reasons are critical thinking skills (33 percent), as well as making students informed and knowledgeable (30 percent), and providing them with better job opportunities (19 percent).

��������������Բ�’ may help explain the public’s low confidence in the system. Only 12 percent think four-year colleges are doing a good job at providing an affordable education, 32 percent think institutions prepare students well for the workforce, and only half believe they provide quality education. Community colleges, in contrast, are in these areas: 54 percent of respondents think community colleges are providing an affordable education, 52 percent think they prepare students for the workforce, and 61 percent believe they provide students with a quality education.

The more favorable views of community colleges’ value and quality compared to four-year institutions track with findings from Varying Degrees 2025, �鶹������ý’s signature survey about ��������������Բ�’ views of higher education. Since the survey launched in 2017, the public has consistently believed community colleges are more worth the cost than either public or private four-year institutions (see Figure 1).

Despite these concerns, when it comes to a preferred pathway for their child after high school, three in four parents still want their dependent to pursue some sort of postsecondary education. A majority of parents prefer a four-year college, compared with 19 percent who prefer community colleges. 

These findings continue a trend evident within previous editions of Varying Degrees: Even when Americans express frustration with many aspects of higher education, they still want to make it work for their children and families.

While the Lumina-Gallup survey looks into how the public thinks about higher education, showcases students’ opinions. This poll, fielded in April 2026, surveyed 500 current students attending regional public universities (RPUs) to better understand their experiences and perceptions of these institutions. RPUs educate about 70 percent of all US college students each year and primarily serve local and regional communities.They also enroll a greater share of low-income students and students of color, despite receiving significantly less per-student funding than their state’s flagship universities.

Students at RPUs generally feel positive about their schools, with 87 percent of students reporting having two or more close friends on campus, and 75 percent feeling a sense of community at their school. Additionally, 32 percent believe that their institutions were less expensive than other colleges or universities.

At the same time, many are still experiencing financial hardships. More than half of students at regional public universities state they are “just getting by,” and nearly three in four worry that a financial emergency would prevent them from continuing their schoolwork. When asked about resources to help reduce financial pressures, more than 30 percent report that they have used a campus food pantry (37 percent) or a public assistance program like SNAP, TANF, or food stamps (32 percent). Twelve percent have relied on emergency housing support through their institution.

The poll also highlights the many responsibilities RPU students juggle alongside their education. Seventy-one percent of students at regional publics are working and attending college, with 54 percent working part-time and 17 percent working full-time. In addition, 33 percent of students also serve as caregivers for their children, parents, or another family member.

Together, these findings underscore the challenges students at RPUs must navigate to persist and succeed in college. Despite receiving fewer resources than other public four-year colleges, RPUs continue working to provide students with a high-quality education and the support they need to succeed.