AP-NORC Poll Finds 33% Say American Dream Still Holds as US Nears 250th Anniversary
Updated
Updated · AP-NORC · Jun 8
AP-NORC Poll Finds 33% Say American Dream Still Holds as US Nears 250th Anniversary
3 articles · Updated · AP-NORC · Jun 8
Summary
One-third of U.S. adults say the American Dream still holds true, while 50% say it once did but no longer does ahead of the July 4, 2026 semiquincentennial.
The split has been broadly stable: 31% said the dream still held true in 2025 and 34% in 2024, while 15% now say it has never been true.
Partisan and demographic gaps are wide, with 57% of Republicans agreeing versus 24% of independents and 17% of Democrats; adults 60 and older are also far more optimistic than those ages 18-29.
Views track personal finances: adults who still believe in the American Dream are more likely to feel confident about finding a good job, saving for retirement, covering a medical emergency or buying a home.
The AP-NORC poll surveyed 2,596 adults on April 16-20 and carries a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.
As the old American Dream fades, what new definition of success is the next generation creating?
With net migration now negative, which countries are becoming the new global symbols of opportunity?
"51% of Americans Say the American Dream No Longer Exists: Insights from the 2026 AP-NORC Poll"
Overview
The 2026 AP-NORC America 250 survey, conducted with nearly 2,600 adults across the United States, reveals that belief in the American Dream remains surprisingly consistent between native-born and foreign-born Americans. This suggests that the idea of the American Dream continues to hold a strong, shared appeal, regardless of where people were born. The survey’s reliable methodology and broad sample highlight that, even as the nation faces challenges, the aspiration for opportunity and success still unites people from different backgrounds, reflecting a common cultural understanding that transcends national origin.