Difference by race and ethnicity erupt when race is even hinted at regarding higher education.
The impact of race, particularly with white Republicans, is particularly apparent when questions are about university admissions.
White Republicans are almost half as likely (40%) to support admissions policies that have a racial connotation than one that omits that (69%).
Among white Democrats, there is virtually no difference from the admissions policy with a racial cue (82%) than the one that omits it (77%). Black Americans also exhibit little difference in support for the two different admissions policy statements (67% to 66%).
Racial cueing: “Allowing universities to base admissions on a range of factors, including test scores, potential, and if the applicant comes from a disadvantaged community.”
Nonracial cueing: “Allowing universities to base admissions on a range of factors, including test scores and potential.”
Half of Black Americans believe their race gives them a disadvantage when it comes to access and opportunity for higher education.
More than half (57%) of white Democrats feel their race is an advantage compared to only 12% of white Republicans.
A large majority of white Democrats (79%) and Black Americans (81%) believe that higher education needs to continue making changes to give minority Americans equal opportunities with white Americans. A majority of white Republicans (76%) think higher education has changed enough.
The impact of culture wars also emerges when people are asked if ‘someone like them’ would be comfortable on college campuses. White Republicans are among the least likely to say they would be comfortable at a university.
White Americans, particularly white Republicans, are less likely to say people like them would be comfortable in four-year colleges or post-graduate universities.
White Democrats, Black, and Hispanic Americans all register about the same levels of comfort. Asian Americans generally are slightly more likely to say they would be comfortable in four-year colleges or universities.
