New Study Reveals 91% of Families See Higher Education as Valuable Investment Despite Rising Costs

The "How America Pays for College 2026" study by Sallie Mae and Ipsos reports that 91% of families view higher education as a valuable investment, with 84% confident in their financial decisions for college. Families spent an average of $34,019 on college during the 2025-26 academic year, an increase from the previous year. Family income and savings covered nearly half of these costs, followed by scholarships/grants and borrowing.