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SALT LAKE CITY -- What's the worth of an education these days? A new study says not much.

Pew researchers found that 57 percent of Americans say the U.S. higher education system is not worth the money students spend.

Cost and Value 57% say the higher education system in the U.S. fails to provide students with good value for their money.

75% say college is too expensive for most Americans to afford.

Of college graduates, 86% say that college has been a good investment for them personally. (General public)

"College tuitions have risen to record levels. College enrollment has risen to record levels. And college student debt burdens have risen to record levels," said Paul Taylor, executive vice president at the Pew Research Center. "And it has triggered a kind of new debate about, are we getting good value for our money?"

Taylor also says that an even larger majority of the public, 75 percent, say college is too expensive for most Americans to afford.

Researchers surveyed 2,142 adults 18 and older from March 15 - April 24, 2011. Participants answered several questions including: "Do you think students coming from public high schools into college, today, are better prepared or worse prepared or about the same as students 10 years ago?," said Taylor. "Nearly six in 10 say they're not as well-prepared and only about 7 percent say they're better prepared."

Taylor also said most students interviewed reported studying less than students did a decade ago. Those interviewed also answered questions about students' work ethic.

"Do you think students, once they get to college are studying as hard or harder or less-hard than students did a decade ago, in college?," said Taylor. "And once again, a majority said they're studying less hard and only 7 percent say they're studying harder."

The study is part of the Pew Research Center's Social and Demographic Trends project on the views of higher education. Respondents include: College graduates, the American public, and college presidents.

E-mail: niyamba@ksl.com

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