I wonder how much of this is down to AI? Maybe not much yet. Concerns about it and employment have only started going mainstream in the 2020s. That suggests there is more decline ahead for people's regard for the worth of college education.
It's striking how much opinions differ according to politics. 39% of Republicans rate college as "Not too important", versus 9% of Democrats who feel the same way. The article wonders if the perceived left-wing bias of colleges is to blame. But if right-wing people desert colleges, won't that just make them more left-wing? The student body certainly will be, and that's where the future staff members come from.
Perceived Importance of College Hits New Low: The percentage of Americans saying college is "very important" has fallen to 35%
It's part of a greater shift in politics - the Democrats abandoning the working class to pick up upper-middle-class professionals and managers.
The Democrat had to study hard to get rich. The Republican just had to inherit his daddy's car dealership. Working people are left out of the equation altogether.