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From the issue dated May 2, 2003
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| ATTITUDES ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION |
| Do you think every high-school student who wants a four-year
college education should have the opportunity to gain one? |
| Yes |
91% |
| No |
6% |
| Uncertain |
3% |
| Do you think a four-year college degree is essential for
success in our society? |
| Yes |
51% |
| No |
42% |
| Uncertain |
7% |
| Do you think it is more difficult to be admitted to a
four-year college or university now than it was 10 years ago? |
| Yes |
53% |
| No |
29% |
| Uncertain |
19% |
| Do you think in general the quality of education is better
at private or public universities? |
| Better at private |
41% |
| Better at public |
13% |
| About the same |
38% |
| Don't know |
10% |
| Do you think the quality of a public four-year college
or university education in your state is better or worse compared with other
states? |
| Better in my state |
36% |
| Worse in my state |
10% |
| About the same |
44% |
| Don't know |
11% |
| If money were not an issue, would you rather have your
child attend a private or public university? |
| Private |
45% |
| Public |
25% |
| Doesn't matter |
28% |
| Don't know |
3% |
| In your opinion, do you think the state and federal governments
should invest more money in higher education, or do they already spend too
much money on universities? |
| Should invest more money |
67% |
| Spend too much now |
10% |
| About right as is |
17% |
| Don't know |
6% |
| Do you think the state and federal governments should
invest more money in financial aid for students going to college, or do
they already spend too much money on financial aid to college students? |
| Should spend more |
67% |
| Spend too much now |
8% |
| About right as is |
19% |
| Don't know |
6% |
| Generally, do you think college professors are: |
| Liberal |
52% |
| Moderate |
23% |
| Conservative |
10% |
| Don't know |
15% |
| Compared with your political views, do you think college
professors are: |
| More liberal |
50% |
| About the same |
26% |
| More conservative |
12% |
| Don't know |
13% |
| COLLEGE COSTS |
| Would you say a four-year college education for your children
or yourself is: |
| Always worth the price |
40% |
| Usually worth the price |
35% |
| Sometimes worth the price |
21% |
| Rarely worth the price |
2% |
| Never worth the price |
1% |
| Don't know |
1% |
| What dollar amount would you say is a high price for one
year at a four-year college or university, including tuition, the cost of
living in a residence hall on campus, food, books, and other fees? |
| Less than $2,000 |
1% |
| $2,000 - $4,999 |
5% |
| $5,000 - $9,999 |
13% |
| $10,000 - $14,999 |
19% |
| $15,000 - $19,999 |
15% |
| $20,000 - $29,999 |
20% |
| $30,000 or more |
13% |
| Don't know |
15% |
| Roughly how much do you think it costs per year to attend
a public four-year college or university if you included tuition, living
in a residence hall, food, books, and other fees? |
| Less than $2,000 |
1% |
| $2,000 - $4,999 |
7% |
| $5,000 - $9,999 |
23% |
| $10,000 - $14,999 |
28% |
| $15,000 - $19,999 |
14% |
| $20,000 - $29,999 |
9% |
| $30,000 or more |
3% |
| Don't know |
15% |
| Roughly how much do you think it costs per year to attend
a private four-year college or university if you included tuition, living
in a residence hall, food, books, and other fees? |
| Less than $2,000 |
0% |
| $2,000 - $4,999 |
2% |
| $5,000 - $9,999 |
5% |
| $10,000 - $14,999 |
10% |
| $15,000 - $19,999 |
14% |
| $20,000 - $29,999 |
29% |
| $30,000 or more |
23% |
| Don't know |
16% |
| Who should pay the largest share of the cost of a college
education? |
| The family of the student |
26% |
| Students |
20% |
| Federal government |
17% |
| Parents |
17% |
| State government |
11% |
| Don't know |
9% |
| RESPONDENTS' COLLEGE EXPERIENCE |
| What best describes your level of education? |
| Grade school or some high school |
2% |
| High-school diploma |
16% |
| Some college |
19% |
| Two-year associate degree |
13% |
| Four-year bachelor's degree |
30% |
| Master's degree |
15% |
| Doctorate or Ph.D. |
3% |
| Professional degree |
3% |
| If you have no college degree, do you expect to earn a
four-year college degree? |
| Yes |
21% |
| No |
70% |
| Uncertain |
9% |
| If you earned a college degree, what best describes the
type of four-year institution where you earned an undergraduate degree?
Was it a: |
| Large public state college or university |
48% |
| Smaller state college |
17% |
| Modest-size private university |
15% |
| Liberal-arts college |
8% |
| Large private research university |
7% |
| Specialty college for art, engineering, or business |
4% |
| Community college |
2% |
| Don't know |
1% |
| What best describes the level of difficulty you had in
choosing the college or university you attended? Was it: |
| Very easy |
35% |
| Easy |
42% |
| A little difficult |
16% |
| Difficult |
5% |
| Very difficult |
1% |
| How satisfied are you with the college education you received?
Are you: |
| Very satisfied |
56% |
| Satisfied |
32% |
| Somewhat satisfied |
11% |
| Not satisfied |
1% |
| How would you rate the importance of your college degree
to your current success? Is it: |
| Very important |
60% |
| Important |
21% |
| Somewhat important |
14% |
| Not important |
4% |
| Are you currently taking college-level courses for academic
credit? |
| Yes |
12% |
| No |
88% |
| If you are enrolled in college, what best describes the
type of institution you attend? Is it a: |
| Large public state college or university |
30% |
| Community college |
19% |
| Modest-size private university |
19% |
| Smaller state college |
18% |
| Large private research university |
6% |
| Specialty college for art, engineering, or business |
4% |
| Liberal-arts college |
2% |
| Don't know |
2% |
| If enrolled, are you earning credit toward an undergraduate
degree or a graduate degree? |
| Undergraduate |
53% |
| Graduate |
47% |
| EXPERIENCE OF RESPONDENTS' CHILDREN |
| Do you have children? |
| Yes |
78% |
| No |
22% |
| Do you have any children who currently attend and/or have
graduated from a college or university? |
| Yes |
42% |
| No |
58% |
| RESPONDENTS WHOSE CHILDREN ATTENDED COLLEGE: |
| What best describes the type of college or university
of the child who most recently enrolled or attended college? |
| Large public state college or university |
40% |
| Modest-size private university |
18% |
| Community college |
14% |
| Smaller state college |
14% |
| Specialty college for art, engineering, or business |
5% |
| Large private research university |
4% |
| Liberal-arts college |
3% |
| Don't know |
1% |
| What best describes the level of difficulty this child
had in choosing a college or university? Was it: |
| Very easy |
28% |
| Easy |
36% |
| A little difficult |
22% |
| Difficult |
10% |
| Very difficult |
2% |
| Don't know |
1% |
| How satisfied are you with the college education your
child is receiving or received? Are you: |
| Very satisfied |
56% |
| Satisfied |
33% |
| Somewhat satisfied |
9% |
| Not satisfied |
2% |
| No answer |
1% |
| Roughly how much did you pay or are you paying of your
own personal funds for your child's first year in college, including tuition,
room, and board? |
| Less than $2,000 |
22% |
| $2,000 - $4,999 |
22% |
| $5,000 - $9,999 |
24% |
| $10,000 - $14,999 |
11% |
| $15,000 - $19,999 |
4% |
| $20,000 - $29,999 |
6% |
| $30,000 or more |
2% |
| Don't know |
10% |
| RESPONDENTS WHOSE CHILDREN ARE NOT COLLEGE
AGE: |
| How likely is it that your children will choose to attend
a four-year college or university? |
| Very likely |
65% |
| Likely |
11% |
| A possibility |
12% |
| Not likely |
12% |
| How important is it to you that your child or children
attend a college or university affiliated with a religious denomination? |
| Very important |
14% |
| Important |
10% |
| Somewhat important |
20% |
| Not important |
56% |
| Don't know |
1% |
| What best describes the type of college or university
you would like to see your child attend? |
| Large public state college or university |
23% |
| Modest-size private university |
20% |
| Smaller state college |
15% |
| Large private research university |
9% |
| Specialty college for art, engineering, or business |
8% |
| Community college |
6% |
| Liberal-arts college |
4% |
| Don't know |
16% |
| Do you expect your child to attend the college or university
that costs your family the least amount of personal funds? |
| Yes |
25% |
| No |
59% |
| Uncertain |
16% |
| If your child was enrolling in college today, roughly
how much does your family expect to pay in total for the first year of your
child's college education, including tuition, room and board? |
| Less than $2,000 |
17% |
| $2,000 - $4,999 |
25% |
| $5,000 - $9,999 |
26% |
| $10,000 - $14,999 |
14% |
| $15,000 - $19,999 |
2% |
| $20,000 - $29,999 |
2% |
| Don't know |
15% |
http://chronicle.com
Section: Special Report
Volume 49, Issue 34, Page A11
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Copyright © 2003 by The Chronicle of Higher Education
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Read the transcript of an online discussion on the results of The Chronicle's Survey of Public Opinion on Higher Education.
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