Published by New America
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Does Politics Matter When It Comes to College Decisions?
Nearly half of recent high school graduates believe so, according to the latest survey from Arts & Science. That doesn’t mean politics is a major factor in most students’ enrollment decisions, but the share who would rule out a college solely because of its state’s political climate has risen steadily, from 24 percent in 2023 to 34 percent in 2026. Notably, for students who do consider state politics when choosing colleges, most do so at a very early stage in their search. And their decisions can extend beyond individual institutions: Some students are also hesitant to consider states or regions where the most common political orientation differs from their own.
The findings suggest that as politics increasingly shapes students’ college decisions, institutions should be ready to discuss their campus environment in the context of state or regional politics, and consider doing so early in their outreach to prospective students.