The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education and Public Agenda have been tracking public attitudes toward higher education since 1993. This report, based on a survey conducted in late December 2008, repeats an early 2007 survey. The 2007 was conducted in healthy, robust economic times; the repeat survey was conducted when the country was in the midst of what appeared to be a prolonged economic recession.
Over the last eight years the percentage of Americans that feel that a college education is essential to moving into the middle-class has steadily increased from 31% in 2000 to 55% in 2008. During the same time the percentage of Americans that feel that qualified students have the opportunity to attend college has decreased from 45% in 2000 to 29% in 2008. An increasing number of Americans believe that college has become financially out-off-reach.
What are the implications? Americans taxpayers are becoming more and more concerned about the justification of educational costs. The study states that 53% of Americans believe that colleges could spend less and still maintain a high quality of education. The perception of unjustified costs has resulted in a public that is not willing to spend more on education. This has lead to a decrease in the general good will that colleges and universities have enjoyed over the years. Because of this decrease in good will and support, state and national policymakers have found it easier to exert more influence on higher education. This influence comes in the form of calls for “greater accountability” and more aggressive regulation.
Over the last eight years the percentage of Americans that feel that a college education is essential to moving into the middle-class has steadily increased from 31% in 2000 to 55% in 2008. During the same time the percentage of Americans that feel that qualified students have the opportunity to attend college has decreased from 45% in 2000 to 29% in 2008. An increasing number of Americans believe that college has become financially out-off-reach.
What are the implications? Americans taxpayers are becoming more and more concerned about the justification of educational costs. The study states that 53% of Americans believe that colleges could spend less and still maintain a high quality of education. The perception of unjustified costs has resulted in a public that is not willing to spend more on education. This has lead to a decrease in the general good will that colleges and universities have enjoyed over the years. Because of this decrease in good will and support, state and national policymakers have found it easier to exert more influence on higher education. This influence comes in the form of calls for “greater accountability” and more aggressive regulation.
Reference
Immerwahr, J. & Johnson J. (2009). Squeeze play 2009-The public’s views on college costs today. Public Agenda and The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. Retrieved October 15, 2009, from http://www.highereducation.org/reports/squeeze_play_09/squeeze_play_09.pdf.
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