Public Attitudes Public Attitudes TowardToward

Higher EducationHigher EducationA New Survey from The National Center A New Survey from The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education for Public Policy and Higher Education

and Public Agendaand Public Agenda

Supported by the Lumina Foundation Supported by the Lumina Foundation for Education Making Opportunity for Education Making Opportunity

Affordable InitiativeAffordable Initiative

New SurveyNew Survey

Latest collaboration between the Latest collaboration between the National Center and Public AgendaNational Center and Public Agenda

Surveys going back to 1993Surveys going back to 1993 Current survey: 1000 AmericansCurrent survey: 1000 Americans Over-sample of parents, minority Over-sample of parents, minority

parentsparents Interviews with 25 opinion leadersInterviews with 25 opinion leaders Seven focus groupsSeven focus groups

Who We AreWho We Are

The National Center: The National Center: – Independent, nonpartisan, nonprofitIndependent, nonpartisan, nonprofit– Enhance opportunities to pursue high-Enhance opportunities to pursue high-

quality education beyond high schoolquality education beyond high school

Public Agenda:Public Agenda:– Nonpartisan, nonprofitNonpartisan, nonprofit– Opinion research and engagementOpinion research and engagement– Focuses on the gaps between leaders Focuses on the gaps between leaders

and the publicand the public

OverviewOverview

Growing importance of higher Growing importance of higher educationeducation

Coupled with growing anxietyCoupled with growing anxiety Confidence in higher Confidence in higher

education institutions, but . . education institutions, but . . More public skepticism – “the More public skepticism – “the

bloom is off the rose”bloom is off the rose”

A College Education: More A College Education: More Important than Ever, But . .Important than Ever, But . .

College is NECESSARY to participate in U.S. College is NECESSARY to participate in U.S. economyeconomy– 2000 – 31%2000 – 31%– 2003 – 37%2003 – 37%– 2007 – 50%2007 – 50%

67%: Employers want college, even for jobs that 67%: Employers want college, even for jobs that don’t require itdon’t require it

88%: We should not allow cost to keep qualified 88%: We should not allow cost to keep qualified students from attending collegestudents from attending college

62%: Many don’t have opportunity to attend 62%: Many don’t have opportunity to attend collegecollege

The Big Squeeze: More The Big Squeeze: More Important, but Declining Important, but Declining

OpportunityOpportunity

31

47

37

5750

62

010

203040

506070

8090

100

2000 2003 2007

CollegenecessaryMany can't go

Parents Are Worried, Parents Are Worried, but Copingbut Coping

76%: worried about costs76%: worried about costs 84%: we’ll find a way to work out 84%: we’ll find a way to work out

the coststhe costs Less than half (44%) think Less than half (44%) think

students are getting their students are getting their money’s worthmoney’s worth

Minority Parents Are Minority Parents Are More ConcernedMore Concerned Many don’t have opportunityMany don’t have opportunity

– Non-Hispanic white parents: 56%Non-Hispanic white parents: 56%– Hispanic parents: 67%Hispanic parents: 67%– African-American parents: 84%African-American parents: 84%

Ethnic/racial minorities have less Ethnic/racial minorities have less opportunityopportunity– Non-Hispanic whites parents: 14%Non-Hispanic whites parents: 14%– Hispanic parents: 30%Hispanic parents: 30%– African-American parents: 40%African-American parents: 40%

Higher-income minorities concerned tooHigher-income minorities concerned too– 7 in 10 higher income minority parents 7 in 10 higher income minority parents

say “many” don’t have opportunitysay “many” don’t have opportunity

““The Bloom Is Off The The Bloom Is Off The Rose”Rose” 52%: college more like a 52%: college more like a

“business,” focus on the bottom “business,” focus on the bottom lineline

44%: “waste and mismanagement” 44%: “waste and mismanagement” are “major” causes of high costare “major” causes of high cost

More willingness to blame colleges More willingness to blame colleges (vs. high schools or students) for (vs. high schools or students) for college dropouts college dropouts – 2000 10%2000 10%– 2007 25%2007 25%

State Colleges: An State Colleges: An Overhaul in the Offing?Overhaul in the Offing?

Percent Favoring OverhaulPercent Favoring Overhaul

54

33 3948 48

39

0

20

40

60

80

100

1993 1998 2007

Overhaul Leave system as is

Public Believes Public Believes Colleges Can Do MoreColleges Can Do More 58%: colleges could take 58%: colleges could take

more students without more students without harming qualityharming quality

56%: colleges could spend 56%: colleges could spend less and still maintain qualityless and still maintain quality

Support for Some Support for Some ReformsReforms 75%: Give grants and tax breaks to 75%: Give grants and tax breaks to

students to improve accessstudents to improve access 68%: Make greater use of two-year 68%: Make greater use of two-year

schoolsschools 67%: Making more efficient use of 67%: Making more efficient use of

facilities and distance learningfacilities and distance learning

But . . But . . 66% oppose reducing credits needed for 66% oppose reducing credits needed for

degreedegree 65% oppose consolidating programs, 65% oppose consolidating programs,

closing branchesclosing branches

Conclusions:Conclusions:

Broad recognition of Broad recognition of importance, high qualityimportance, high quality

But fault lines in public But fault lines in public supportsupport

More signs of concern, More signs of concern, skepticism, an undercurrent skepticism, an undercurrent of tougher questionsof tougher questions