ARR #9245

Interviewing dates:
Sample:

WGBH
SEPTEMBER 18-22, 2015

1157 TOTAL AMERICAN ADULTS

(Overall Results N=1006; New England Results N=201)
PRELIMINARY TOPLINE

1.

First, how would you rate the overall strength of American society today?
Very strong
Somewhat strong
Not very strong
Not strong at all
(Not sure/Refused)

2.

All
10%
39
33
17
1

N.E.
10%
46
27
15
2

When it comes to succeeding in America today, would you say a college education is:
Essential
Important, but not essential
Or do you think success in America
doesnt require a college education?
(Not sure/Refused)

4.

N.E.
9%
44
28
17
2

How would you rate the strength of the American education system overall, in terms of
how well it prepares Americans to succeed and contribute to a strong society?
Very strong
Somewhat strong
Not very strong
Not strong at all
(Not sure/Refused)

3.

All
11%
42
27
15
4

All
40%
43

N.E.
45%
41

16
1

11
3

In general, do you think that the type of higher education needed to succeed today is
accessible to most Americans, or is it out of reach?
Yes, accessible
No, out of reach
(Not sure/Refused)

All
41%
56
3

N.E.
38%
55
7

How important do you consider each of the following benefits that can be gained from college.
[RANDOMIZE]

5.

Gaining specific, marketable job skills

All
N.E.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

Very
Somewhat Not very Not important (Not sure/
important important important
at all
Refused)
%
%
%
%
%
60
33
4
2
1
63
29
3
2
3

Developing critical thinking skills

All
N.E.

69
74

23
19

5
5

3
2

1
-

Getting a diploma or certificate required for a job

All
N.E.

60
61

31
33

4
4

3
-

1
1

All
N.E.

49
47

39
38

5
5

4
4

2
6

All
N.E.

53
53

31
29

8
10

6
5

1
2

All
N.E.

62
60

30
36

4
2

2
2

1
-

All
N.E.

52
44

27
33

10
10

8
9

2
4

Exploring different subjects to find interests

Gaining independence from parents

Getting a higher paying job

Becoming a more complete citizen

Now please use a scale from A to F to grade the quality of education that you think is provided at
each of the following types of higher education institutions, in general. [IF RESPONDENT
SAYS DEPENDS, READ: I know there is a lot of variation but, if you had to give an average
grade what would you give?]
[RANDOMIZE]
11.

12.

13.

14.

All
N.E.

A
%
27
23

B
%
41
46

C
%
20
26

D
%
3
3

F
%
3
-

(Not sure/
Refused)
%
4
3

Private colleges or universities

All
N.E.

38
33

38
47

13
15

3
1

4
3

5
1

All
N.E.

22
19

41
42

27
26

5
9

2
1

3
2

All
N.E.

12
10

22
21

31
30

13
13

8
7

13
19

Public universities

Community colleges

Online universities

And how would you grade the value of the education provided at each type of institution
meaning is it worth what it costs. Please again use an A through F scale, where A means
excellent value, and F means very poor value. [IF RESPONDENT SAYS DEPENDS, READ: I
know there is a lot of variation but, if you had to give an average grade what would you give?]
[RANDOMIZE]
15.

16.

17.

18.

All
N.E.

A
%
23
19

B
%
37
45

C
%
25
27

D
%
7
4

F
%
6
2

(Not sure/
Refused)
%
3
3

Private colleges or universities

All
N.E.

23
23

29
28

24
21

11
16

9
9

3
2

All
N.E.

30
33

38
39

21
17

6
6

4
2

2
2

All
N.E.

13
10

22
26

28
21

14
15

11
15

11
14

Public universities

Community colleges

Online universities

And finally, how would you grade the job each type of institution does preparing students to
succeed in todays economy. Again please use an A through F scale. [IF RESPONDENT
SAYS DEPENDS, READ: I know there is a lot of variation but, if you had to give an average
grade what would you give?]
[RANDOMIZE]
19.

20.

21.

22.

24.

All
N.E.

A
%
23
23

B
%
40
40

C
%
24
29

D
%
4
4

F
%
5
3

(Not sure/
Refused)
%
4
3

Private colleges or universities

All
N.E.

32
26

39
43

16
20

4
6

4
3

4
2

All
N.E.

20
17

39
36

28
34

6
7

4
4

3
2

All
N.E.

9
8

25
20

30
33

15
16

10
10

11
12

Public universities

Community colleges

Online universities

How important do you think the higher education system is to Americas competitiveness
globally?
Very important
Somewhat important
Not very important
Not at all important
(Not sure/Refused)

25.

All
69%
25
4
2
1

N.E.
67%
24
5
4
-

How important do you think the community college system specifically is to Americas
competitiveness globally?
Very important
Somewhat important
Not very important
Not at all important
(Not sure/Refused)

All
50%
38
8
3
2

N.E.
50%
43
6
1

[ROTATE NEXT THREE QUESTIONS]

26.
How much do you think the average four-year private college or university charges for
a years tuition? [IF DEPENDS ON THE SCHOOL, ASK: Well, what do you think the
average annual tuition is for four-year colleges in your area?]
($40,000+)
($35,000-$39,999)
($30,000-$34,999)
($25,000-$29,999)
($20,000-$24,999)
($15,000-$19,999)
($10,000-$14,999)
($5,000-$9,999)
($1,000-$4,999)
(<$1,000)
(Free)
(Depends)
(Not sure/Refused)

27.

All
46%
5
9
6
8
5
5
4
2
1
10

N.E.
58%
7
8
4
8
2
2
1
1
9

How much do you think the average community college charges for a years tuition? [IF
DEPENDS ON THE SCHOOL, ASK: Well, what do you think the average annual
tuition is for community colleges in your area?]
($40,000+)
($35,000-$39,999)
($30,000-$34,999)
($25,000-$29,999)
($20,000-$24,999)
($15,000-$19,999)
($10,000-$14,999)
($5,000-$9,999)
($1,000-$4,999)
(<$1,000)
(Free)
(Depends)
(Not sure/Refused)

All
2%
2
4
3
7
8
15
26
20
1
1
11

N.E.
4%
3
4
5
8
10
13
28
15
1
1
8

28.

How much do you think the average four-year public university charges for a years
tuition? [IF DEPENDS ON THE SCHOOL, ASK: Well, what do you think the average
annual tuition is for four-year public universities in your area?]
($40,000+)
($35,000-$39,999)
($30,000-$34,999)
($25,000-$29,999)
($20,000-$24,999)
($15,000-$19,999)
($10,000-$14,999)
($5,000-$9,999)
($1,000-$4,999)
(<$1,000)
(Free)
(Depends)
(Not sure/Refused)

29.

All
16%
3
8
9
13
13
13
10
3
1
11

N.E.
18%
6
9
12
16
12
10
3
2
1
1
11

If a high school senior inherited $200,000, what do you think would be better for him or her to do
with that money:

Spend it all on a four-year college education

Spend some on a community college education and save the rest
(Not sure/Refused)

30.

All
34%
61
5

N.E.
42%
50
8

What would you advise a high school graduate considering taking out loans to pay for
collegeto go to a community college, or to go to a four-year college, or to not go to
college at all?
Community college
Four-year college
Dont go
(Neither)
(Not sure/Refused)

All
56%
34
5
2
3

N.E.
55%
32
6
1
5

31.

What if you knew the graduate was deciding between: [ROTATE]

A 4-year college with $9,000 a year tuition, and
A free 2-year education at a community college?
(Dont go)
(Neither)
(Not sure/Refused)

All
34%
59
1
6

N.E.
35%
61
1
4

Now I would like to talk in more detail about community colleges. First
32.
33.

What is the first word or phrase that comes to mind when you think about community
colleges? [RECORD VERBATIM]
Do you have a community college close to where you live?
Yes
No
(Not sure/Refused)

34.

All
90%
8
2

N.E.
84%
13
2

Have you ever taken classes at a community college?

Yes
No
(Not sure/Refused)

All
49%
51
-

N.E.
33%
67
-

[IF NO in Q33]
35.
Would you consider taking classes at a community college near you?
Yes
No
(Not sure/Refused)

All
46%
50
4

N.E.
42%
57
1

[IF YES in Q33]

36.
Would you take community college classes again, or recommend them to a friend?
Yes
No
(Not sure/Refused)

All
90%
9
1

N.E.
91%
9
-

37.

Do you have any children under the age of 25?

Yes
No
(Refused)

All
37%
63
-

N.E.
37%
63
-

[IF YES in Q36]

38.
Would you encourage your child to take classes at a community college?
Yes
No
(Not sure/Refused)

39.
40.

All
78%
20
2

N.E.
75%
25
-

What do you think is the best thing about community collegeswhat is the biggest
benefit they offer to students? [RECORD VERBATIM]
And what do you think is the worst thing about community collegeswhat is the biggest
downside of going to a community college? [RECORD VERBATIM]

I am going to mention some potential reasons for attending a community college. Please tell me
if you think each is a very common reason for attending community college, a somewhat
common reason, not a very common reason, or not a common reason at all.
[RANDOMIZE]
Not
Very Somewhat Not very common (Not sure/
common common common at all Refused)
%
%
%
%
%
All 86
11
1
1
1
N.E. 85
11
4
1

41.

It is more affordable than a 4-year college

42.

It is an option for people with bad grades in high school

43.

44.

All
N.E.

47
48

34
36

11
6

5
5

3
5

To learn the skills to get a better job and earn more money
All
N.E.

66
64

25
29

6
2

2
5

1
-

60
58

33
32

4
6

2
3

1
1

To eventually transfer to a 4-year college

All
N.E.

45.

46.

To learn English
All
N.E.

35
33

32
37

17
17

8
7

9
7

To take a course or two without committing to a program

All
N.E.

56
59

34
29

5
8

3
3

2
1

68
64

27
28

3
3

1
2

1
2

71
68

24
26

2
5

1
1

1
1

47.

It is conveniently located

48.

All
N.E.
It is an option for people with job or family responsibilities
All
N.E.

Please tell me whether you agree or disagree with the following statements. [IF AGREE /
DISAGREE: Is that strongly (agree/disagree), or only somewhat?]
[RANDOMIZE]
Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Strongly (Not sure/
agree
agree
disagree disagree Refused)
49.

50.

51.

52.

53.

Community colleges are essential to helping people get

basic job skills
All
N.E.

%
54
50

%
35
37

%
5
7

%
5
5

%
1
2

Community colleges are essential to providing low income

families opportunities to improve their situation
All
N.E.

63
59

31
33

5
5

2
3

Community colleges are an essential part of our education

system
All
N.E.

63
61

29
30

3
6

3
2

1
2

All
N.E.

22
17

35
41

23
26

19
15

2
1

It would be difficult to live a middle class life with just a

community college education
All
N.E.

19
20

25
25

28
32

26
20

2
3

You typically get what you pay for in higher education

54.

Most community college students would probably go

somewhere else if they had a choice
All
N.E.

27
27

38
47

23
13

9
8

On another topic
55.

How closely have you been following the presidential race?

Very closely
Somewhat closely
Not very closely
Not at all
(Refused)

56.

N.E.
29%
40
16
15
-

How much difference do you think who wins the presidential election will make in your
day to day life?
A great deal
A lot
Some
Not much
None at all
(Not sure/Refused)

57.

All
31%
39
17
13
-

All
29%
14
26
17
9
4

N.E.
24%
15
26
20
12
2

How likely is it that a presidential candidates position on college affordability could sway
your vote?
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Not very likely
Not at all likely
(Not sure/Refused)

All
24%
39
19
17
1

N.E.
21%
31
32
15
1

3
6

Now I'd like to ask you a few questions for statistical purposes only.
58.

What is the highest level of formal education you have completed?

(Some high school)
(High school graduate)
(Vocational, technical school)
(Some college)
(College graduate)
(Graduate degree)
(Otherrecord)
(Not sure/Refused)

59.

All
10%
29
10
27
16
9

N.E.
8%
37
15
23
13
5

Are you registered to vote in (state)? [IN NON-REGISTRATION STATES: Do you

pretty much vote in all presidential elections or have you skipped some of them in the
past?]
Yes (All)
No
(Not sure/Refused)

61.

N.E.
5%
23
5
24
24
18
-

In terms of politics, would you say that you are very liberal, somewhat liberal, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal
Somewhat liberal
(Moderate)
Somewhat conservative
Very conservative
(Not sure/Refused)

60.

All
7%
28
3
25
22
15
-

All
84%
15
1

N.E.
81%
19
-

When you think about politics, do you think of yourself as a Democrat or a Republican?
Democrat
Republican
(Independent)
(Other)
(Not sure/Refused)

All
40%
29
21
3
7

N.E.
32%
27
30
4
6

[CELL PHONE SAMPLE ONLY]

62. Now thinking about your telephone use...is there at least one telephone inside your home
that is currently working and is not a cell phone?
Yes, has a home telephone
No, no home telephone
(Not sure/Refused)

All
39%
61
1

N.E.
56%
44
-

[LANDLINE SAMPLE ONLY]

63.
Does anyone in your household have a working cellular telephone?
Yes
No
(Not sure/Refused)

All
85%
15
1

N.E.
85%
15
-

[IF YES TO EITHER OF PREVIOUS 2 QUESTIONS]

64.
Of all the telephone calls that you and the other people in your household receive, are...
All or almost all calls received on a cell phone
Some received on a cell phone and some on a regular home phone
Very few or none received on a cell phone
(Not sure/Refused)
65.

Are you of Latino or Hispanic descent?

Yes
No
(Not sure/Refused)
66.

All
12%
88
1

N.E.
9%
90
1

All
71%
12
3
9
2
2

N.E.
84%
3
4
7
-

What is your racial or ethnic heritage?

White
African-American, black
Asian
Latino, Hispanic
(Otherspecify)
(Refused)

All
33%
44
22
1

N.E.
35%
39
25
-

[CELL PHONE SAMPLE ONLY]

67.
Would you describe the area where you live as urban, suburban, small town or rural?
Urban
Suburban
Small town
Rural
(Not sure/Refused)

68.

All
49%
10
6
8
4
22
1

N.E.
57%
13
6
3
2
20
-

Thinking in terms of economic classes, which best describes your households situation:
Upper class
Upper middle class
Middle class
Lower middle class
Lower class
(Not sure/Refused)

70.

N.E.
24%
46
19
7
4

Which of the following best describes your current employment situation?

Employed full-time
Employed part-time
Full-time student
Unemployed
Stay-at-home parent
Retired
(Not sure)

69.

All
19%
45
23
12
-

All
2%
19
52
18
6
3

N.E.
2%
19
57
17
3
2

In which of these categories I read is your total YEARLY household income--that is, of
everyone living in your family household?
Under $30,000
$30,000 to under $50,000
$50,000 to under $75,000
$75,000 to under $100,000
$100,000 or more
(Not sure/Refused)

All
18%
18
19
14
20
11

N.E.
15%
12
23
16
22
13

71.

[OBSERVATION] Sex:
Female
Male

0a.

All
50%
50

N.E.
54%
46

All
13%
15
17
19
18
19

N.E.
11%
16
15
19
20
19

In what year were you born?

18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65+