Democratic presidential candidates’ push for enhanced federal funding for colleges and universities has some strong support from the academic community. Students and college presidents have come out strongly in support of higher education proposals from Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders.
A recent Quinnipac University National poll found widespread support for college tuition assistance among all Americans – but especially among young people.
“Higher education on Uncle Sam’s dime gets a big thumbs up from Americans and an even bigger high five from younger voters,” said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipac poll.
The poll asked voters whether they would support or oppose “major new spending by the federal government that would help undergraduates pay tuition at public colleges without needing loans.”
All age groups supported the measure, whether or not they had a college degree. Support was especially high among voters 18 to 34 years old, who back the idea 76 – 21 percent.
American voters overall supported the measure 61 – 34 percent. Support was 85 – 12 percent among Democrats and 57 – 37 percent among independent voters, with Republicans opposed 59 – 36 percent.
A Gallup/Inside Higher Ed poll found that half of college presidents from both public and private schools either strongly supported or partially supported an early version of presidential contender Sen. Bernie Sanders’ college plan.
The survey question didn’t mention Sanders by name, but said, “As you may know, one specific proposal calls for the federal government to provide states with $18 billion in matching awards to allow for free public higher education.”
Such a proposal was especially supported by public school presidents, with 71 percent responding that they were at least somewhat in favor of it.
Since then, Sanders has released his College For All Act, which would completely eliminate undergraduate tuition at all 4-year public colleges and universities in the country, and pay for it by imposing taxes on Wall Street.
Hillary Clinton has also announced her own higher education plan since then, which would provide double the funding than Sanders originally proposed, and includes some funds for private schools as well as public schools.
