WGBH News/Abt Associates Higher Education Poll: Topline Data

WGBH/ABT ASSOCIATES – August 21 – August 25, 2018 Survey
FINAL DATA-August 26, 2018

BASE= 1,002 Except Where Noted
Results have a 3.5 point margin of error
Q1. GENERALLY SPEAKING, DO YOU HAVE A FAVORABLE OR UNFAVORABLE IMPRESSION OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES?
TOTAL
=======
FAVORABLE, STRONGLY 41%

FAVORABLE, SOMEWHAT 26%
UNFAVORABLE, SOMEWHAT 11%
UNFAVORABLE, STRONGLY 11%

NO ANSWER/DON'T KNOW 11%
Q2. AND DO YOU HAVE A FAVORABLE OR UNFAVORABLE IMPRESSION OF THE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY NEAREST TO WHERE YOU
LIVE?
TOTAL
=======
FAVORABLE, STRONGLY 46%
FAVORABLE, SOMEWHAT 24%
UNFAVORABLE, SOMEWHAT 8%
UNFAVORABLE, STRONGLY 8%
NO COLLEGE ANYWHERE NEAR 2%

WHERE I LIVE
Q3. AND IS THAT A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOL?

BASE: FAVORABLE OR UNFAVORABLE IN Q2 (872)
TOTAL
=======
PUBLIC 75%
PRIVATE 20%
Q4A. OVERALL, DO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HAVE A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE IMPACT ON SOCIETY GENERALLY?
TOTAL
=======
POSITIVE 77%
NEGATIVE 14%
NEITHER POSITIVE NOR 5%
NEGATIVE
* = less than 1%
- = question not asked/zero respondents
Q4B. OVERALL, DO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HAVE A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE SURROUNDING LOCAL
COMMUNITY?
TOTAL
=======
POSITIVE 81%
NEGATIVE 11%
NEITHER POSITIVE NOR 4%
NEGATIVE
Q5A. PLEASE TELL ME WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS...MOST COLLEGE STUDENTS'
BACKGROUNDS AND VALUES ARE SIMILAR TO MINE?
TOTAL
=======
AGREE 50%
DISAGREE 41%
NEITHER AGREE NOR 4%

DISAGREE
Q5B. PLEASE TELL ME WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS...COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES,
INCLUDING STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS, HELP THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED?
TOTAL
=======
AGREE 74%
DISAGREE 20%

DISAGREE
Q5C. PLEASE TELL ME WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS...COLLEGE GRADUATES ARE
ELITIST?
TOTAL
=======
AGREE 31%
DISAGREE 59%

DISAGREE
* = less than 1%
Q5D. PLEASE TELL ME WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS...GRADUATES OF IVY LEAGUE
COLLEGES, LIKE HARVARD OR YALE, ARE ELITIST?
TOTAL
=======
AGREE 54%
DISAGREE 34%
DISAGREE
Q6A. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORABLE OR UNFAVORABLE OPINION OF PRIVATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES?
TOTAL
=======
FAVORABLE 59%
UNFAVORABLE 24%
Q6B. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORABLE OR UNFAVORABLE OPINION OF PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES?
TOTAL
=======
FAVORABLE 76%
UNFAVORABLE 16%
Q8. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS BEST FITS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PURPOSE OF GOING TO COLLEGE?
TOTAL
=======
PURSUE A PASSION ABOUT A 9%

PARTICULAR SUBJECT
GAIN KNOWLEDGE 16%
LEARN HOW TO DO A 10%

SPECIFIC JOB
PREPARE TO BECOME A 3%
LEADER
BECOME EDUCATED SO YOU 25%

CAN BE TRAINED TO DO
DIFFERENT JOBS
BECOME A BETTER CITIZEN 6%
PERSONAL GROWTH THROUGH 10%

SOCIAL EXPERIENCES
SOMETHING ELSE (SPECIFY) 4%

NO REASON TO ATTEND 1%
COLLEGE
ANY TWO OR MORE EQUALLY 14%
* = less than 1%
Q9. COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HAVE TRADITIONALLY ARGUED THEY ARE BENIGN INSTITUTIONS SERVING THE 'PUBLIC
GOOD'. OTHERS SEE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AS SELF-SERVING INSTITUTIONS THAT DON'T DO MUCH FOR ANYONE OUTSIDE
THEIR CAMPUSES. HOW ABOUT YOU, DO YOU SEE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE BENIGN INSTITUTIONS SERVING THE
'PUBLIC GOOD' OR AS SELF-SERVING INSTITUTIONS THAT DON'T DO MUCH FOR ANYONE OUTSIDE THEIR CAMPUSES?
TOTAL
=======
BENIGN INSTITUTION'S 57%

SERVING THE 'PUBLIC
GOOD'
SELF-SERVING 30%
INSTITUTIONS THAT DON'T
DO MUCH FOR ANYONE
OUTSIDE THEIR CAMPUSES

Q10. WHOM DO COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITIES BENEFIT MOST?
TOTAL
=======
STUDENTS 38%
THE SURROUNDING 10%

COMMUNITY
THE STATE ECONOMY, OR 19%
THE PUBLIC AT LARGE 19%
NONE 2%
ANY TWO OR MORE EQUALLY 5%
Q12. CONSIDERING THE COSTS TO ATTEND COLLEGE VERSUS THE BENEFITS OF GRADUATING, DO YOU THINK COLLEGE IS WORTH
ATTENDING, OR NOT?
TOTAL
=======
YES, WORTH ATTENDING, 43%

STRONGLY
YES, WORTH ATTENDING, 25%

SOMEWHAT
NO, NOT WORTH 11%

ATTENDING, SOMEWHAT
NO, NOT WORTH 17%

ATTENDING, STRONGLY
* = less than 1%
Q13. DO YOU THINK GRADUATING COLLEGE IS NECESSARY TO GET AHEAD IN LIFE, OR NOT?
TOTAL
=======
YES, STRONGLY 28%

YES, SOMEWHAT 14%
NO, SOMEWHAT 19%
NO, STRONGLY 36%

Q15A. THE COST OF ATTENDING COLLEGE CONTINUES TO RISE. DO YOU THINK FEDERAL STUDENT AID COVERING COST
INCREASES IS A MAJOR REASON COSTS KEEP RISING, A MINOR REASON OR NOT A REASON?
TOTAL
=======
MAJOR REASON 36%
MINOR REASON 31%
NOT A REASON 25%
Q15B. THE COST OF ATTENDING COLLEGE CONTINUES TO RISE. DO YOU THINK COLLEGES HIRING MORE ADMINISTRATORS IS A
MAJOR REASON COSTS KEEP RISING, A MINOR REASON OR NOT A REASON?
TOTAL
=======
MAJOR REASON 35%
MINOR REASON 38%
NOT A REASON 18%
Q15C. THE COST OF ATTENDING COLLEGE CONTINUES TO RISE. DO YOU THINK HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR FACULTY AND STAFF IS
A MAJOR REASON COSTS KEEP RISING, A MINOR REASON OR NOT A REASON?
TOTAL
=======
MAJOR REASON 31%
MINOR REASON 40%
NOT A REASON 22%

* = less than 1%
Q15D. THE COST OF ATTENDING COLLEGE CONTINUES TO RISE. DO YOU THINK THE COST OF PAYING FACULTY AND STAFF IS A
MAJOR REASON COSTS KEEP RISING, A MINOR REASON OR NOT A REASON?
TOTAL
=======
MAJOR REASON 38%
MINOR REASON 41%

NOT A REASON 16%
Q15E. THE COST OF ATTENDING COLLEGE CONTINUES TO RISE. DO YOU THINK THE COST OF NEW RESIDENTIAL AND ATHLETIC
FACILITIES IS A MAJOR REASON COSTS KEEP RISING, A MINOR REASON OR NOT A REASON?
TOTAL
=======
MAJOR REASON 44%
MINOR REASON 34%
NOT A REASON 16%
Q17. HOW CONCERNED WOULD YOU BE IF YOUR STATE DECIDED TO REDUCE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES -
WOULD YOU BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, SOMEWHAT CONCERNED, NOT SO CONCERNED OR NOT CONCERNED AT ALL?
TOTAL
=======
VERY CONCERNED 48%
SOMEWHAT CONCERNED 30%
NOT SO CONCERNED 11%
NOT CONCERNED AT ALL 11%
Q18. WOULD YOU SUPPORT OR OPPOSE PAYING HIGHER TAXES SO THAT MORE RESIDENTS OF YOUR STATE COULD AFFORD TO
ATTEND A STATE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY?
TOTAL
=======
SUPPORT 47%
OPPOSE 49%
* = less than 1%
Q22. SOME COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACCEPT DONATIONS THAT THEY PUT INTO INVESTMENT FUNDS CALLED ENDOWMENTS
THAT HELP FINANCE THEIR OPERATIONS. DO YOU THINK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES SHOULD PAY TAXES ON THEIR
ENDOWMENTS, OR NOT?
TOTAL
=======
SHOULD PAY TAXES 43%
SHOULD NOT PAY TAXES 50%
Q23. GENERALLY SPEAKING, ARE POLITICS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES NONPARTISAN OR DO THEY LEAN TOWARD ONE PARTICULAR
VIEWPOINT?
TOTAL
=======
NONPARTISAN 28%
LEAN TOWARD ONE 59%

PARTICULAR VIEWPOINT
Q23A. DO YOU THINK COLLEGE CAMPUSES LEAN MORE LIBERAL OR MORE CONSERVATIVE?
BASE: LEAN TOWARD VIEWPOINT (621)
TOTAL
=======
LIBERAL 77%
CONSERVATIVE 15%
SOMETHING ELSE 3%
Q23B. AND IS THIS A MAJOR PROBLEM, MINOR PROBLEM OR NOT A PROBLEM?

BASE: LEAN TOWARD VIEWPOINT (621)
TOTAL
=======
MAJOR PROBLEM 47%
MINOR PROBLEM 32%
NOT A PROBLEM 20%

Q24. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT STUDENTS ARE HEARING A FULL RANGE OF VIEWPOINTS OR PERSPECTIVES ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES,
OR NOT?
TOTAL
=======
YES, HEARING A FULL 42%
RANGE OF VIEWPOINTS
NO, NOT HEARING A FULL 51%

RANGE OF VIEWPOINTS
* = less than 1%
Q26. MOST COLLEGES SAY THEY WELCOME AND RESPECT ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE. IN LIGHT OF THIS, SHOULD COLLEGES INVITE
SPEAKERS TO CAMPUS WHO HAVE OFFENDED OTHERS WITH THEIR SPEECH, OR SHOULD COLLEGES NOT INVITE PEOPLE WHOSE
SPEECH MAY BE DEEMED AS OFFENSIVE?
TOTAL
=======
SHOULD INVITE 57%
SHOULD NOT INVITE 32%
DEPENDS 8%
Q27. CURRENTLY, MOST COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ADMIT STUDENTS BASED ON A VARIETY OF FACTORS. SOME FEEL THAT
COLLEGES SHOULD ADMIT STUDENTS STRICTLY BASED ON THEIR GRADES IN HIGH SCHOOL AND SCORES ON COLLEGE PLACEMENT
EXAMS, SUCH AS THE SAT AND ACT. HOW ABOUT YOU, DO YOU FEEL COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SHOULD CONSIDER A WIDE VARIETY
OF FACTORS OR SHOULD ADMISSIONS BE BASED SOLELY ON GRADES AND COLLEGE PLACEMENT EXAMS?
TOTAL
=======
VARIETY OF FACTORS 70%
SOLELY ON GRADES AND 27%

EXAMS
SOMETHING ELSE 1%
Q28A. MORE SPECIFICALLY, DO YOU FEEL COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SHOULD CONSIDER ATHLETIC TALENT IN DECIDING WHICH
STUDENTS TO ADMIT, OR NOT?
BASE: SHOULD CONSIDER A VARIETY OF FACTORS (714)
TOTAL
=======
SHOULD CONSIDER 60%
SHOULD NOT CONSIDER 37%
Q28B. MORE SPECIFICALLY, DO YOU FEEL COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SHOULD CONSIDER MUSICAL TALENT IN DECIDING WHICH
STUDENTS TO ADMIT, OR NOT?
TOTAL
=======
SHOULD CONSIDER 72%
* = less than 1%
Q28C. MORE SPECIFICALLY, DO YOU FEEL COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SHOULD CONSIDER LEADERSHIP IN DECIDING WHICH STUDENTS
TO ADMIT, OR NOT?
TOTAL
=======
SHOULD CONSIDER 73%
Q28D. MORE SPECIFICALLY, DO YOU FEEL COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SHOULD CONSIDER OVERCOMING HARDSHIPS SUCH AS POVERTY
OR HEALTH PROBLEMS IN DECIDING WHICH STUDENTS TO ADMIT, OR NOT?
TOTAL
=======
SHOULD CONSIDER 83%
Q29. THE SUPREME COURT HAS DECIDED COLLEGES CAN USE RACE AS ONE FACTOR IN DECIDING WHICH APPLICANTS TO ADMIT.
DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THIS RULING?
TOTAL
=======
AGREE 24%
DISAGREE 72%
Q30. IN YOUR OPINION, HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO HAVE A DIVERSE STUDENT BODY, IN
TERMS OF RACE AND ETHNICITY - WOULD YOU SAY EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, VERY IMPORTANT, SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT, NOT SO
IMPORTANT OR NOT IMPORTANT AT ALL?
TOTAL
=======
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT 38%

VERY IMPORTANT 26%
SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT 22%
NOT SO IMPORTANT 6%
NOT IMPORTANT AT ALL 7%
* = less than 1%
Q31A. DO YOU THINK MOST COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES DO A GOOD JOB OF LOOKING AFTER THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF
THEIR STUDENTS, OR NOT?
TOTAL
=======
YES, DO A GOOD JOB 37%
NO, DO NOT DO A GOOD JOB 50%

Q31B. DO YOU THINK MOST COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES DO A GOOD JOB OF PROTECTING STUDENTS FROM SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR
NOT?
TOTAL
=======

Q31C. DO YOU THINK MOST COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES DO A GOOD JOB OF PROVIDING A SAFE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT FOR
STUDENTS, OR NOT?
TOTAL
=======
* = less than 1%

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WGBH/ABT ASSOCIATES – August 21 – August 25, 2018 Survey

FINAL DATA-August 26, 2018

FAVORABLE, STRONGLY 41%

UNFAVORABLE, SOMEWHAT 11%

UNFAVORABLE, STRONGLY 11%

FAVORABLE, STRONGLY 46%

FAVORABLE, SOMEWHAT 24%

NO COLLEGE ANYWHERE NEAR 2%

NO ANSWER/DON'T KNOW 12%

Q3. AND IS THAT A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOL?

NEITHER AGREE NOR 4%

NEITHER AGREE NOR 3%

NEITHER AGREE NOR 4%

NO ANSWER/DON'T KNOW 17%

PURSUE A PASSION ABOUT A 9%

GAIN KNOWLEDGE 16%

LEARN HOW TO DO A 10%

BECOME EDUCATED SO YOU 25%

BECOME A BETTER CITIZEN 6%

PERSONAL GROWTH THROUGH 10%

SOMETHING ELSE (SPECIFY) 4%

ANY TWO OR MORE EQUALLY 14%

BENIGN INSTITUTION'S 57%

SOMETHING ELSE (SPECIFY) 4%

Q10. WHOM DO COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITIES BENEFIT MOST?

THE SURROUNDING 10%

THE STATE ECONOMY, OR 19%

THE PUBLIC AT LARGE 19%

SOMETHING ELSE (SPECIFY) 5%

ANY TWO OR MORE EQUALLY 5%

YES, WORTH ATTENDING, 43%

YES, WORTH ATTENDING, 25%

NO, NOT WORTH 11%

NO, NOT WORTH 17%

YES, STRONGLY 28%

NO, SOMEWHAT 19%

NO, STRONGLY 36%

MAJOR REASON 36%

MINOR REASON 31%

NOT A REASON 25%

MAJOR REASON 35%

MINOR REASON 38%

NOT A REASON 18%

MINOR REASON 40%

NOT A REASON 22%

MAJOR REASON 38%

MINOR REASON 41%

MINOR REASON 34%

NOT A REASON 16%

VERY CONCERNED 48%

SOMEWHAT CONCERNED 30%

NOT SO CONCERNED 11%

NOT CONCERNED AT ALL 11%

SHOULD NOT PAY TAXES 50%

LEAN TOWARD ONE 59%

NO ANSWER/DON'T KNOW 12%

Q23B. AND IS THIS A MAJOR PROBLEM, MINOR PROBLEM OR NOT A PROBLEM?

MINOR PROBLEM 32%

NOT A PROBLEM 20%

NO, NOT HEARING A FULL 51%

SHOULD NOT INVITE 32%

VARIETY OF FACTORS 70%

SOLELY ON GRADES AND 27%

SHOULD CONSIDER 60%