Only 2 percent of college students say they feel they don’t belong on campus because of their political views.
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Despite widespread political rhetoric that colleges suppress conservative views, new data show that the majority of college students feel free to express their feelings regardless of political affiliation.
According to a report published today by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation, only 2 percent of all college students—including 3 percent of Republicans—say they feel excluded from campus because of their political views. That’s one of the many disconnects between public perceptions about the climate and value of higher education and what students say is actually happening on campus, according to the report, “The College Reality Check: What Students Experience vs. What America Believes.”
“For years, the American public has been saying they’ve lost confidence in the highest levels because they believe it’s too political, too expensive and doesn’t lead to jobs,” said Courtney Brown, Lumina’s vice president of impact and planning. “If we compare that to what students and alumni are saying, it’s two different stories.”
In an effort to understand that disconnect, researchers last fall surveyed nearly 4,000 college students and 6,000 students about their perceptions of campus climate and the value of pursuing higher education.
The results showed that two-thirds of college students said that most of their professors encouraged them to express their opinions, including those that made others uncomfortable. At the same time, 71 percent said their professors create a classroom environment that supports both students who express unpopular views and those who might be offended by such views.
In addition, 93 percent of students said they are confident they are learning the skills they need to get the type of job they want, and 88 percent expressed confidence their degree or diploma will help them find a job after graduation. A majority (75 percent) believe college is worth the cost, including 76 percent of Democrats, 78 percent of Republicans and 76 percent of Independents.
Similarly, a majority of college graduates (71 percent) said getting their degree was worth the cost, including 74 percent of Democrats, 67 percent of Republicans and 74 percent of Independents.
But those findings are not consistent with a general decline in public trust in colleges and universities over the past decade.
For example, between 2015 and 2024, the percentage of American adults who say they have “a lot” or “a lot” of confidence in higher education fell from 57 percent to 36 percent, according to data from Gallup. While public confidence levels rebounded by six percentage points in 2025, a sharp political divide remained: Just 26 percent of Republican adults said they had a lot of confidence in higher education, compared to 41 percent of Independents and 61 percent of Democrats.
That lack of public confidence stems in part from the growing belief that colleges are bastions of political indoctrination. In 2025, 38 percent of American adults said their skepticism stems from the “political agenda” of higher education—including perceptions that it is “too liberal,” doesn’t allow students to think for themselves and wants to “change the mind” of students—compared to 28 percent who cited politics as the source of their skepticism, according to 202llup.
Regardless of the disconnect between public opinion and reality, the general public’s negative perceptions of college are increasingly influencing state and federal policy.
Since taking office last year, the Trump administration has issued numerous orders and directives aimed at dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs in higher education, which they say alienate conservative students. At the same time, many universities, including Ohio State University, the University of Florida and the University of Texas at Austin, have responded to desegregation problems by opening public centers dedicated to diversity of opinion, often staffed by DEI critics.
“The political divide we’re facing right now defines our country. But that doesn’t explain what’s happening in classrooms and campuses across the country,” said Brown. “[Policymakers] we need to focus on the evidence and not just on rare or unimportant issues. If students report that they feel like they have freedom of speech and are getting the skills they need, they should pay attention to that.”
Cost of Common Concerns
Another point of view that students, alumni and the general public share most, however, is that college is too expensive.
While 64 percent of college students currently enrolled say four-year public colleges are less expensive, only 51 percent say the same about top universities and 31 percent say the same about private four-year colleges. And only one-third of students believe four-year universities charge “fair prices,” including 27 percent of Democrats, 32 percent of Republicans and 19 percent of Independents.
Meanwhile, 24 percent of Americans say their lack of confidence in higher education is due to high costs, according to a 2025 survey from Gallup.
“Students tell us what’s working on campus and what they need help with, which is being able to pay for themselves,” said Brown. “Colleges and universities must be transparent about costs and how their credentials match the job market.”
