2023 Reports

American higher education widely viewed as a worthwhile investment benefiting individuals and society

Drezner, Noah D.; Pizmony-Levy, Oren

American higher education is a hotly contested subject among the public. Building off our first public opinion study in 2017, this research brief seeks to extend our understanding of public views of American universities and colleges. We consider three related issues: (a) Americans' views towards public investment in higher education; (b) perceived contributions of higher education to American society (a public good) and to graduates (a private benefit); and (c) attitudes towards public spending on 2- and 4-year institutions. Using a representative sample of adults in the US (n=2,019), we show that most Americans (69%) view public spending on higher education as an excellent or good investment, and that majority of Americans recognize the positive contribution of colleges and universities to individuals and society. Public views vary by socio-demographic characteristics, with a sharp divide based on political ideology.