Trust in Higher Ed Is Fractured | Salt Lake City News

Salt Lake City News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 16, 2026 · 1m

A new national poll reveals that nearly a quarter of Americans have little to no trust in colleges and universities — a sharp rise from a decade ago. Republicans lag behind Democrats in confidence, citing political bias, soaring tuition, and job readiness concerns. For believers, college still delivers critical thinking, informed citizenship, and career doors — though its value is being reevaluated in the age of AI. Meanwhile, Utah’s higher ed system earned national acclaim for governance and workforce innovation, even as some Utahns question their own institutions. The bottom line? Colleges…