Is college worth the time and money? Americans are increasingly skeptical about the value and cost, according to a new survey. And most said they feel the US higher education system is moving in the "wrong direction." Overall, only 36% of adults said they have a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in higher education, according to a report released by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation. That confidence level has declined steadily from 57% in 2015. Some of the same opinions have been reflected in declining enrollment numbers as colleges contend with the effects of the student debt crisis, concerns about the high cost of tuition and political debates over how they teach about race and other topics. "It's so expensive, and I don't think colleges are teaching people what they need to get a job," said Randy Hill, a 59-year-old driver from Connecticut. He added: "You graduate out of college, you're up to [your] eyeballs in debt, you can't get a job, then you can't pay it off. What's the point?" The June 2024 survey's overall finding — that 36% of adults feel strong confidence in higher education — is the same as the year before. But what concerns researchers is that more Americans — 32% — said they have "very little" or no confidence in higher education. Experts say that fewer college graduates could lead to labor shortages in fields from health care to information technology. For those who choose not to go to college, it often means lower lifetime earnings — 75% less compared with those who get bachelor's degrees, according to Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce. And during an economic downturn, those without degrees are more likely to lose jobs. However, others still see the value in higher education. College student Kristen Freeman from California told The Associated Press: "I think higher education can give students the spark to want to change the system."