Most Americans seem to agree with former President Donald Trump’s view that higher education is in need of serious reform. Recent data reveals that confidence in colleges has dropped significantly, with only 36% of Americans expressing a high level of trust in these institutions. This marks a sharp decline from 57% just a decade ago, according to Harry Enten, CNN’s chief data analyst.
Enten shared these findings during a discussion with Kate Balduan, highlighting that 68% of Americans feel that higher education is heading in the wrong direction. This growing discontent appears to be fueled by a widespread perception of ideological bias on college campuses. Polls indicate that 45% of Americans believe colleges lean liberal, while only 24% disagree with that notion. The sentiment is even stronger among Republicans, with 67% agreeing that there is a liberal bias in higher education.
This shift in public opinion has significant implications. Trump has been vocal about his criticism of universities, arguing that many are out of touch with conservative values. Enten pointed out that this aligns with a broader sentiment among Republicans who feel that academia is not serving their interests.
The impact of these views is already being felt. According to Enten, interest from international students in U.S. universities has dropped sharply, with webpage views for American courses declining by 50% from January to April. This trend suggests that potential students from abroad may be looking for educational opportunities elsewhere.
As Trump continues to push for changes in higher education, it seems many Americans are on board with the idea that reform is necessary. Whether they agree with his methods remains a different question, but the consensus is clear: there is growing concern about the current state of higher education in the United States.