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PPIC Statewide Survey:Californians andHigher Education
Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Jennifer Paluch, Sonja Petek
November 2008
2
Outline
PPIC /Hewlett Survey SeriesPerceptions of Higher EducationAttitudes and Policy PreferencesConclusions
3
PPIC Statewide Survey Mission
Provide timely, relevant, nonpartisan data on public’s political, social, economic opinionsInform and improve state policymaking,raise awareness, encourage discussionProvide a voice for all Californians in state policy debates– 196,000+ Californians surveyed since 1998– General, regional, and issue surveys
(budget, environment, K-12 …)
Californians and Higher Education
Second survey on higher education– Funded by The Hewlett Foundation
Perceptions of performance, opportunity Attitudes toward affordability, access Preferences for future funding Telephone interviews Oct. 20–Nov. 3 – 2,503 adults, 1,526 likely voters,
1,026 parents of children 18 or younger– 2,253 landline, 250 cell phone
± 2% margin of error for all adults± 3% for likely voters and parents
4
5
Outline
PPIC /Hewlett Survey SeriesPerceptions of Higher EducationAttitudes and Policy PreferencesConclusions
6
Most Important IssueWhat do you think is the most important issue facing
California’s public colleges and universities today?
35
14
35
19
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Student costs, affordability Not enoughgovernment funding
20072008
%
7
Affordability of Higher EducationHow about the overall affordability of education for students
in California’s public colleges and universities today?
52
37
71
5650 51
0
20
40
60
80
All adults Asians Blacks Latinos Whites Parents
Percent saying big problem
%
8
18
36
40
6
5331
124
Big problem
Somewhat of a problem
Not much of a problem
Don't know
Quality of K–12 and Higher EducationHow about the overall quality of education in California’s…?
K–12 public schools* Public colleges and universities
All adults
* PPIC Statewide Survey, April 2008
9
Approval RatingsDo you approve or disapprove of the way that … is handling
California’s public college and university system?
34 27 29 23
39 47 4750
0
20
40
60
80
100
2007 2008 2007 2008
DisapproveApprove
%
Governor Schwarzenegger The California Legislature
10
Knowledge of Higher EducationThinking about the CCC, CSU, and UC systems,
do you happen to know which branch…?
29
18 17
45
18
10
16
1011
27 27
11
0
10
20
30
40
50
...depends the most on state gov't funding?
...depends theleast on state gov't funding?
...depends the most on student fees and tuition?
...has the most diverse student
population?
CCC CSU UC
%
11
Institutional RatingsOverall, is the … doing an excellent, good, not so good, or poor job?
6662 65
0
20
40
60
80
California CommunityColleges system
California StateUniversity system
University ofCalifornia system
Percent saying excellent or good
%
12
Importance of Racial DiversityHow important do you think it is for public colleges and universities to have a racially diverse student body—that is, a mix of blacks, whites,
Asians, Hispanics, and other minorities?
5549
7267
47
0
20
40
60
80
All adults Asians Blacks Latinos Whites
Percent saying very important
%
13
Importance of Economic DiversityHow important do you think it is for public colleges and universities to
have an economically diverse student body—that is, a mix of students from lower, middle, and upper-income backgrounds?
57
46
6167
51
0
20
40
60
80
All adults Asians Blacks Latinos Whites
Percent saying very important
%
14
Importance 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 many ways to succeed in today’s work world without a college education?
68 6963
84
57
0
20
40
60
80
100
All adults Asians Blacks Latinos Whites
Percent saying necessary
%
15
College OpportunitiesDo 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?
6860
80 81
60
0
20
40
60
80
100
All adults Asians Blacks Latinos Whites
Percent saying many don’t have the opportunity
%
16
Outline
PPIC /Hewlett Survey SeriesPerceptions of Higher EducationAttitudes and Policy PreferencesConclusions
17
Student LoansStudents have to borrow too much money to pay for their college education.
7369
83
65
80
71
0
20
40
60
80
100
All adults Asians Blacks Latinos Whites Parents
Percent who agree
%
18
Saving for CollegeMost families today do a good job of saving
for their children’s college education.
29 26
68 72
0
20
40
60
80
100
2007 2008
DisagreeAgree
%
19
Disparities in Opportunity IDo you think qualified students from low-income families, regardless of
their ethnic background, have less opportunity, more opportunity, or about the same opportunity as others to get a college education?
5956 58 60 58 60
0
20
40
60
80
All adults Asians Blacks Latinos Whites Parents
Percent saying less opportunity
%
20
Disparities in Opportunity IIDo you think qualified students who are ethnic or racial minorities, such as
blacks or Latinos, have less opportunity, more opportunity, or about the same opportunity as others to get a college education?
42 43
5953
32
46
0
20
40
60
80
All adults Asians Blacks Latinos Whites Parents
Percent saying less opportunity
%
21
59
36
5
79
18
3
Agree
Disagree
Don't know
Increasing Funding for LoansCongress should increase the amount of funding for loans
that students can borrow for their college education.
Democrats Republicans
22
Making College More AffordableFor each of the following, please say if you favor or oppose the proposal.
8681
66
0
20
40
60
80
100
Increasing fundingfor work-study
Increasing fundingfor scholarships/grants
Having sliding scale for tuition/fees
Percent of likely voters who favor
%
23
Higher Education TradeoffsHow about spending more state government money to keep down tuition
and fee costs, even if it means less money for other state programs?
5357
42
5249
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
All adults Dem Rep Ind Likely voters
Percent saying they favor
%
24
21
24
19
36
SameHigherLowerDon't know
5723
911
Right amountToo highToo lowDon't know
Community College FeesDo you think that enrollment fees in
the California community college system are currently about the right
amount, too high, or too low?
Do you think that enrollment fees in the California community college
system are currently about the same as, higher than, or lower than
enrollment fees in other states?
25
Effects of State Budget DeficitHow concerned are you that the state’s budget gap will
cause significant spending cuts in higher education?
48
57
34
47 46
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
All adults Dem Rep Ind Likely voters
Percent saying very concerned
%
26
36
59
5
4551
4
YesNoDon't know
Willingness to Pay More for Higher Education
Pay higher taxes forthis purpose, or not?
Increase student fees forthis purpose, or not?
What if the state said it needed more money just to maintain current funding for public colleges and universities. Would you be willing to…
Likely voters
27
Importance of Higher Education to California’s Future
In 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?
72
60
7480
68 71
0
20
40
60
80
100
All adults Asians Blacks Latinos Whites Likely voters
Percent saying very important
%
28
16
47
30
7
More than enoughNot enoughJust enoughDon't know
678
205
Higher percentageLower percentageAbout the sameDon't know
Demand for College-Educated Workers in the Future
California’s economy will need a higher percentage, a lower percentage, or about the same percentage of college-educated
workers as today?
California will have more than enough, not enough, or just enough college-
educated residents needed for the jobs and skills likely to be in demand?
In thinking ahead 20 years, if current trends continue, do you think…
All adults
29
Importance of Investing inHigher Education
In thinking ahead 20 years, how important do you think it is for the state government to be spending more public funds
to increase capacity in public colleges and universities?
4640
51
61
3742
0
20
40
60
80
All adults Asians Blacks Latinos Whites Likelyvoters
Percent saying very important
%
30
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?
58
50
41
48
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
2007 2008
Great deal/SomeVery little/None
%
31
Concern About Affording CollegeHow worried are you about being able to afford
a college education for your youngest child?
4664
29
26
21
32
0
20
40
60
80
100
All parents Latino parents White parents
Somewhat worriedVery worried
%
Conclusions
Majorities say more government funding needed to make higher education more affordableCalifornians give high marks to CCC, CSU, UCMajority says college education necessary– For personal success, for state’s future
Majorities say economic and racial/ethnic diversity very important – Many say low-income students and minorities
have less opportunity to attend Parents worry about cost, not saving enough– Lower-income, Latino parents more likely to
cite high costs as source of concern 32
PPIC Statewide Survey:Californians andHigher Education
Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Jennifer Paluch, Sonja Petek
November 2008
