The Public Perception Puzzle
A series by The Chronicle to examine higher ed's public perception problem — and the solutions to it.
Recent Reporting
Enrollment Shift
Their attendance rate has seen the steepest drop among any demographic in recent years.
Admissions & Recruitment
A Chronicle analysis shows their numbers are dropping faster than any other group’s.
College Matters from The Chronicle
For some recent high-school graduates, $18 an hour sounds like a safer bet than pursuing a degree.
Making the case
In Iowa, higher-education institutions are struggling to compete with local businesses that offer middle-class jobs without a degree.
Enrollment Challenges
For many of America’s 40 million college dropouts, the reasons not to return are obvious.
Parsing the Narrative
Yes, the sector has a lot that it needs to fix. But criticisms that seem to dismiss the value of college altogether often miss key details.
“Americans still believe in the value of a college credential, but they aren’t convinced higher education is fulfilling its promise to society.”
Eric Kelderman, "What the Public Really Thinks About Higher Education"Our Journalists Discuss the Project
Partisan Politics
Strife in the Middle East
Some have struggled to find the right words on the Israel-Hamas conflict. Others have opted not to speak at all.
Across the Divide
A new Chronicle poll shows bipartisan support for giving internal actors the most influence on the curriculum. But it also reveals deep political divides on other questions about higher ed.
College administrators say the efforts are an effective way to repair decades of discrimination. Republican politicians say the practices violate the law.
Political Interference
Public flagships in conservative states face reputational and recruiting challenges.
Partisan Politics
In Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, as in other places across America, disdain for higher education is thriving.
Majorities of survey respondents think four-year colleges positively influence students’ ways of thinking over all and their personal values. Far fewer answered the same when asked about students’ political views.
Emma Pettit, "Who Should Shape What Colleges Teach?"
A NEW SOCIAL CONTRACT BETWEEN COLLEGES AND THE PUBLIC
During ChronFest 2023, Senior Reporter Eric Kelderman moderated a panel discussion on what’s needed to develop a new social contract between colleges and the public for the country to thrive.
The Public Good
Quiz
Last summer The Chronicle polled the population about how colleges serve students and society, and more than 1,000 American adults answered. In this quiz, see if you can guess what they said.
What Higher Ed Means to Me
People talk to us about their personal experiences with higher ed.
Data
Explore the nuances of public views of higher ed in 15 findings from Chronicle polling data.
Presidents' Roundtable
Public polling on higher education has set off some alarm bells. If confidence is falling, what does that augur for colleges?
Public Perception
Americans still believe in the value of a college credential, but they aren’t convinced higher education is fulfilling its promise to society, The Chronicle’s national survey shows.
America's Views on College
The Chronicle asked more than a thousand adults how well colleges serve students and society. Explore the data to find points of confidence and doubt, consensus and divergence.
Getting Outside the Ivory Tower
More community-focused scholarship could build public trust. What’s standing in the way?
Making the Case
Americans increasingly see the public value of higher education. Can colleges seize the moment?
Public Opinion
Most Americans think higher education is headed in the wrong direction, but they love their local college. Why?
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FROM OUR SURVEY: HOW GOOD A JOB DO COLLEGES DO EDUCATING THEIR STUDENTS?
Responses are shown by educational attainment. Read more on views of teaching.
The Student Experience
Student Debt
Results from a national survey, commissioned by The Chronicle, offer a peek into how everyday Americans think about student debt.
The Invisible Hurdle
Bureaucracy, institutional self-interest, and seemingly minor systemic snags can make moving from community college through a four-year institution almost unbearably difficult.
Where Will Tomorrow's Students Come From?
They’re more likely than white respondents to consider higher education, according to a national Chronicle survey.
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Commentary
The Review | Opinion
Our current system isn’t working for society. Digital alternatives can change that.
The Review | Essay
What elite higher ed’s critics on both the left and the right get wrong.
The Review | Opinion
They’re pulled in many directions. A refocus on teaching is in order.
The Review | Essay
How conservative activists use state legislatures to control what colleges can teach.
The Review | Essay
To understand today’s political battles, you need to know how they began.
NATIONAL IMPACT
The Chronicle’s in-depth, insightful reporting informs the journalism of other media organizations.
