Research Report

EAB's Higher Ed State of the Sector

The Crisis of Public Confidence

Topic

Strategy

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Public skepticism toward higher education is growing. Despite decades of data proving that a college degree provides strong long-term benefits, confidence in the institutions delivering that degree has waned. This erosion of trust is not wholly unique to higher education, nor is it a one-off phenomenon. Rather, it is occurring against the backdrop of broader societal distrust in all institutions and shaped by persistent, deeply embedded trends that higher education has struggled to effectively address.

In this year’s State of the Sector research, we unpack the “story behind the story” of declining public confidence. Specifically, we highlight three critical trends that are shaping higher ed’s public value crisis, and outline actionable opportunities for leaders to confront these challenges head-on:

Traditional defenses of higher ed are trapped in an echo chamber

The current messaging around the value of higher education doesn’t resonate with today’s public or reach our most skeptical audiences.
Both sides of the political aisle agree on a growing list of critiques

Criticism of higher education—from affordability to workforce alignment—is increasingly bipartisan, reflecting shifting societal expectations.
Every external constituency is behaving more like an investor

From prospective students and parents to employers, donors, and public officials, the focus is increasingly on provable outcomes and measurable returns on their investment in higher education.

Cabinet members and executive leaders should use this briefing to identify the trends most likely to impact their institutions and to prioritize actions that can rebuild public trust. Download the report to explore these challenges in more depth.

Download the Report