PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Higher Education

Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek, Nicole Willcoxon

November 2010

2

Outline

PPIC Statewide Surveys Perceptions of Higher Education Attitudes and Policy Preferences Conclusions

3

PPIC Statewide Survey Mission

Provide timely, relevant, nonpartisan data on political, social, and economic opinions

Inform and improve state policymaking,raise awareness, encourage discussion

Provide a voice for all Californians in important state policy debates– 236,000+ Californians since 1998– 100+ general, issue, and regional surveys

Californians and Higher Education Series funded by The Hewlett Foundation State funding, budget situation, raising revenues,

affordability, future outlook Importance of college, approval ratings, ratings of

three higher ed systems, parental expectations Telephone interviews, October 19–November 2

– 2,502 adults; 1,551 likely voters;947 parents of children 18 or younger ± 2.5% margin of error for adults ± 3.2% for likely voters ± 4.1% for parents

4

5

Outline

PPIC Statewide Surveys Attitudes and Policy Preferences Perceptions and Approval Ratings Conclusions

6

Current Level of State FundingDo you think the current level of state funding for California’s public

colleges and universities is more than enough, just enough, or not enough?

7 6

28

15

57

74

0

20

40

60

80

100

Oct 2007 Nov 2010

More than enoughJust enoughNot enough

%

7

Priority for State SpendingGiven the state’s current budget situation, what priority should begiven to spending for California’s public colleges and universities?

3645

2132 33

32

34

29

37 34

0

20

40

60

80

All adults Dem Rep Ind Likely voters

High priorityVery high priority

%

8

Spending More on Higher EducationDo you favor or oppose the state government spending more money on public colleges and universities, even if it means less money for other

state programs?

57

66

49 5157

34

26

42 4034

0

20

40

60

80

All adults Dem Rep Ind Likely voters

FavorOppose

%

9

Concerns about State FundingThere are a number of ways California’s public colleges and universities have dealt with decreased funding. Are you very concerned, somewhat

concerned, not too concerned, or not at all concerned about…

65 62 59

46

0

20

40

60

80

Increasingtuition and fees

for students

Admittingfewer college

students

Offeringfewer college

classes

Reducing pay/hours for faculty/staff

%

% saying very concerned

10

Paying Higher TaxesWhat if the state said it needed more money just to maintain current

funding for public colleges and universities. Would you be willing to pay higher taxes for this purpose, or not?

41

49

56

49

0

20

40

60

80

Nov 2009 Nov 2010

YesNo

%

11

Raising RevenuesWhat if the state said it needed more money just to maintain current funding for public colleges and universities. Would you be willing to…

49

64

27

47 49

35 3438 39 37

0

20

40

60

80

All adults Dem Rep Ind Likely voters

Pay higher taxesIncrease student fees

%

% saying yes

12

Admitting MoreOut-of-State StudentsWhat if the state said it needed more money just to maintain current funding for public colleges and universities. Would you be willing to admit more out-of-state students paying higher tuition for this purpose, or not? (if yes: Would you

still support this even if it meant admitting fewer in-state students?)

26 25 32 26 30

31 3327 36 33

0

20

40

60

80

All adults Dem Rep Ind Likely voters

Yes, but not if fewer in-stateYes, even if fewer in-state

%

13

Government PoliciesThere are several ways that the federal and state governments can make

California’s higher education system more affordable to students…

8884

72

0

20

40

60

80

100

Increase fundingfor work-study

Increase fundingfor grants

Have a slidingscale for tuition

%

% saying favor

14

Higher Education and the FutureIn general, how important is California’s higher education system to the quality of life and economic vitality of the state over the next 20 years?

77 8565 73 77

20 1231 23 20

0

20

40

60

80

100

All adults Dem Rep Ind Likely voters

Somewhat importantVery important

%

15

Confidence in State GovernmentHow much confidence do you have in the state government’s ability

to plan for the future of California’s higher education system?

5752

41 4042

45

57 57

0

20

40

60

80

Oct 2007 Nov 2008 Nov 2009 Nov 2010

Great deal/someVery little/none

%

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Outline

PPIC Statewide Surveys Attitudes and Policy Preferences Perceptions and Approval Ratings Conclusions

17

Importance of a College EducationHow important is a college education today?

75

86

21

114 2

0

20

40

60

80

100

United States* California

Very importantFairly importantNot too important

*Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup poll, June 2010

%

18

Necessity of a College EducationDo you think that a college education is necessary for a person to be successful in today’s work world, or do you think that there are manyways to succeed in today’s work world without a college education?

6371

7680

50

3527

2218

47

0

20

40

60

80

100

All adults Asians Blacks Latinos Whites

NecessaryMany ways to succeed

%

19

Universal AccessDo you think that all Californians who are qualified to attend college

should have the opportunity to enroll in one of the state’s public colleges or universities, or should college student admissions be restricted because

of the cost to the state?

85

12

3

All should haveopportunityAdmissions shouldbe restrictedDon't know

All adults

20

Overall ConditionsHow about the overall … in California’spublic colleges and universities today?

22

60

74

0

20

40

60

80

100

Quality ofeducation

Affordabilityfor students

State budgetsituation

%

% saying big problem

21

Approval Ratings: Job Overall

51

40

2825

33

24

1814

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Oct 2007 Nov 2008 Nov 2009 Nov 2010

Governor Schwarzenegger

California Legislature

%

22

Approval Ratings: Higher Education

34

27

2119

29

23

16 15

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Oct 2007 Nov 2008 Nov 2009 Nov 2010

Governor Schwarzenegger

California Legislature

%

23

Rating of California’sThree SystemsOverall, is the … system doing an excellent, good, not so good, or poor job?

64 62 64

0

20

40

60

80

100

California Community College

California State University

University of California

%

% saying excellent/good

24

Accessibility to Higher EducationDo you think that currently, the vast majority of people who are qualified to go to college have the opportunity to do so, or do you think there are many

people who are qualified to go but don’t have the opportunity to do so?

2617

23

37

25

71

8175

60

72

0

20

40

60

80

100

All adults Under $40,000

$40,000 to under $80,000

$80,000or more

Parents

Majority have opportunityMany do not

%

25

Price of CollegeThe price of a college education keeps students who arequalified and motivated to go to college from doing so.

73 7684

7671 74

0

20

40

60

80

100

All adults Asians Blacks Latinos Whites Parents

% who agree

%

26

Financial Aid and Loans

55 58

43

64

50 53

74 76

89

65

7769

0

20

40

60

80

100

All adults Asians Blacks Latinos Whites Parents

Almost anyone can get loans or financial aid

Students have to borrow too much money% who agree

%

27

Importance of Student DiversityHow important do you think it is for public colleges and universities to have a…

54 53

82

64

44

57

44

77

66

50

0

20

40

60

80

100

All adults Asians Blacks Latinos Whites

Racially diverse student bodyEconomically diverse student body

%

% saying very important

28

Most Important Goalfor Community Colleges

California’s community colleges have several important goals. Fromamong the following, which do you think is the most important goal?

41

25

158 5

0

20

40

60

80

Preparing students to

transfer

Providing career

technical education

Providing courses for

lifelong learning

Providing associate's

degrees

Providing basic skills/

remedial education

%

29

Concerns about Affording CollegeHow worried are you about being able to afford

a college education for your youngest child?

4346

50

57

25 2723

17

0

20

40

60

80

Oct 2007 Nov 2008 Nov 2009 Nov 2010

Very worriedNot too/not at all worried

Parents of children 18 or younger

%

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Outline

PPIC Statewide Surveys Attitudes and Policy Preferences Perceptions and Approval Ratings Conclusions

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Conclusions Growing belief that state funding is not enough Support for paying higher taxes—although divided—

is higher than last year; Californians continue to oppose raising student fees

Higher education system perceived as very important to state’s future; little confidence in state to plan accordingly

Californians consider a college education to be very important, overwhelmingly support universal access, but believe many lack opportunity

Low approval for governor and legislature on higher education, but institutional ratings remain high

Parents increasingly worried about college costs

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Upcoming PPIC Statewide Surveys

December– Californians and Their Government

(post-election survey with voters) January

– Californians and Their Government(state budget)

February– Californians and Healthy Communities

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Notes on the use of these slides

These slides were created to accompany a presentation. They do not include full documentation of sources, data samples, methods, and interpretations. To avoid misinterpretations, please contact:

Mark Baldassare or Sonja Petek: surveys@ppic.org

Thank you for your interest in this work.

November 2010

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Higher Education

Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek, Nicole Willcoxon

November 2010