Recent national polling shows public confidence in the four‑year degree has collapsed: an NBC News survey finds just one-third of voters now say a bachelor’s degree is worth the cost, a dramatic reversal from a decade earlier. Additional coverage documents that even graduates are increasingly skeptical, citing debt burdens, underemployment, and a tougher entry-level job market. The shift is bipartisan but sharper among Republicans; employers and higher-ed leaders say the trend pressures institutions to better align curricula with workforce needs, expand skills-based credentials, and demonstrate ROI. Career services, alternative credentials, and clearer employer partnerships are now top priorities for colleges seeking to counter eroding public trust and to stabilize enrollment pipelines.