Democracy Dies in DarknessHigher EducationGoing to college works out financially for most students, a report shows, but the benefits depend greatly on the types of programs they enroll in.May 14, 2026 at 5:00 a.m. EDTToday at 5:00 a.m. EDTStudents learn construction skills at Revolution Workshop, a nonprofit organization in Chicago that prepares them for a trade union apprenticeship program. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)After years of public debate about the value of higher education, a study of nearly 1 million undergraduates provides fresh evidence that going to college pays off financially for most students.But the report released Thursday found that the benefits depend greatly on the type of degree, major, quality of the institutions, demographics of the students and whether students complete the programs.