Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Key findings from a national telephone survey of 800 likely voters, with 240 cell phone interviews, conducted January 19-22, 2014.
Glen Bolger
glen@pos.org
Jim Hobart
jimh@pos.org
Project #14040
Methodology
Public Opinion Strategies is pleased to present the key findings of a national telephone survey. The survey was completed January 19-22, 2014 among 800 likely voters, including 240 cell phone-only respondents, and has a margin of error of +3.46%. Glen Bolger and Jim Hobart were the principal researchers on this project. Caitlin Reed was the project director, and Alex Geroux provided analytical support.
US Higher Education
Most voters do not think that our countrys college and university system needs major changes. There is no difference by education level.
Thinking now about the countrys college and university system, do you think our college and university system works pretty well as it is now; some changes are needed, but basically they should be kept the same; major changes are needed; or, needs a complete overhaul?
Total Well/Basically Same: 59% Total Major Change/Overhaul: 37%
Overall
+22%
By Education/Gender
+24% +23% +20%
Don't Know 4%
58% 36%
61% 37%
58% 35%
58% 38%
Voters are divided when it comes to comparing our college and university systems to those in other countries.
Compared to the college and university systems in other leading countries, do you think the college and university system in the United States is better, worse, or about the same?
Total Better: 29% Total Worse: 23%*
Refused 2%*
Much Worse 6%
*Denotes Rounding
AAF Higher Education Survey ~ January 19-22, 2014 5
Hispanics Very Liberals Women without Degrees Unmarried Women African Americans Women 18-34 Women 55+ Somewhat Liberal Women Yes, Student Debt Democrats Very Expensive 69% Strong Democrats Age 55-64
79% 76% 75% 74% 73% 73% 73% 73% 72% 72% 71% 71% 71%
Most voters do not think it is the state or federal governments responsibility to control the cost of college tuition.
Still thinking about this, who would you say should be most responsible for controlling the cost of college tuition. Should it be...the colleges and universities, state governments, the federal government, or parents and students who choose to pay for more expensive colleges, even though there are less expensive options.
All of the Above 3% Other 1% Parents and Students 27%
Don't Know 2%
Among both Independents and Democrats, there is no clear consensus on who or what should be responsible for the cost of college tuition.
Republicans (38%)
The Colleges and Universities Parents and students who choose to pay for more expensive colleges, even though there are less expensive options State Governments The Federal Government All of the Above 41%
Independents (18%)
The Colleges and Universities Parents and students who choose to pay for more expensive colleges, even though there are less expensive options State Governments The Federal Government All of the Above 34%
Democrats (42%)
The Colleges and Universities Parents and students who choose to pay for more expensive colleges, even though there are less expensive options The Federal Government State Governments All of the Above 25%
29%
31%
25%
17% 9% 1%
19% 8% 6%
24% 20% 3%
Language is important. There is a clear difference of opinion when we test taxpayer dollars rather than federal spending.
And, would you favor or oppose increased federal spending on federal student loans and grants for college students?^
Total Favor: 60% Total Oppose: 37%
And, would you favor or oppose increased spending of additional taxpayer dollars on federal student loans and grants for college students?^^
Total Favor: 48% Total Oppose: 48%*
Republicans and Independents oppose increasing taxpayer funding for federal loans and grants, while Democrats support it.
By Party
-9% +6%
76% 44%
+54%
44%
53%
50%
22%
41%
54%
61% 38%
61% 34%
Republicans (38%)
^Split Sample A, N=399 ^^ Split Sample B, N=401
Independents (18%)
Democrats (42%)
Total Favor
Total Oppose
11
A majority of voters agree that the increased federal spending on student loans and grants has caused tuition to rise.
Still thinking about this, I would like to read you a statement and please tell me if you agree or disagree with that statement. Increased federal government spending on student loans and grants has contributed to the rising cost of college tuition.
Total Agree: 54% Total Disagree: 40%
Don't Know 6%
Republicans and Independents agree that federal government spending on loans and grants has contributed to rising tuition costs.
By Party
+36% +36% -15%
64%
Republicans (38%)
Democrats (42%)
13
Still thinking about student loans, the average student owes twenty-six thousand five-hundred dollars after graduating from a four-year college. Do you believe a four-year college degree is worth this amount of student loan debt?
Refused 1% Yes, worth that amount of debt 42% No, not worth that amount of debt 52%
A majority of voters do not believe a four-year college degree is worth $26,000 in debt.
Don't Know 5%
14
Voters across party lines agree that a four-year college degree is not worth the debt.
By Party
-4% -22% -12%
54%
Republicans (38%)
Democrats (42%)
15
42%
18-34 (20%)
35-44 (20%)
65+ (18%)
16
45%
49% 39%
55%
Voters across ideological lines agree that the debt is not worth it. Moderates are the most divided.
By Ideology
-24% -13% -2% -6% -15%
54% 47%
49%
44%
50% 39%
54%
Moderate (37%)
Yes, Worth It
Higher income earners are less concerned about the amount of debt from a four-year college degree.
By Income
-23% -19% +7%
59% 38%
57%
51%
44%
36%
$80,000+ (34%)
19
Men with degrees are most likely to believe that a four-year college degree is worth the debt.
By Education/Gender
-20% +13% -27% -4%
56%
36%
20
Neither parents or non-parents believe a four-year degree is worth the debt. Dads are divided.
By Kids
-9% -11% -18% +1%
52% 39%
Dads (16%)
21
On average, voters think that college graduates should be paying twelve percent of their income towards their loans each month.
Now thinking some more about student loansApproximately, what percentage of their income should a college graduate with student loan debt have to pay towards their loans each month?
12.2%
Mean Score
AAF Higher Education Survey ~ January 19-22, 2014 22
There is modest support for streamlining the student aid process even if it is a little more difficult to help the neediest students.
Thinking further about student loans, would you favor or oppose simplifying and streamlining the student aid process to just one type of loan or one type of grant so that students know their eligibility sooner, even if it meant making it a little more difficult to help the neediest students?
Total Favor: 52% Total Oppose: 43%
23
Republicans and Independents share a similar view on streamlining the aid process.
By Party
+21% +16% -3%
57%
50%
Republicans (38%)
Democrats (42%)
24
53% 45%
$80,000+ (34%)
25
Voters are divided on where to place blame for the recent increase in student loan interest rates.
As you may know, a few months ago, the President and Congress allowed interest rates on student loans to increase. Who or what do you think is most to blame for the interest rates on student loans increasing?
Don't Know None of the 4% Other 2% Politicians in Both Parties 9% President Obama 14% Above 3% Refused 1%
26%
High Cost of College Tuition 35% Democrats in Congress 12%
26
All voters agree that the high cost of tuition is a major factor, but they also blame members of Congress from the other party.
Republicans (38%)
The high cost of college tuition Democrats in Congress President Barack Obama Politicians in both parties Dont Know None of the Above Republicans in Congress Something Else 30% 26% 25% 7% 5% 3% 2% 2%
Independents (18%)
The high cost of college tuition President Barack Obama Republicans in Congress Politicians in both parties Democrats in Congress None of the Above Something Else Dont Know 36% 17% 15% 13% 7% 5% 3% 2%
Democrats (42%)
The high cost of college tuition Republicans in Congress Politicians in both parties President Barack Obama Dont Know Democrats in Congress Something Else None of the Above 39% 39% 9% 4% 4% 2% 1% 1%
27
A large majority of voters believe students receiving federal aid should have the freedom to attend any college or university.
Thinking some more about federal student loans and grants, I would like to read you two statements about where students who receive federal student loans and grants should be able to attend college. After I read the statements, please tell me which comes closest to your own opinion.
80% 18%
Some people say that students who receive federal student loans and grants should have freedom of choice and be able to attend any college or university they want.
while
Other people say that students who receive federal student loans and grants should only be permitted to attend colleges and universities that are approved by the federal government.
28
Most voters think that students and their parents are responsible for making sure they have an opportunity to get a college degree.
Who is most responsible for making sure that all students have the opportunity to get a college degree.
None of the Above 1% Colleges and Universities 9% The Federal Government 12%
State Governments 7%
Students 36%
29
Voters across party lines say that students are responsible for making sure they have the opportunity to earn a college degree.
Republicans (38%)
Students Parents of Students The Federal Government Colleges and Universities State Governments All of the Above 39% 37% 8% 6% 5% 3%
Independents (18%)
Students Parents of Students Colleges and Universities State Governments The Federal Government All of the Above 37% 29% 10% 10% 5% 5%
Democrats (42%)
Students Parents of Students The Federal Government Colleges and Universities State Governments All of the Above 32% 28% 18% 10% 8% 3%
30
Voters strongly favor prior learning assessments and open online courses.
Ranked by % Strongly Favor
Prior learning assessments that determine whether the knowledge a student has obtained through previous education or work experience earns them college credit, which will help students avoid taking courses they do not need.
66% 5%9%*
89%
Massive open online courses that would offer unlimited enrollment and access via the Internet. These courses would be aimed at students who are unable to attend traditional classes on campus.
51% 9% 17%
82%*
Competency based learning, which is an approach to teaching and learning that focuses more on concrete skills than on abstract learning.
37% 6% 20%
75%
Strongly Favor
* Denotes Rounding
AAF Higher Education Survey ~ January 19-22, 2014
Total Favor
31
Voters strongly oppose the federal government tracking students after they graduate.
Still thinking about the federal government and education, would you favor or oppose allowing the federal government to use personally identifiable information such as Social Security numbers, employment history, and salary to track students after college to determine the effectiveness of college programs?
Total Favor: 34% Total Oppose: 64%
Don't Know 2%
32
Republicans and Independents are the most opposed to tracking students, but Democrats are also against it.
By Party
-49% -51% -6%
74%
74% 52%
46% 25%
23%
Republicans (38%)
Democrats (42%)
33
Voters are much more likely to support the tracking if the student must consent to it first.
And, would you be more likely or less likely to allow the federal government to track a students personally identifiable information such as Social Security numbers, employment history, and salary if the student first had to agree to allow this information to be tracked? Total More Likely: 62% Total Less Likely: 34%
Don't Know 3%
Refused 1%
Somewhat Liberals Soft/Lean Democrats Age 18-34 Democrats Women with Degrees Strong Democrats Moms Northeast Region
College Selection
Course offerings are the most important factor for half of likely voters.
And, what information would you say is most important when picking a college...
Don't Know 1%*
Cost of college 18% Reputation and name recognition of the college 10% Graduation rates of the college 11% Average student loan debt of graduates 3%
Other 1%
* Denotes Rounding
36
37
African Americans are the most likely to take into account the average earnings of graduates from individual college programs.
And, when looking at colleges, how important is it to know the average earnings of graduates of individual programs at the college.
Total Important: 76% Total Not Important: 24%* Not At All Important 9% Not Very Important 14% Don't Know 1%* Very Important 28%
38
Overall
-44% Refused 1% Strongly Favor 20%
By Party
-19% +36%
Don't Know 2%
67%
31%
Republicans (38%)
Independents (18%)
Democrats (42%)
39
Total Favor
Total Oppose
Voters oppose giving the federal government the authority to set price controls on public colleges and universities.
Thinking about a new topic, would you favor or oppose giving the federal government the authority to set price controls on public colleges and universities, as well as have the authority to penalize colleges and universities that they deem too expensive. Would you favor or oppose this proposal?
Both Republicans and Independents oppose giving the federal government this authority.
By Party
-49% -26% +30%
37% 25%
34%
Republicans (38%)
Democrats (42%)
41
Voters with graduate and professional education are most opposed to the federal government having this authority.
By Education
+2% -4% -16% -33%
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