{"id":11831,"date":"2017-07-20T07:01:11","date_gmt":"2017-07-20T12:01:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/%year%\/%monthnum%\/%day%\/republicans-skeptical-of-colleges-impact-on-u-s-but-most-see-benefits-for-workforce-preparation\/"},"modified":"2024-04-14T03:16:20","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T08:16:20","slug":"republicans-skeptical-of-colleges-impact-on-u-s-but-most-see-benefits-for-workforce-preparation","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2017\/07\/20\/republicans-skeptical-of-colleges-impact-on-u-s-but-most-see-benefits-for-workforce-preparation\/","title":{"rendered":"Republicans skeptical of colleges\u2019 impact on U.S., but most see benefits for workforce preparation"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Republicans have grown increasingly negative about the impact of colleges and universities on the United States. But last year, most Republicans said that colleges do well in preparing people for good jobs in today\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n\n

In addition, most Republican college graduates \u2013 like their Democratic counterparts \u2013 said their own college experience was valuable for developing skills for the workplace.<\/p>\n\n

The change in Republicans\u2019 views of the effect colleges and universities have on the country is striking. Currently, 58% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say colleges and universities have a negative effect on the way things are going in the country, while just 36% say their effect is positive, according to a survey conducted last month<\/a> by Pew Research Center. Just two years ago, attitudes were the reverse: a 54% majority of Republicans and Republican leaners said colleges were having a positive effect, while 37% said their effect was negative.<\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

The decline in positive assessments of post-secondary institutions has come among Republicans who have college degrees and those who do not. By comparison, a wide majority of Democrats (currently 72%), including large majorities of college graduates and non-college graduates, continue to view colleges and universities as having a positive effect on the nation.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

There are more modest partisan divisions on other survey questions about the impact of higher education. In a study last year of attitudes about the state of American jobs,<\/a> majorities in both parties \u2013 regardless of their level of educational attainment \u2013 said a four-year degree prepares someone very or somewhat well for a well-paying job in today\u2019s economy. However, Democrats and Democratic leaners were more likely than Republicans and Republican leaners to say this (73% vs. 62%).<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Wide majorities of four-year college graduates \u2013 both Democrats and Republicans \u2013 also said their own college education was useful in helping them develop specific skills and knowledge that could be used in the workplace, in opening doors to job opportunities and in personal and intellectual growth.<\/p>\n\n

Comparable majorities of Republicans (89%) and Democrats (87%) who graduated from a four-year college said their education was useful in developing skills for the workplace, including about half in each group who said their education was very<\/em> useful (53% and 52%, respectively).<\/p>\n\n

And there was no partisan gap in the shares saying their education was useful in opening doors to job opportunities: 88% of Republicans and Republican leaners with at least a bachelor\u2019s degree said this, compared with a similar share of Democrats and Democratic leaners (86%).<\/p>\n\n

Overwhelming majorities of Republican (93%) and Democratic (97%) college graduates also indicated their education was useful in helping them grow personally and intellectually. However, Democrats were more likely than Republicans to say it was very<\/em> useful in personal growth (75% vs. 64%, respectively).<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

While Republicans and Democrats broadly agreed on the impact of a college education for their skills, opportunities and growth, there was a substantial difference in how they viewed the main purpose of college overall.<\/p>\n\n

In a two-way question, 58% of Republicans said the main purpose of college should be to teach specific skills and knowledge for the workplace; 28% said it should be personal growth. Democrats were divided: 43% said the main purpose of college should be to learn specific skills while 42% said personal growth.<\/p>\n\n

In both parties, those with a bachelor\u2019s degree or more education were more likely than others in their own party to say that college\u2019s primary role is personal growth. But the partisan gap on this question was about as wide among Republican and Democratic college graduates as among those with less education.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Republicans have grown increasingly negative about the impact of colleges and universities on the United States. 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