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Gen Z Might Be Changing Their Mind About Going to College

We ask middle and high school students if they plan to go to college, or if they feel it’s even necessary for their success…

Written and Edited by the YPulse Editorial Team

May 11 2023
North America

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Gen Z are significantly less likely to say they plan to go to college compared to 2019, with a –16pt difference
Now, the majority don’t think a college degree is necessary to be successful
In fact, middle school students are far more likely to say they need work experience to succeed, showing even the youngest of Gen Z are thinking of alternative future paths

While YPulse data shows the majority of Gen Z and Millennials now say we are in a post-pandemic era, that doesn’t mean that it hasn’t had lasting effects on their world view. And one thing that was seriously affected was their education, which made them rethink everything they thought they knew about the clear path to higher ed they’ve been following for most of their lives. As college decision day has just passed in America—the final day for students to commit to a college or university for the fall semester—we’ll be seeing if the downward trend for enrollment reported last...