I came to college believing the whole "degree = stability" thing. But after reading this 2026 Texas Policy Agenda, I'm genuinely questioning everything .
The report says: "For a growing number of Texas students, higher education no longer feels like a reliable pathway to opportunity but a financial and personal risk" . That's exactly how I feel.
Apparently "trust in the state's institutions is eroding amid underfunding, politicized interference in curriculum, and the rollback of DEI efforts" . People are questioning whether a Texas degree has value beyond the state.
And financially? "Thirty-eight percent of Texas young adults report that their pay does not cover basic living expenses" . So I'm taking out loans, working myself to exhaustion, and might still not afford rent.
The workforce section says jobs are characterized by "low pay, unpredictability, and misalignment between training and real career outcomes" . Young adults say "job availability alone is not enough" — we need job quality, career clarity, and skills that actually lead somewhere .
Then there's the civic engagement piece: only "thirty-eight percent of Texas respondents identified as changemakers, the lowest among regions" . We don't feel empowered to change anything. The system just... happens to us.
I'm pre-med so maybe I'll be okay? But what if I don't get into med school? What if I end up with a biology degree and no job? The report says young adults want "a say in decisions that impact them, feel safe and accepted in their communities, and be valued for their contributions" . But right now, I feel none of those things.
For recent Texas graduates: was it worth it? Did you find a job that pays enough to live? Do you feel like your degree matters? I need real stories, not statistics.
The report says: "For a growing number of Texas students, higher education no longer feels like a reliable pathway to opportunity but a financial and personal risk" . That's exactly how I feel.
Apparently "trust in the state's institutions is eroding amid underfunding, politicized interference in curriculum, and the rollback of DEI efforts" . People are questioning whether a Texas degree has value beyond the state.
And financially? "Thirty-eight percent of Texas young adults report that their pay does not cover basic living expenses" . So I'm taking out loans, working myself to exhaustion, and might still not afford rent.
The workforce section says jobs are characterized by "low pay, unpredictability, and misalignment between training and real career outcomes" . Young adults say "job availability alone is not enough" — we need job quality, career clarity, and skills that actually lead somewhere .
Then there's the civic engagement piece: only "thirty-eight percent of Texas respondents identified as changemakers, the lowest among regions" . We don't feel empowered to change anything. The system just... happens to us.
I'm pre-med so maybe I'll be okay? But what if I don't get into med school? What if I end up with a biology degree and no job? The report says young adults want "a say in decisions that impact them, feel safe and accepted in their communities, and be valued for their contributions" . But right now, I feel none of those things.
For recent Texas graduates: was it worth it? Did you find a job that pays enough to live? Do you feel like your degree matters? I need real stories, not statistics.