The Brief Only 35% of Americans now say college is very important, down from 75% in 2010. Census data shows 2024 median earnings of $91,250 for college graduates versus $50,640 for high school grads. Americans’ belief in the necessity of a college degree has dropped sharply over the past decade. Yet Census Bureau data shows that college still pays off in significant ways, with median earnings for degree holders nearly double those of high school graduates. In 2010, college graduates earned about $85,540 on average, while high school graduates earned $48,650 — a divide that has widened slightly in dollar terms over the past 15 years.