Attitudes About Higher Education

		Yes		No		Uncertain
Do you think every high-school student who wants a four-year college degree should have the opportunity to earn one?	94%	4%	2%
Do you think a four-year college degree is essential for success in our society?	52%	44%	4%
Do you think it is more difficult to be admitted to a four-year college or university now than it was 10 years ago?	47%	39%	14%
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Do you think in general the quality of education is better at private or public universities?
Better at private	46%
Better at public	13%
About the same	31%
Don't know	10%
If money were not an issue, would you rather have your child attend a private or public university?
Private	47%
Public	22%
Doesn't matter	28%
Don't know	4%
In the most recent federal budget, did the federal government increase funds for higher education, decrease funds, or did the funds for higher education remain roughly the same?
Federal funds increased	17%
Federal funds decreased	32%
Federal funds remained the same	25%
Don't know	26%
In your state's most recent state budget, did the state increase funds for higher education, decrease funds, or did the funds remain roughly the same?
State funds increased	13%
State funds decreased	41%
State funds remained the same	27%
Don't know	19%
In terms of funds for higher education, should the federal government or individual state governments provide the greatest amount for higher-education institutions?
Federal government	24%
State government	34%
Both responsible	34%
No answer	8%
Which political party do you believe has the greatest interest in improving education from kindergarten through 12th grade?
Democrats	26%
Republicans	20%
Both equally interested	31%
Neither interested	17%
Don't know	6%
Which political party do you believe has the greatest interest in improving college or university education?
Democrats	24%
Republicans	21%
Both equally interested	29%
Neither interested	16%
Don't know	9%
Generally, do you think college professors are:
Liberal	50%
Moderate	24%
Conservative	8%
No answer	18%
Compared with your political views, do you think college professors are:
More liberal	51%
About the same	23%
More conservative	11%
Don't know	16%
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College Costs
In your view, what dollar amount would you say is a high price for one year at a four-year college or university including the cost of instruction -- called tuition -- the cost of living in a dormitory, food, books, and other fees?
Less than $2,000	1%
$2,000 to $4,999	3%
$5,000 to $9,999	12%
$10,000 to $14,999	18%
$15,000 to $19,999	14%
$20,000 to $29,999	20%
$30,000 or more	14%
Don't know	19%
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 dormitory, food, books, and other fees?
Less than $2,000	1%
$2,000 to $4,999	5%
$5,000 to $9,999	21%
$10,000 to $14,999	25%
$15,000 to $19,999	14%
$20,000 to $29,999	11%
$30,000 or more	5%
Don't know	19%
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 dormitory, food, books, and other fees?
Less than $2,000	0%
$2,000 to $4,999	1%
$5,000 to $9,999	4%
$10,000 to $14,999	10%
$15,000 to $19,999	11%
$20,000 to $29,999	30%
$30,000 or more	26%
Don't know	19%
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Respondents' College Experience
What best describes your level of education?
Grade school or some high school	16%
A high-school diploma	24%
Some college	21%
A two-year associate degree	9%
A four-year bachelor's degree	21%
A master's degree	4%
A doctorate or Ph.D.	2%
A professional degree	2%
If no four-year college degree, do you expect to earn a college degree?
Yes	13%
Uncertain	6%
No	81%
If you have a four-year college degree, what best describes the type of four-year institution where you earned an undergraduate degree?
Large public state college or university	42%
A smaller state college	16%
Small private liberal-arts college	22%
Large private research university	8%
Modest-size private university	7%
Specialty college for art, engineering, or business	2%
Community college	2%
Don't know	2%
How satisfied are you with the college education you received?
Very satisfied	61%
Satisfied	25%
Somewhat satisfied	10%
Not satisfied	2%
No answer	1%
How would you rate the importance of your college degree to your current success?
Very important	63%
Important	14%
Somewhat important	16%
Not important	6%
Can't answer	1%
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Experience of Respondents' Children
Do you have children?
Yes	73%
No	27%
Do you have any children who currently attend and/or have graduated from a college or university?
Yes	44%
No	56%
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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	47%
A smaller state college	13%
Small private liberal-arts college	13%
Large private research university	1%
Modest-size private university	7%
Specialty college for art, engineering, or business	3%
Community college	14%
Don't know	2%
What best describes the level of difficulty this child had in choosing a college or university?
Very easy	23%
Easy	45%
A little difficult	18%
Difficult	9%
Very difficult	4%
Don't know	1%
How satisfied are you with the college education your child is receiving or received?
Very satisfied	50%
Satisfied	30%
Somewhat satisfied	15%
Not satisfied	3%
No answer	2%
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 and room and board?
Less than $2,000	18%
$2,000 to $4,999	21%
$5,000 to $9,999	24%
$10,000 to $14,999	10%
$15,000 to $19,999	6%
$20,000 to $29,999	4%
$30,000 or more	2%
Don't know	15%
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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	61%
Likely	13%
A possibility	9%
Not likely	17%
Why do you think it is unlikely your child will attend a four-year college?
Has no interest in attending	26%
Too expensive	22%
Doesn't need a college degree	13%
Physically handicapped	2%
Learning disability	1%
Don't know	17%
Other	20%
How important is it to you that your child or children attend a college or university affiliated with a religious denomination?
Very important	11%
Important	9%
Somewhat important	17%
Not important	63%
Can't answer	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%
A smaller state college	17%
Small private liberal-arts college	11%
Large private research university	10%
Modest-size private university	12%
Specialty college for art, engineering, or business	3%
Community college	5%
Don't know	20%
Do you expect your child to attend the college or university that costs your family the least amount of personal funds?
Yes	23%
Uncertain	15%
No	61%
If your child was enrolling in college today, roughly how much would your family expect to pay in total for the first year of your child's education, including tuition and room and board?
Less than $2,000	4%
$2,000 to $4,999	15%
$5,000 to $9,999	21%
$10,000 to $14,999	19%
$15,000 to $19,999	10%
$20,000 to $29,999	9%
$30,000 or more	6%
Don't know	17%
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