Despite a Pew Poll indicating that 58 percent of Republicans believe colleges are having a negative effect on the country, new polling shows that Americans of all political persuasions still believe higher education serves a “public good.”
Yes, colleges are teaching outrageous courses instead of preparing students for the workforce and curriculum is particularly one-sided. Students are being starved of multiple viewpoints in the classroom and on campus. Some even say this is resulting in college graduates being less likely to be proud Americans. However, outside of a lacking discourse and return-on-investment for students, universities are contributing to scientific advances, national prosperity, and civic participation.
The study’s lead author, Columbia University Associate Professor Noah D. Drezner, said he sought to design a survey that examined “Americans’ understanding of the various ways that colleges and universities contribute to society, beyond the return to individuals.”
Most Americans continue to support government funding of higher education. By the numbers, 76 percent of respondents said public funding of higher education was either an excellent or good investment. When broken down by political persuasion, 56 percent of liberal respondents said excellent, compared to only 32 percent of conservatives. Seventeen percent of those polled said funding of higher education is just a fair investment. Only 7 percent said the investment was “not good.”
Some think the funding should even increase, as a little over half of respondents said they support increased government spending on higher education: 52 percent on community colleges and 50 percent on four-year colleges and universities.
The study, “Americans’ Views of Higher Education as a Public and Private Good,” was conducted by researchers at Columbia University‘s Teachers College.
