Is College Still the American Dream? 63% of Voters Now Say It’s NOT Worth the Cost — What Changed?

大学还是美国梦吗？63%的选民现在认为不值这个价——到底哪里变了？

For decades, Americans were sold a story: study hard, get a degree, and the good life follows. Now that narrative is collapsing. The dream of stable marriage, homeownership, and retirement — all once tied to that diploma — is fading fast.

几十年来，美国人一直被灌输一个故事：努力学习，拿到学位，美好生活自然到来。如今这个叙事正在崩塌。曾经与文凭挂钩的稳定婚姻、买房和退休梦想，正迅速褪色。

A new poll shows 63% of voters think college isn’t worth it — up from just 40% a decade ago. Tuition has risen 312% since the 70s, but wages? Up 9%. Even grads are doubting their own choices. Is it any wonder?

一项新民调显示，63%的选民认为大学不值——十年前仅为40%。70年代以来学费上涨312%，工资呢？只涨了9%。连毕业生都在质疑自己的选择，这还奇怪吗？

Blue Collar Electrician (蓝领电工)

Finally, someone’s saying it. I’ve been telling my kids: trade school is where you actually make money. No debt, real skills, and I own a house at 42. My brother has a philosophy degree and drives for Uber. Guess who’s winning?

终于有人敢说了。我一直告诉孩子：去职业学校才是真能赚钱的路。没债务，有真本事，我42岁就买了房。我弟弟读的是哲学专业，现在开Uber。你说谁赢了？

Student Debt Counselor (学生债务咨询师)

Let’s not pretend all degrees are equal. Engineering and CS grads do fine. But the real crisis is in liberal arts — $80K in debt for a degree that pays $35K. That math doesn’t work.

别假装所有学位都一样。学工程和计算机的毕业生过得不错。但真正危机在文科——8万美元债务换一份3.5万美元的工作。这账根本算不过来。

Community College Professor (社区大学教授)

This narrative erases the role of public underfunding. Colleges used to be affordable because states subsidized them. Now that support’s gone, and we’ve privatized the cost onto students. Blaming the degree ignores the real villain: policy failure.

这种叙事忽略了公共资金削减的作用。大学曾经便宜，是因为州政府提供补贴。现在资助没了，成本全转嫁给学生。怪学位本身，是忽略了真正的元凶：政策失败。

Startup Founder (初创公司创始人)

Gen Z gets it. They’ve seen millennials crushed by debt and underemployed. Certifications, bootcamps, AI — you can build credibility without setting foot in a lecture hall.

Z世代懂这个。他们看到千禧一代被债务压垮，就业不足。考证、训练营、AI——你完全可以在不进教室的情况下建立个人信誉。

First Gen College Mom (第一代上大学的母亲)

I’m the first in my family to graduate. It wasn’t easy, but it opened doors. Not everyone’s path is the same. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

我是家里第一个大学毕业生。虽然不容易，但它为我打开了门路。每个人的道路都不一样。别把孩子和洗澡水一起倒掉了。

Blue Collar Electrician (蓝领电工)

Respect, but your degree opened doors in the 90s. Try walking into a bank with a sociology degree today and ask for a $300K mortgage. See how far ‘opening doors’ gets you.

尊重，但你的学位在90年代才管用。今天你拿着社会学学位走进银行申请30万美元房贷试试看。‘开门’这招能走多远？

Student Debt Counselor (学生债务咨询师)

Exactly. The ‘it worked for me’ argument ignores systemic shifts. We don’t blame homeowners for rising rents. Why blame students for unaffordable college?

正是如此。‘对我有效’的说法忽略了系统性变化。我们不会因房租上涨而责怪租客，为何要因大学昂贵而责怪学生？

Gen Z College Dropout (Z世代大学辍学生)

I left after sophomore year. Bootcamp, freelance UX, now I make 80K remote. My student loan? Zero. Boom.

我大二就退学了。参加了训练营，做自由职业UX设计，现在远程工作年入8万。我的助学贷款？零。搞定。

Is College Still the American Dream? 63% of Voters Now Say It’s NOT Worth the Cost — What Changed?

大学还是美国梦吗？63%的选民现在认为不值这个价——到底哪里变了？

大学还是美国梦的阶梯，还是已经变成债务陷阱？

哈佛的分数膨胀报告：我们终于准备好承认A-并不等于卓越了吗？