The survey, conducted by the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy, found that 47% of Americans express "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in colleges and universities, ranking higher education just behind the military and ahead of police, the medical system, and large technology companies. More importantly for institutional leaders, net confidence has jumped 13 percentage points since 2023 and 6 points in just the past six months.
"While headlines continue to cover alleged violations, shortcomings and biases, the public sentiment expressed in our poll is quite favorable toward colleges and universities," said John Geer, co-director of the Vanderbilt Poll. "Support for colleges and universities remains substantial, even in the midst of these many criticisms from Washington."
The September survey of 1,030 American adults offers a nuanced portrait of public opinion that defies simple political narratives. While partisan divides remain significant, Americans across the political spectrum continue to value higher education's core functions—even as they express serious concerns about affordability and political bias.
The data suggests Americans retain deep respect for the academic enterprise itself. More than half (56%) express confidence in universities' ability to conduct scientific and medical research that saves lives, while 45% value research in the humanities and social sciences. These findings may reassure faculty and researchers facing questions about the relevance of their work.
"People may be critical of certain aspects of an institution, while still recognizing its fundamental importance," noted Josh Clinton, co-director of the Vanderbilt Poll. "Higher education is no different" from other essential institutions that face public scrutiny while maintaining underlying support.
The public also continues to see higher education as crucial for individual success. Seventy-eight percent believe a college education is "very" or "somewhat" important for young people—a figure that has actually grown since June. This sentiment crosses party lines, with 87% of Democrats and 68% of Republicans viewing college as important for success.
