Varying Degrees 2023
Survey
Aug. 2023
Sample Size:
1,497
Demographics:
US adults
Topics:
Student Support
Value
Accountability
Affordability
Equity
Diversity And Inclusion
Funding
Partisan Divide
Student Loans
Top Findings:
- Nearly three in four Americans believe that those with undergraduate credentials (i.e., certificate, associate, or bachelor’s degree) have greater earnings from their employment (73 percent) and better access to jobs that pay a living wage (70 percent), and two in three believe that these individuals also have better financial well-being (65 percent) and opportunities to build wealth (67 percent) than those with only a high school degree.
- Nearly 8 in 10 (78 percent) Democrats think that the government should fund higher education because it provides benefits to society. On the other hand, nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of Republicans believe students should fund education beyond high school because they personally benefit. Over the years, Democrats and Republicans have not gotten any closer on this question.
- Americans broadly support GE provisions; 79 percent support the idea that programs should lose eligibility for federal financial aid if they consistently leave students deeply in debt relative to their earnings, and 78 percent support the loss of eligibility if programs consistently fail to help graduates earn more than those who complete only a high school diploma. Democrats and Republicans support both at similarly high rates.
- Two-thirds of Americans believe that everyone has an equal opportunity to enroll in education beyond high school (65 percent) and complete their program of study (65 percent). However, less than half agree that higher education is affordable for anyone who wishes to pursue it (48 percent).
- Three-fourths of Americans agree that all students benefit when colleges and universities reflect the racial diversity of the U.S. (78 percent). A majority also believe that higher education institutions should admit more students (69 percent) and hire more faculty and staff members (68 percent) from racially diverse backgrounds.