Families still see college as a good investment — figuring out how to pay for it is the challenge

Even as concerns about return on investment rise, a college degree remains the goal for the vast majority of high school students, new data shows.

Ninety-five percent of families with high schoolers said their students will go on to college, according to Sallie’s new How America Plans for College report. Just 5% said that was an unlikely path after graduation.

For those interested in two- or four-year schools, most said it was for the skills training, career opportunities and higher earning potential, the education lender found. Roughly 82% of families with high school students considering college said they believe it will be worth the high cost. Sallie polled more than 2,000 adults and teens in January.

The rising price tag and growing student loan burden have played a large role in changing views about the higher education system, with students increasingly questioning the return on investment.

Many factors, including how much financial aid is offered and how much students have to pay out of pocket, as well as the choice of major, future earnings potential and how long it takes to graduate, help determine whether college pays off, according to a 2025 study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.