Survey: What 2026 Grads Are Really Worried About

Graduation season is upon us. For many, the moments that once felt off in the distance are becoming front-and-center.

That includes loans. This year, more than 43 million Americans carried federal student loans, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid office (seen on the U.S. Congress’s official site). Many graduates are already wondering how they will support themselves once they have to start paying back their loans, says Shannon Pettypiece with CNBC.

Just in time for graduation, WalletHub, a personal finance site, has released its 2026 Student Money Survey that shows what students are really thinking as they step into their next chapters.

One of the biggest takeaways is that more than 25% of students don’t think their tuition is a good investment. That’s one-in-every-four students.

WHY STUDENTS FEEL SET UP TO FAIL FINANCIALLY

Students who are graduating this season are also incredibly frustrated with who is receiving loans. According to the survey, 1-in-3 students think the federal government shouldn’t provide loans for schools with extremely high tuition.

That’s a pretty strong stance that shows just how fed-up students are with the cost of higher education. Also, 53% feel pressured by social media to spend beyond their means.

Another layer to this problem is the lack of basic financial preparation students receive before taking on debt. More than half of students, 52%, say their school isn’t doing enough to teach them financial literacy.

“In some respects, students are being set up to fail right now,” says WalletHub editor John Kiernan. “They’re being pushed to take on massive amounts of debt to afford overpriced schools that may or may not help them get a job after graduation, and they’re not being taught even the basics of money management.”

Though he believes the system might be flawed, he also says students can take this into their own hands and learn themselves. “All you really need is a low-cost bank account, a good credit card, and some common sense,” says Kiernan.

Which credit cards are great for grads? WalletHub has offered a bit of a reprieve to help students with this. Their editors released the Best Credit Cards for 2026 Graduates, and the top pick is the Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card, which has no annual fee and up to 1.5% cash back on some purchases. It’s designed for those with little or no credit history – so this is a smart starting point for graduates trying to build financial independence without getting hit with unnecessary fees.

Next Page: Survey – What Employers Are Seeking From Graduates

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