What Do People Think? Results from an Illinois Public Opinion Survey

Executive Summary (the full report is available below)

In May 2008, a public opinion survey was conducted on the attitudes and opinions of Illinois residents regarding higher education. Areas investigated included the overall value of a college degree in today’s economy, assessment of the State’s colleges and universities, issues pertaining to costs of attendance and financing the State’s colleges and universities, as well as future investment priorities for higher education in Illinois.

Based on the survey results, the public recognizes that education is an important issue. However, they are not overly impressed with how well Illinois public colleges and universities are performing. For example, in the backdrop of significant increases in tuition and fees, Illinois residents are not convinced that students are getting their money’s worth.

One encouraging finding is that residents in Illinois strongly agreed that regardless of family income, every Illinois student who is qualified should be able to go to college. However, respondents also felt students have to borrow too much to go to college, that tuition and fees need to be lowered, and that more financial aid should to be offered to needy students. Illinois residents favor spending more state money on higher education, even if this involves reallocation from other functions of state government but are less inclined to increase support if raising taxes is required.

There appears to be a disjuncture between how higher education portrays and presents itself, and how Illinois residents view higher education. This was evidenced in several important areas including the public’s understanding of: (a) the impact of cutbacks in state support in explaining higher tuition and fee increases; (b) the priorities for investment in higher education; (c) the role of research and economic development as a major mission; and (d) the perception of tuition and fee costs at universities and community colleges. Overall, there is substantial room for growth in the partnership between the public and institutions of higher education in Illinois.

Documents related to the Higher Education Summit, including the full report, are available below. Questions and comments can be sent to forum@ed.uiuc.edu or igpa@uillinois.edu. To contact Stanley Ikenberry, call 217-265-5409. To contact Robert Rich, call 217-244-8550 or 217-493-9345.