A growing share of the American public believe the nation’s higher education system is veering off course, according to new data from the Pew Research Center. Seventy percent of U.S. adults now say that colleges and universities are “generally going in the wrong direction” — a sharp rise from 56% in 2020.
The survey of 3,445 adults, conducted as the Trump administration pushes a series of controversial higher education policies, reveals widespread dissatisfaction across political, educational, and demographic lines. Recently, the administration proposed that nine major universities adopt a set of policy changes — reportedly aligned with President Trump’s agenda — in exchange for preferential access to federal funding. The timing of Pew’s report underscores growing tension between political influence and public confidence in the sector.
Widespread Discontent Across Party and Education Lines
While disapproval of higher education spans nearly all groups, some differences persist. Adults with a four-year degree are slightly more likely to say the system is headed in the wrong direction than those without one (74% versus 69%). Partisan divisions also remain, though they have narrowed in recent years.
According to Pew, “77% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say the higher education system is going in the wrong direction, compared with a smaller majority (65%) of Democrats and Democratic leaners.” Both groups’ disapproval has increased by at least 10 percentage points since 2020, signaling growing unease about the direction of colleges and universities regardless of political affiliation.
Tuition, Jobs, and Financial Support Top Concerns
Across specific performance areas, few Americans rate higher education highly. Nearly eight-in-ten (79%) say colleges are doing a “fair or poor job” keeping tuition affordable. More than half give similarly low marks for preparing students for well-paying jobs (55%), providing financial aid to those who need it (52%), and developing critical thinking skills (49%).
The findings suggest that even as universities expand career-readiness programs and affordability initiatives, the public remains skeptical about their effectiveness. These results come as many institutions continue to struggle with enrollment declines, funding cuts, and public criticism over administrative spending and free speech issues.
The Free Speech Divide
Concerns about campus speech remain a flashpoint in national discourse — and one frequently amplified by the Trump administration. Pew reports that 45% of Americans believe colleges are doing a fair or poor job exposing students to a “wide range of opinions and viewpoints.” A similar share (46%) say institutions are failing to provide adequate opportunities for students to express their own perspectives.
Republicans are far more likely than Democrats to view higher education negatively in this area. Among GOP respondents, 61% say colleges are doing a fair or poor job exposing students to differing viewpoints, compared with 29% of Democrats. The same pattern holds true for fostering student expression (53% versus 38%). These findings mirror the broader partisan debate over academic freedom, with conservatives alleging ideological bias and liberals emphasizing protection from hate speech and misinformation.
Bright Spots and Persistent Challenges
One of the few areas where higher education earns relatively positive marks is in research and innovation. About one-quarter of adults (27%) rate colleges and universities as “excellent” or “very good” in advancing discovery, while roughly a third (32%) give them low marks.
Still, even traditionally noncontroversial areas like student mental health services draw criticism. Nearly half (46%) of respondents say colleges are doing only a fair or poor job supporting students in crisis, while 25% say they’re not sure — suggesting uncertainty about whether institutions are meeting rising mental health needs.
A System Under Pressure
Pew’s latest findings capture a moment of convergence between political intervention and public dissatisfaction. Colleges and universities, already facing financial strain and cultural polarization, now contend with federal proposals that tie funding to ideological conformity — a move many educators warn could further erode trust.
As Americans across the political spectrum question whether higher education is fulfilling its mission, the survey’s findings raise a pressing question for institutional leaders and policymakers alike: can confidence in the nation’s colleges be rebuilt while they remain at the center of partisan conflict?
