For increasing numbers of Americans, a crucial facet of the American Dream appears to be at risk. A solid majority consider a college degree an indispensable ticket to the middle class. At the same time, even more people believe college is financially out-of-reach for many qualified students. This is the message from new public opinion research by…

Six out of ten Americans now say that colleges today operate more like a business, focused more on the bottom line than on the educational experience of students. Further, the number of people who feel this way has increased by five percentage points in the last year alone and is up by eight percentage points since 2007. These are highlights from…

Three studies of public perceptions of higher education are summarized. Results show that while higher education enjoys elements of support from both the general public and community leaders, the support is shaky. In addition, the two groups differ substantially in their understanding of the academic world and in their evaluation of higher…

This report on the public perception of higher education is based on a review of 30 recent public opinion polls. The review found: (1) higher education enjoys a reservoir of goodwill; (2) a college degree is seen as an essential credential for success; (3) the public is broadly committed to equity, but as an income issue and not gender- or…

This study reports the results of confidential, in-depth interviews with 29 business, education, and community leaders in California to determine their attitudes toward the higher education needs of the state. The interviews examined areas of consensus and controversy in many facets of higher education policy. The most important findings included:…

This report summarizes the views and attitudes toward higher education of 43 leaders from Detroit (Michigan), Memphis (Tennessee), Cherry Hill (New Jersey), and San Antonio (Texas). The study found that the leaders' views were nearly opposite of those held by the American public as reported in two related publications. These community leaders know…

As part of broader national effort, 510 Pennsylvania adults were randomly surveyed in order to examine their attitudes toward higher education. In addition, a focus group was held in suburban Philadelphia. The four major findings of the research are that Pennsylvanians believe: (1) higher education is vitally important for success; (2) the process…

This report compares two studies, one conducted in 1993 and the other in 1996, that examined public attitudes toward higher education in California. Grouping the findings as enduring values, changing concerns, and "dealing with the next tidal wave," the report concludes that Californians: believe education is essential for a decent job…

In an effort to refute the claim that minority group parents do not value higher education as highly as other parents, this study surveyed 1,015 adults in the general public, as well as Hispanic (n=202), African American (n=202), and white (n=201) parents of high school students. Opinions centered around the following: (1) higher education is…