Americans' Perspectives on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) In Higher Education

What do Americans think about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in higher education? New America’s annual Varying Degrees survey seeks to better understand how Americans nationwide perceive higher education, and the data just released in summer 2024 show that, while partisan divides exist on some key questions, a majority of Amercians express support for actions that would improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. These findings come at a critical point in our history: across the nation, DEI policies and programs are under attack, particularly through the implementation of legislation in deep-red states. And, over a year after the Supreme Court gutted race-conscious admissions, the Students for Fair Admissions group is now challenging institutions like Yale, Duke, and Princeton over their admissions processes. Issues of DEI in higher education are highly politicized at this point in time, and our survey findings underscore this partisan divide.

This year’s survey asks if more should be done to recruit, admit, and ensure access to students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education—this is inclusive of racial minority, first-generation, low-income, and disabled students. Seven in ten Americans believe that colleges and universities should recruit and admit more students from these historically underserved backgrounds, and 77 percent think that the federal and state governments should ensure that students from these groups have access to higher education (See Figure 1).

Democrats are especially likely to endorse these ideas—88 percent think that colleges and universities should recruit and admit more students from historically underrepresented backgrounds, compared to just half (51 percent) of Republicans. Nine in ten Democrats additionally believe that the federal and state governments should ensure access to higher education for historically underserved students, compared with just 62 percent of Republicans. While the gap is wide between Democrats and Republicans on these questions, the share of Republicans that support more admission of underrepresented students is quite significant.

Varying Degrees also poses several questions that deal with matters of diversity in higher education. Two-thirds of Americans (64 percent) believe that colleges and universities should work to admit more students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds (See Figure 2). Again, we see that Democrats (88 percent) are especially more likely to endorse this idea than Republicans (41 percent). Americans of color also report a higher favorability on this question: approximately four in five Black Americans (79 percent) and two-thirds of Latinx and Asian Americans (77 percent each) think that colleges and universities should admit more racially and ethnically diverse students.

The majority of Americans further believe that the consideration of race in admissions can reduce societal racial inequalities (62 percent) and expand opportunity to enroll in higher education for historically underrepresented students (65 percent) (See Figure 3). When broken down by race, Black and Asian Americans are especially likely to endorse these statements. For both questions, Black Americans express agreement at a rate of 78 percent. Seventy-seven percent of Asian Americans agree that considering race in admissions helps to reduce racial inequalities in broader society, and 78 percent think that this consideration allows historically underrepresented students an expanded opportunity to enroll in higher education.

Ultimately, a strong majority of Americans see the value of a diverse student body: three in four Americans think that all students benefit when colleges and universities reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the United States (See Figure 4). Asian Americans are especially likely to endorse this sentiment at a rate of 85 percent, followed by Black Americans (82 percent). When broken down by party affiliation, Democrats are especially likely to agree (90 percent)—but the majority of Republicans ultimately agree as well (63 percent).

With diverse student bodies, though, it is also important to provide mentors that actively work to support these students. Existing research indicates that students of color may look up to faculty of color as role models, and this year’s Varying Degrees findings showcase that 65 percent of Americans think colleges and universities should hire more racially and ethnically diverse faculty members (See Figure 5). At a rate of 85 percent, Black Americans are especially likely to agree that colleges and universities should hire a more diverse faculty.

This year’s data underscore that ultimately, the majority of Americans view topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education favorably. Although there are some differences when broken down by party or racial lines, these findings indicate that the majority of Americans still see the value of a higher education system that is inclusive, resemblant of the United States’ diversity, and working towards being more accessible to those who have not always been effectively served by colleges and universities. These findings are especially critical considering they come during a time when DEI measures and affirmative action are continuously being attacked and heavily politicized across the United States.