According to a poll from the Art & Science Group, 28% of prospective students ruled out attending colleges because of politics, with 75% of liberals ruling out schools because of state policies on abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. 66% of conservatives did the same for schools in states they deemed too liberal. Texas was the most commonly excluded state.

Just more than a quarter — 28 percent — of students ruled out a school because of the politics, policies or legal situation in the college or university’s state, according to a new poll from the Art & Science Group.

“For a student to say, ‘I’m willing to rule out a state, a school in a state,’ before they even decide where to apply, that’s a strong indication of how important these issues are to young people,” said Nanci Tessier, principal at Art & Science Group. 

That’s one of the main findings from a new survey released by the Art & Science Group, a higher-education consulting firm. The percentage of students saying they ruled out a college based on the political leanings of a state increased slightly from a similar survey conducted by the group last year, which found 24% of students indicating their college choice would be affected by such factors.

Art & Science Group, which conducted the surveys, found that 28% dismiss schools based on state politics. And two-thirds of those students do so right out of the gate. “That's somewhat alarming, because obviously the colleges and universities don't have a choice,” said Craig Goebel, a principal at Art & Science Group.

As the presidential election approaches in a politically polarized nation, students are more intensely considering a state’s political leanings or local policies when they decide which college to attend, according to the results of a new studentPOLL by the Art & Science Group.

The Tulane Hullabaloo references Art & Science Group’s studentPOLL, published in September 2024 on the impact of rankings on college choice, related to Tulane's place in the recent U.S. News Best College rankings.

The New York Times references Art & Science Group’s studentPOLL, published in September 2024, while discussing the impact of rankings on high school seniors’ college decisions.

David Strauss is featured in a new episode of the College Uncovered podcast from GBHNews + The Hechinger Report. This special election year season aims to help listeners navigate the politics of American colleges and universities.