U.S. Employers' Preference for Having a Degree, by Organization Size
Regardless of whether or not the roles you're often hiring for require a degree, which of the following best describes your preference regarding a candidate's education background?
Stacked bar chart showing that most employers prefer candidates who have a degree for the roles they hire for, regardless of the role's stated requirements. Smaller organizations are much more likely to prefer candidates have no degree, while larger companies prefer candidates who have a degree.
Lumina Foundation/Gallup, Aug. 5-18, 2026
