1. Public Attitudes Toward Higher Education A New Survey from The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education and Public Agenda Supported by the Lumina Foundation for Education Making Opportunity Affordable Initiative

2. New Survey Latest collaboration between the National Center and Public Agenda Latest collaboration between the National Center and Public Agenda Surveys going back to 1993 Surveys going back to 1993 Current survey: 1000 Americans Current survey: 1000 Americans Over-sample of parents, minority parents Over-sample of parents, minority parents Interviews with 25 opinion leaders Interviews with 25 opinion leaders Seven focus groups Seven focus groups

3. Who We Are The National Center: The National Center: –Independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit –Enhance opportunities to pursue high- quality education beyond high school Public Agenda: Public Agenda: –Nonpartisan, nonprofit –Opinion research and engagement –Focuses on the gaps between leaders and the public

4. Overview Growing importance of higher education Growing importance of higher education Coupled with growing anxiety Coupled with growing anxiety Confidence in higher education institutions, but.. Confidence in higher education institutions, but.. More public skepticism – “the bloom is off the rose” More public skepticism – “the bloom is off the rose”

5. A College Education: More Important than Ever, But.. College is NECESSARY to participate in U.S. economy College is NECESSARY to participate in U.S. economy –2000 – 31% –2003 – 37% –2007 – 50% 67%: Employers want college, even for jobs that don’t require it 67%: Employers want college, even for jobs that don’t require it 88%: We should not allow cost to keep qualified students from attending college 88%: We should not allow cost to keep qualified students from attending college 62%: Many don’t have opportunity to attend college 62%: Many don’t have opportunity to attend college

6. The Big Squeeze: More Important, but Declining Opportunity

7. Parents Are Worried, but Coping 76%: worried about costs 76%: worried about costs 84%: we’ll find a way to work out the costs 84%: we’ll find a way to work out the costs Less than half (44%) think students are getting their money’s worth Less than half (44%) think students are getting their money’s worth

8. Minority Parents Are More Concerned Many don’t have opportunity Many don’t have opportunity –Non-Hispanic white parents: 56% –Hispanic parents: 67% –African-American parents: 84% Ethnic/racial minorities have less opportunity Ethnic/racial minorities have less opportunity –Non-Hispanic whites parents: 14% –Hispanic parents: 30% –African-American parents: 40% Higher-income minorities concerned too Higher-income minorities concerned too –7 in 10 higher income minority parents say “many” don’t have opportunity

9. “The Bloom Is Off The Rose” 52%: college more like a “business,” focus on the bottom line 52%: college more like a “business,” focus on the bottom line 44%: “waste and mismanagement” are “major” causes of high cost 44%: “waste and mismanagement” are “major” causes of high cost More willingness to blame colleges (vs. high schools or students) for college dropouts More willingness to blame colleges (vs. high schools or students) for college dropouts –2000 10% –2007 25%

10. State Colleges: An Overhaul in the Offing? Percent Favoring Overhaul

11. Public Believes Colleges Can Do More 58%: colleges could take more students without harming quality 58%: colleges could take more students without harming quality 56%: colleges could spend less and still maintain quality 56%: colleges could spend less and still maintain quality

12. Support for Some Reforms 75%: Give grants and tax breaks to students to improve access 75%: Give grants and tax breaks to students to improve access 68%: Make greater use of two-year schools 68%: Make greater use of two-year schools 67%: Making more efficient use of facilities and distance learning 67%: Making more efficient use of facilities and distance learning But.. 66% oppose reducing credits needed for degree 66% oppose reducing credits needed for degree 65% oppose consolidating programs, closing branches 65% oppose consolidating programs, closing branches

13. Conclusions: Broad recognition of importance, high quality Broad recognition of importance, high quality But fault lines in public support But fault lines in public support More signs of concern, skepticism, an undercurrent of tougher questions More signs of concern, skepticism, an undercurrent of tougher questions