In July, New America released its 9th annual Varying Degrees survey on higher
education. The survey collected data from 1,600 adults with Democratic and Republican viewpoints to identify similarities and differences between the two groups across six key themes.
Americans broadly agree on the core roles of colleges and universities. “Nine in 10 Americans think that it’s important for colleges to equip students with the skills and knowledge to succeed in their chosen fields (97% of Democrats
and 98% of Republicans). Americans also believe colleges should help students become informed citizens (93%) and critical thinkers (91%). Supporting students is not the only purpose of colleges and universities: Americans believe that institutions
of higher education should also provide a skilled and educated workforce for the economy (95%), conduct research to advance knowledge (92%, and engage with and contribute to the community they are located in (88%)” (Nguyen et al. 6, 12).
Americans agree that job training should not be the only outcome of a college education. “They believe other areas, such as writing and communication (97% of Democrats and 92% of Republicans) and thinking and reasoning (97% and 92%,
respectively) are also important indicators of quality. When it comes to the quality of higher education, nearly all Americans believe skills training is an important indicator of quality (96%), but it’s not the only one. 94% believe that the
development of competencies such as writing, reasoning, and communication is important. Access to research and internship opportunities, as well as robust student support services, contribute significantly to the perception of institutional quality”
(Nguyen et al. 6, 14).
Americans continue to show frustration with the current state of higher education. “Only 40% agree that higher education is fine how it is (42% for both parties). and like last year, slightly more than half of Americans (54%) think
colleges and universities are having a positive effect on the way things are in the country. There is a vast partisan divide on this question: 74% of Democrats said they see positive effects of higher education, compared to only 39% of Republicans.
The partisan split on higher education impact is notable and surprising, considering Democrats and Republicans align on their confidence in what higher education can do, both for individuals and society. Eight in ten Americans, including large
shares of both Democrats and Republicans, believe that colleges and universities help students succeed and get ahead in life. Nearly eight in 10 Americans think colleges and universities prepare students with relevant knowledge and skills required
by employers, and 82% believe college graduates can find jobs in their field of training” (Nguyen et al. 6, 18).
A large share of Americans still believe that higher education is worth the investment and is needed if one wants to get ahead in life. 73% of Americans agree that education beyond high school offers good return on investment for
the student (81% of Democrats and 74% of Republicans). Only 54% of Americans believe colleges and universities have a positive effect on the country, dropping from 69% in 2019. During this six-year period, the partisan gap has widened on this
question. In 2025, 74% of Democrats and 39% of Republicans believe that higher education plays a positive role in the United States, a 35-percentage point difference, compared to the 20-percentage point gap in 2020. Only 40% of Americans think
higher education is fine as it is, an increase from 33% in 2019. While on the upward trend, the share of people who agreed with this statement has never gone above 41%, which shows that a majority of Americans are still not happy with how higher
education is. Both Democrats and Republicans are aligned on this question in recent years, despite a significant gap during 2019 and 2021 (Nguyen et al. 7, 30).
The cost of college remains a major concern. Only half of survey respondents think that Americans can get a high-quality education after high school that is also affordable. Democrats and Republicans agree that affordability is a
significant barrier to college access: When asked to pick one among the top reasons that stop students from enrolling or completing their programs, 66% of Democrats and 56% of Republicans choose the cost of attending as the main reason. Only about
half of Americans think they can get an affordable high-quality college education, and there is bipartisan alignment on this issue: 49% of Democrats and 53% of Republicans agree. Three in four Americans believe the federal government should increase
funding to make higher education more affordable, including 91% of Democrats and 58% of Republicans. Eight in 10 Americans agree that the government should increase the maximum amount of the Pell Grant, the largest federal aid program for low-income
students. Increasing the Pell Grant receives bipartisan support, with 94% of Democrats and 67% of Republicans in favor of the idea (Nguyen et al. 7, 22, 26).
Americans may not agree on who should pay for college, but a majority believe more federal and state investment is needed. While only 54% of Americans think the government should be more responsible for funding higher education because
it’s good for society, 74% of Americans think that the federal government should spend more tax dollars on education opportunities after high school to make them more affordable. Despite a sizable gap on this question: a majority of Democrats
(91%) and Republicans (58%) agree. The argument for more government funding for higher education is perhaps rooted in the idea that higher education is a public good and that society benefits from having an educated citizenry and a skilled workforce.
On the other hand, those who argue students should bear the cost often frame college as a personal choice, since it is students who mainly accrue the benefits of more education, such as higher earnings and career advancement. Therefore, the argument
goes, students should foot the bill (Nguyen et al. 8, 24).
Across party lines, there is a strong agreement that colleges and universities should prepare students for successful careers, encourage critical thinking, and serve the broader community. However, rising concerns about cost, accessibility, and the overall
quality of colleges and universities highlight the challenges facing the higher education system today. Although most Americans believe college is worth the investment and essential to success and stability, fewer view higher education as a positive
effort in society compared to previous years. The survey highlights a shared belief in the importance of government efforts to improve affordability, an aspect where bipartisan consensus remains strong. Ultimately, Americans visualize a higher education
system that maintains quality and opportunity for all, but they acknowledge that meaningful reform is essential to re-establish public trust and guarantee its long-term value.
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