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A6 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 12 November 2019
AP-NORC poll: Many youths say high school diploma is enough

By COLLIN BINKLEY and made $1,400 a week.Teens The finding was a surprise to college at all. Those from Education and the Work-
HANNAH FINGERHUT are especially likely to think some researchers who say wealthier families were also force. The transition to adult
Associated Press high school is a good path students — and their par- more likely to say their par- independence is taking
Although most young to success in today's econ- ents — often think of col- ents were helping pay for place later in life, he said.
Americans believe in the Education requirements
value of higher educa- for good jobs have grown,
tion, many still consider a and there are fewer avail-
high school diploma alone able to young people.
to be enough for success, Still, he said, there's evi-
according to a survey of dence that investments in
teens and young adults by college pay off.
The Associated Press-NORC "Eighty percent of four-year
Center for Public Affairs Re- college degrees do bring
search. sufficient earnings to pay
The findings alarm some ex- for the cost over a career,"
perts who say young Ameri- Carnevale said. "The truth
cans don't seem to be get- is, it's very hard for colleg-
ting the message that col- es at the four-year level to
lege pays off. Federal labor build programs that aren't
data shows a wide earn- worth the loan."
ings gap between Ameri- Debate over student debt
cans who do and do not and college affordability
have a college degree, has come to the fore re-
and unemployment rates cently as Democratic presi-
are far lower for those with dential candidates court
a bachelor's or master's de- young voters with prom-
gree. ises to make college free
More than half of Ameri- and erase debt. And many
cans ages 13 through 29 young Americans say they
do see college as a path like those ideas, the poll
to economic success, but found.
about 4 in 10 believe a Overall, 65% of young
bachelor's degree pre- Americans said they sup-
pares people only some- port making tuition free at
what well, or even poorly, In this April 15, 2019, file photo, instructors from Raphael House lead a classroom discussion about community colleges, an
for today's economy. consent and healthy relationships with a class of sophomores at Central Catholic High School in idea that has been adopt-
Meanwhile, about half said Portland, Ore. ed by some states and is
their high school education Associated Press being proposed nationally
has provided the skills they by Democrats including
need to get a good job omy, while young adults lege only as a bachelor's tuition and many forms of former Vice President Joe
right after they graduate. were less likely to say so, degree. college preparation. Biden.
And 45% say a high school 51% versus 42%. And there "That's not what I would ex- McKay said the findings sug- Meanwhile, 60% support
diploma is good prepara- were stark differences by pect to see," said Heather gest students are steering plans to make tuition free
tion for future successful race: At least half young McKay, director of the toward education choices at all public colleges and
workers. black and Hispanic Ameri- Education and Employ- they think they can afford. universities, a proposal
Researchers disputed cans said high school is ment Research Center at "It's a little bit saddening," that's supported by Sens.
that notion, saying it has a good path to success, Rutgers University. "It's really she said. "We need to do a Elizabeth Warren and Ber-
been decades since a compared with 41% of great that young people better job of educating stu- nie Sanders.
high school diploma was young white Americans. are thinking of these alter- dents and parents on that Both ideas have wider sup-
enough to earn a good liv- More than any type of natives, because there are life-long learning pathway, port from Democrats, but
ing. degree, 73% of young some really good non-de- and the value of different each one had backing
"With a high school diploma Americans said they think gree credential options out kinds of education." from nearly half of young
alone, it's very hard to earn job experience is good there." A common thread among Republicans.
the kinds of wages one preparation for success. The survey also found dis- many young Americans is Young Americans also
would need to support a Their esteem for practical parities in the types of col- a concern over the cost widely support plans al-
family," said Thomas Brock, experience is shared by leges young Americans of education. Nearly 8 in lowing student debt to be
director of the Community the Trump administration, choose. Overall, 3 in 4 said 10 said they think college refinanced and plans to
College Research Cen- which has pushed to ex- they plan to attend some affordability is a very or ex- forgive debt for households
ter at Columbia University. pand apprenticeship pro- type of college or have al- tremely serious problem, earning less than $100,000
"There's just such a strong grams, and experts say it ready done so. For about and a majority said they a year, the poll found.
association between em- reflects today's economy, half, their plans included a were at least somewhat Despite their reservations
ployment rates, as well as in which more employers four-year university, while concerned about debt. Of about debt and afford-
earnings, and education." require internships or other about a quarter opted for those with college plans, ability, young Americans
In 2018, the median earn- work experience. community college or vo- a majority said they were ultimately see value in col-
ings for workers with only a While 6 in 10 said a bach- cational school. Another borrowing or planning to lege. Only about a quarter
high school diploma was elor's degree is a route to quarter had no college borrow loans to pay for tu- said attending a four-year
$730 a week, according success, an equal number plans. ition. college brings more disad-
to the U.S. Bureau of Labor said they see vocational Wealthier Americans were In some ways, young vantages than advantag-
Statistics. For those with a school as good prepara- more likely to pursue four- Americans are right to be es. More than 7 in 10 said
bachelor's degree, it was tion, and about half see year universities, while those worried, said Anthony Car- college brings more ben-
$1,200, while those with a the same value in an asso- from poorer families leaned nevale, director of George- efits or that the balance is
master's degree typically ciate degree. toward other options or no town University's Center on equal.q