Gen Zers were raised on an American Dream that’s slowly disappearing from view. They followed in the footsteps of their parents, who were once told that excelling in school and landing a spot at a top college would lead to success, a house, and a six-figure career—but broadly speaking, that’s no longer the case. People are pointing fingers at universities, demanding that they ease costs and provide students with the skills they need to find jobs.
Seven in 10 Americans say the U.S. higher education system is heading in the wrong direction, according to recent data from the Pew Research Center. It’s up from only about 56% of Americans who said the same in 2020, signaling growing discontent over tuition costs and the ability of colleges to set pupils up for gainful employment.
