Only 14% Think a Bachelor’s Degree is Worth the $150,000 Price Tag

We would be lying if we said that it is not at all satisfying to see such a large percentage of Americans finally come around to the idea that the ROI just isn’t there for a bachelor’s degree. 

According to a November 2025 poll from our friends at Overton Insights (part of the Libertas Network), only 14% still believe a bachelor’s degree is worth its $150,000 average price tag, while 43% say it’s worth it only for specific degrees like medicine or law, and 38% say it’s not worth it under any circumstance.

The Myth Had Some Truth to It

We’ve all heard it: “you need a college degree to get a good job.” For decades, it has been insinuated that going to college, investing 4+ years of commitment and hard work, magically guarantees the career and salary of your dreams. This may have been true many years ago, but the reality is that “a degree guarantees a job” was more correlation than causation.

Here is what was actually happening: In 1940, only 4.6% of adults had degrees. These were the most driven individuals of their time. For employers, that scarcity translated into a sort of signal or indicator: hiring a college graduate meant hiring a highly skilled employee. The degree worked as a filter because it was evidence of commitment and dedication.

When Everyone Is Special, No One Is

Fast forward to 2020, and the rate of bachelor’s degrees amongst the adult population has increased by 715.2%. Yes, the filter stopped filtering. The once-trusty signal, now translates to “I just did what everyone else did,” and it isn’t doing employers any favors. 

Increasingly, we are seeing employers drop degree requirements and replace them with skill-based requirements. Think of this as a next-level filter that actually makes sense. Would you rather hire someone who reads books and writes papers on the field you’re hiring for, or someone who possesses the skills and/ or experience needed to do the actual job? And wouldn’t you know it, skill gaps are categorically considered the biggest barrier to business transformation. 

Guaranteed Job > College Degree

With so many questioning the ROI of a college degree and employers clearly pivoting toward skill-based hiring, people are done pretending credentials matter more than capabilities. The same November 2025 Overton Insights poll found that 57% would choose an unaccredited program that guarantees a well-paying job over an accredited degree with no guarantee.

The Alternative Is Already Here

This is why Praxis makes more sense now than ever. Our Accelerate program is a six-month skill development program with a job offer guarantee of at least $45,000. Praxians are working and earning, while others are still fulfilling their general education requirements. 

You aren’t confused or misguided for doubting that a college degree equals automagic success. You see the writing on the wall. Employers want skills, not transcripts. You want to launch your career, without the prestigious debt. Only 14% still believe in the old promise. The rest of us? We’re building something better at Praxis.