New research and polling show that more and more Americans now doubt a previously unquestioned fact of U.S. life — that going to college is worth it.

Paul Tough, a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, explains why so many high-school students and their parents are souring on higher education and what it will mean for the country’s future.

Guest: Paul Tough, a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine who has written several books on inequality in education.

Background reading: 

• Americans are losing faith in the value of college. Whose fault is that?
• In December, Colby-Sawyer in New Hampshire reduced its tuition to $17,500 a year, from about $46,000. The cut was a recognition that few pay the list price.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.