A new WalletHub survey of college students paints a picture of a generation under financial strain — questioning the financial return on tuition, feeling unprepared to manage money, and battling spending pressure from social platforms.
Why It Matters: The survey lands as outstanding student loan balances sit above $1.7 trillion and tuition continues to outpace inflation. Growing student skepticism about the value of college could shape enrollment, borrowing behavior, and demand for personal finance education on campus.
By The Numbers
WalletHub surveyed more than 200 full- and part-time students at two- and four-year schools, weighted to reflect U.S. demographics. Key findings:
- 28% don’t think their tuition is a good investment
- 52% say their school isn’t doing enough to make them financially literate
- 53% feel pressured by social media to spend beyond their means
- 33% say the federal government should not provide loans to schools with expensive tuition
- 30% rank student loan debt as their biggest post-graduation fear
Fear: Asked about their biggest post-graduation fear, students split four ways: 30% picked student loan debt, 29% said not finding a job, 25% chose credit card debt, and 16% said living with parents. Borrowing-related fears combined accounted for more than half of responses.
How This Connects: The findings track with separate research The College Investor has covered. A CFP Board survey of 2,025 undergraduates found 65% want more education on saving, investing, and managing debt — and 83% link financial well-being to their happiness. Federal data shows college costs have risen roughly three times faster than inflation since 1983, which helps explain why more than 1 in 4 students now question whether tuition pays off.
What's Next: Expect renewed pressure on colleges to expand personal finance curriculum, more debate over whether federal loans should flow to high-tuition programs, and continued scrutiny of how social platforms shape student spending. Schools that lean into financial literacy will likely set themselves up for a wealthier life.
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Editor: Colin Graves
Robert Farrington is the founder of The College Investor and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices on student loan debt and saving for college. He holds an MBA from UC San Diego Rady School of Management and has spent over 15 years researching, writing, and advising on student loans, 529 plans, financial aid programs, and saving and investing for young professionals.
Robert has been featured in the The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NBC News, and Forbes, where he has been a regular personal finance contributor for over a decade. His work combines both professional expertise and personal experience – he successfully navigated his own student loan repayment journey and has helped thousands of readers do the same.
He is committed to making the intersection of personal finance and education transparent and accessible. You can learn more about Robert on the About Page or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.