Over half still believe American Dream achievable in 2026

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

AMERICANS STILL BELIEVE IN THE AMERICAN DREAM, BUT WHO BELIEVES IN IT MOST MIGHT SURPRISE YOU.

A NEW SURVEY OF 2,000 AMERICANS FROM NATIONAL DEBT RELIEF FINDS NEARLY SIX IN TEN STILL THINK THE AMERICAN DREAM IS POSSIBLE, BUT HISPANIC AMERICANS ARE EVEN MORE OPTIMISTIC.

SIXTY-ONE PERCENT OF HISPANIC RESPONDENTS SAY THE DREAM IS ACHIEVABLE TODAY, COMPARED TO 55 PERCENT OF NON-HISPANIC AMERICANS… AND MORE THAN HALF OF HISPANICS BELIEVE THEY’LL PERSONALLY REACH IT.

EVEN WITH HIGHER LEVELS OF DEBT AND FINANCIAL STRESS, THAT OPTIMISM HOLDS, WITH MANY POINTING TO GOALS LIKE OWNING A HOME, BEING DEBT-FREE AND FEELING FINANCIALLY STABLE.

THE STUDY, CONDUCTED BY TALKER RESEARCH, ALSO FOUND SEVEN IN TEN AMERICANS CURRENTLY HAVE SOME FORM OF DEBT, WITH MANY SAYING IT LEAVES THEM FEELING OVERWHELMED OR ANXIOUS.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? IS THE AMERICAN DREAM STILL ALIVE TODAY? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

Research methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 1,000 Census-representative Hispanics (split evenly between Spanish-speaking and non-Spanish-speaking) and 1,000 Census-representative non-Hispanics who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by National Debt Relief and administered online by Talker Research between March 6 and 16, 2026. A link to the questionnaire can be found here.

To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research Process and Methodology page.