---
title: "1. Colleges and universities, K-12 public schools"
description: "Americans’ views of whether educational institutions are having a positive or negative impact on the country are essentially unchanged since late 2022. About half (53%) say colleges and universities are having a positive impact, while 45% say they’re having a negative impact. Views of the impact of K-12 public schools are identical (53% positive, 45% […]"
date: "2024-02-01"
authors:
  - name: "Reem Nadeem"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/02/01/colleges-and-universities-k-12-public-schools/"
categories:
  - "Business & Workplace"
  - "Higher Education"
  - "K-12"
  - "Military & Veterans"
  - "Partisanship & Issues"
  - "Religious Leaders & Institutions"
  - "Tech Companies"
  - "Trust in Government"
  - "Unions"
datasets:
  - name: "American Trends Panel Wave 140"
    url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/dataset/american-trends-panel-wave-140/"
---

# 1. Colleges and universities, K-12 public schools

Americans’ views of whether educational institutions are having a positive or negative impact on the country are [essentially unchanged since late 2022](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/11/17/anti-corporate-sentiment-in-u-s-is-now-widespread-in-both-parties/). About half (53%) say colleges and universities are having a positive impact, while 45% say they’re having a negative impact.

Views of the impact of K-12 public schools are identical (53% positive, 45% negative). These also are little changed from 2022, though somewhat less positive than in 2021 (when 61% had a positive opinion).

#### Partisanship and ideology

[![Chart shows Democrats about twice as likely as Republicans to have positive views of colleges, K-12 public schools](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2024/02/PP_2024.02.01_institutions_1-01.png?w=420)](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/02/01/colleges-and-universities-k-12-public-schools/pp_2024-02-01_institutions_1-01-png/)

Democrats are about twice as likely as Republicans to view both colleges and K-12 schools positively.

Roughly three-quarters (74%) of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say colleges have a positive impact – nearly as many (72%) say the same of K-12 public schools.

Only about a third of Republicans and Republican leaners express positive opinions about the impact of colleges (31%) or K-12 public schools (34%).

There is a sharp ideological divide among Republicans in views of educational institutions. Just 20% of conservative Republicans say colleges have a positive impact – roughly half the share of moderate and liberal Republicans who say the same (53%). The difference is similar when it comes to opinions about how K-12 public schools affect the country.

Democrats are less ideologically divided: Liberal Democrats are more likely than conservative and moderate Democrats to view colleges and public schools positively, but sizable majorities in both groups say colleges and public schools have a positive effect.

#### Age, education

Younger adults and those with more formal education are more likely than older adults and those with less education to view educational institutions positively.

##### Colleges and universities

[![Chart shows Wide age, educational and ideological gaps in views of colleges and K-12 public schools](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2024/02/PP_2024.02.01_institutions_1-02.png?w=420)](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/02/01/colleges-and-universities-k-12-public-schools/pp_2024-02-01_institutions_1-02-png/)

- Roughly six-in-ten of those ages 18 to 29 (63%) say that colleges and universities are having a positive impact, compared with 56% of those 30 to 49 and 52% of those 50 to 64.

- Among those ages 65 and older, more say that colleges are having a negative impact (56%) than say they are having a positive impact (40%).

- 59% of those with at least a bachelor’s degree view colleges and universities positively, compared with 50% of those without a bachelor’s degree.

##### K-12 public schools

- 58% of adults under 30 say that K-12 schools are having a positive impact, as do 54% of adults ages 30 to 64. This drops to 46% among those ages 65 and older.

- Six-in-ten college graduates say that K-12 public schools are having a positive impact, compared with 49% of those without college degrees.

---

**Next:** [2. Small and large businesses, banks, and technology companies](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/02/01/small-and-large-businesses-banks-and-technology-companies.md)