Americans Want to See Increased State Investment to Improve College Affordability

Growing up, Jenny found herself fascinated by the hospitality industry—resorts, restaurants, and event management all captivated her. After graduating from high school in suburban Las Vegas, Jenny went on to pursue her Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Following four years of hard work and dedication, Jenny graduated from UNLV and went on to pursue a hospitality career on the Las Vegas Strip, where she contributes to the state’s workforce and tax base. Nevada politicians often tell success stories like Jenny’s—a tale of the power of public higher education.

Yet despite countless testimonials like Jenny’s, Nevada’s higher education spending hasn’t returned to levels seen since the Great Recession, similar to trends seen across the nation. Like many states, Nevada’s spending for public higher education can fluctuate and is at risk of significant cuts when faced with budget uncertainty and the risk of an economic recession.

The latest Varying Degrees, New America’s annual survey that examines perspectives of U.S. higher education, finds that a majority of Americans support increasing state higher education funding. Even though Americans are frustrated with the status quo of higher education, they still believe that postsecondary credentials offer a positive return on investment and want to see these opportunities become more affordable. Public colleges and universities remain where most students access higher education—40 percent of college students were enrolled at a public four-year institution, and 31 percent were enrolled in a public two-year institution, during the spring 2025 term.

This blog reveals how Americans view public funding for higher education and the role of states in strengthening this investment.

A slight majority of Americans (54 percent) believe that state and federal governments underfund public community colleges. Slightly less than half (48 percent) believe they underfund public four-year colleges. Americans are less likely to feel that private and for-profit colleges lack funding. About one in three (36 percent) and another 28 percent think policymakers underfinance private nonprofit institutions and for-profit institutions, respectively. (see Figure 1).

Americans are split on these questions by political party affiliation. Democrats are the most likely to believe that colleges of all types are underfunded. About seven in ten Democrats (68 percent) think that public community colleges are underfunded, compared to 44 percent of Republicans. Two-thirds of Democrats (64 percent) and one in three Republicans (33 percent) believe that public four-year institutions are underfunded.

Opinion differences also emerge between white and non-white Americans. Just around half of white Americans (49 percent) believe public community colleges are underfunded, versus two-thirds of Black Americans (68 percent), 58 percent of Hispanic Americans, and seven in ten Asian Americans (see Figure 2). White Americans (42 percent) are also less likely than Black Americans (62 percent), Hispanic Americans (55 percent), and Asian Americans (62 percent) to think of public four year institutions as underfunded.

Since 2018, Varying Degrees has posed the question of who should bear more responsibility for funding higher education: the government or students. A majority of Americans consistently indicate that the government should be primarily responsible for funding, however this share has declined steadily since 2018 (see Figure 3).

Other survey questions break down the issue further, asking whether state governments, the federal government, students and families through their income and savings, or students and families through loans should primarily finance higher education. About one in three Americans (36 percent) think that the federal government should be mainly responsible for funding postsecondary opportunities, and one in five Americans (18 percent) believe state governments should be mainly responsible. When asked who should be the second-most responsible, 16 percent say the federal government and 38 percent think that state governments should be second-most responsible (see Figure 4).

The discussion on whether the government or students should fund higher education has always driven a partisan divide—responses to these questions are no different. A majority of Democrats believe the government, either through federal or state funding, should be mainly or second-most responsible for funding higher education, while a majority of Republicans believe that students (either through their own fund or loans) should be primarily responsible.

Even when Americans can be split on who should fund higher education, a majority still want to see increased investment from the government in improving college affordability. Approximately eight in ten Americans (79 percent) believe states should spend more public funding to boost two-year college affordability. Three in four (75 percent) think that states should devote additional tax dollars to make public four-year colleges more affordable (see Figure 5). About three in four Americans (74 percent) also believe that the federal government should spend more tax dollars to boost higher education affordability.

Strong support for more state tax dollars going to public community colleges persists across party lines: nine in ten Democrats (89 percent) and seven in ten Republicans (69 percent) believe in this idea. Majorities of both groups also believe that states should spend more tax dollars on making public four-year institutions more affordable, with nine in ten Democrats and six in ten Republicans in favor. Although partisan differences do exist, Americans across the political spectrum want to see increased state support for public higher education opportunities.

Varying Degrees also demonstrates that Americans are supportive of states fostering more equitable colleges and universities. One question asks if state and federal governments should work to ensure that students from historically underrepresented backgrounds have access to higher education, finding that three in four Americans (74 percent) agree. When broken down by party affiliation, nine in ten Democrats (91 percent) and six in ten Republicans (61 percent) support this statement (see Figure 6).

Helping low-income students secure financial support is key to making college accessible. Around three in four Americans (78 percent) think states should provide more need-based grants to help low-income students go to college (see Figure 7). Support is highest among Democrats (91 percent) but still strong among a majority of Republicans (65 percent).

It is not enough to simply get students from historically underserved backgrounds in the door of college. Students often need support such as academic advising and financial aid to get them to the finish line. Eight in ten Americans (79 percent) believe that state and federal governments should ensure they adequately fund colleges so institutions can provide these student support services. Over nine in ten Democrats (93 percent) and two in three Republicans (67 percent) endorse this idea (see Figure 8).

This year’s Varying Degrees findings highlight that Americans do see higher education as more than just an individual good—in fact, it is a public good that serves states. When state residents pursue a postsecondary credential, their communities reap the benefits of increased tax revenues, a highly educated workforce, and a more civically engaged population.

Americans wish to see increased state support for higher education so that it can become more affordable and accessible to students. Even as state funding for higher education can be at risk of fluctuating due to the economic downturns, states need to maintain support for higher education so that their residents can continue developing career-advancing skills and maintaining a buffer against unemployment during uncertain times.

Varying Degrees 2025 surveyed 1,631 American adults using NORC’s AmeriSpeak Panel. The final sample is inclusive of oversamples of African Americans, Asian/Pacific Islander Americans, and Hispanic Americans, and the findings have a margin of error of ±3.23 percentage points.