Americans Support Making College Free

INSIGHT FOR THE CAMPAIGN FOR FREE COLLEGE TUITION

January 2017

2 in 3 in U.S. call it very or extremely important for young people to go to college

Democrats are most likely to say going to college is very or extremely important, but most Republicans and independents agree.

How important is it for young people to go to college?

Extremely Important

Very Important

45

43

41

25
All

31

Democrat

QPRETUITION5. In your opinion, how important is it for young people to go to college?

39

41

32

18

23

26

23

Republican

Independent

Blue State
(2016)

Red State (2016)

Nearly 3 in 4 want states to provide free tuition, and 35% support strongly
Those in favor split evenly strong and moderate support; Democrats twice as likely as Republicans to support strongly

Support for state-sponsored free tuition for those academically qualified

Strongly Favor

41

Somewhat Favor

41

38

41

38
35

35
All

48
21
Democrat

Republican

36

33
33
Independent

47

37

33

Blue State
(2016)

Red State
(2016)

21
Clinton Voter Trump Voter

QTUITION2. Do you favor or oppose your state providing free tuition at public universities or colleges for anyone who is academically qualified?

Consensus support for requiring GPA standards and offering to anyone in-state
Requiring GPA minimums and academic and behavioral pledges garner majority support and low opposition, while most oppose
mandatory military service. Income stipulations prove more divisive; universal in-state access to free tuition is more popular.

Support vs. opposition for various requirements to access free tuition

(among all respondents)
Support

72

-6

63

-9

58

-12

53

-14

51

-17

49

-17

Oppose

49

-12

48

-24

48

-16

42

-23

37

-23

35

25

-17
-41

College
GPA/Hours

HS GPA

Available to Academic
All In-State
Pledge

Behavior
Pledge

Pay What
You Can

Apply for
Fed Aid

No Income Community Only if Can't Pledge to Mentoring

Limit
Service
Afford
Live In-State Program

GTUITION3. Many states are now considering programs to provide residents free public college tuition. They are considering several requirements for students to qualify. Some of
those requirements are listed below. Using the scale provided, how important is it that your state would include the following requirements in a free public college tuition program?

Military
Service

Support for more popular requirements varies little between red and blue states
Blue-state residents are slightly more likely to favor universal in-state access, behavioral pledges and requirements to apply for
federal aid, while red-state residents are just slightly more likely to support requiring academic pledges and means-based limits.

Support vs. opposition for various requirements to access free tuition

(by state electoral vote in 2016)
Support:
Oppose:

73

-5

71

-7

College GPA/
Hours

63

-9

63

-10

HS GPA

60

-10

Blue States (2016 vote)

Red States (2016 vote)

56

52

54

53

-13

-15

-13

-13

Available to All
In-State

Academic
Pledge

49

47

50

-19

-16

-17

Behavior Pledge

Pay What You

Can

GTUITION3. Many states are now considering programs to provide residents free public college tuition. They are considering several requirements for students to qualify. Some of
those requirements are listed below. Using the scale provided, how important is it that your state would include the following requirements in a free public college tuition program?

52

-12

[VALUE]

[VALUE]

Apply for Fed

Aid
5

Blue states more likely to support providing free tuition regardless of income
2016 blue states are more likely than red ones to favor requiring mentorship and community service in exchange for free tuition,
while residents of blue and red states oppose military-service requirements by similar pluralities.

Support vs. opposition for various requirements to access free tuition

(by state electoral vote in 2016)
Support:
Oppose:

53

-21

44

51

-12
-26

No Income Limit

46

-19

Community Service

Blue States (2016 vote)

42

-23

42

-23

Only if Cant Afford

Red States (2016 vote)

39

-21

36

40

-14
-25

Pledge to Live
In-State

32

23

-42

-41

-19

Mentoring Program

GTUITION3. Many states are now considering programs to provide residents free public college tuition. They are considering several requirements for students to qualify. Some of
those requirements are listed below. Using the scale provided, how important is it that your state would include the following requirements in a free public college tuition program?

27

Military Service
6

Exposure to proposed requirements increases support 2-5 points across party

lines
Support for tuition proposal rises for every major party group and both red and blue states. Increase in support is stronger for
independents and Democrats, while most of the increase in GOP support is among those who somewhat favor free tuition.

Support for state-sponsored free tuition for those academically qualified

Before exposure to requirements:
After exposure to requirements:

41

40

41

39

38

38
35

38

35

48

Democrat

23

Republican

Somewhat
favor

40

39

39

33

52
21

All

Strongly favor

33

38

Independent

47

Clinton Voter

44

37

39

36

36

35

50
21

41

24

Trump Voter

Blue State
(2016 Vote)

QTUITION2. Do you favor or oppose your state providing free tuition at public universities or colleges for anyone who is academically qualified?
QTUITION4POST. Assuming your state added the requirements important to you, would you be in favor of or oppose providing free tuition at public universities or colleges for anyone who is academically

33

38

Red State
(2016 Vote)
7