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Who Benefits Most from Free College?

In our latest survey, we asked our readers a number of questions about a current hot topic: Should college be free? Readers were asked to indicate the degree to which they supported several statements, and 653 of you responded.

Here’s what we learned:

1. I support the idea that a two-year college education (AA equivalent) should be free for all eligible students.

Strongly Agree 34.5%

Agree 8.3%

Neither Agree Nor Disagree 12.6%

Disagree 44.4%

Strongly Disagree 0.2%

2. A free two-year college education (AA equivalent) would help my own institution.

Strongly Agree 12.4%

Agree 32.1%

Neither Agree Nor Disagree 34.6%

Disagree 20.3%

Strongly Disagree 0.6%

3. I support the idea that a four-year college education (BA/BS equivalent) should be free for all eligible students.

Strongly Agree 38.1%

Agree 0.3%

Neither Agree Nor Disagree 0.2%

Disagree 56.0%

Strongly Disagree 5.4%

4. A free four-year college education (BA/BS equivalent) would help my own institution.

Strongly Agree 42.8%

Agree 14.2%

Neither Agree Nor Disagree 13.1%

Disagree 15.6%

Strongly Disagree 14.3%

5. I support the idea that programs taken at community colleges (although not at four-year colleges and universities) should be free for all eligible students.

Strongly Agree 0.2%

Agree 25.1%

Neither Agree Nor Disagree 25.6%

Disagree 48.8%

Strongly Disagree 0.3%

6. Free community college programs would help my own institution.

Strongly Agree 22.3%

Agree 33.2%

Neither Agree Nor Disagree 10.4%

Disagree 34.0%

Strongly Disagree 0.1%

7. I support the idea that a two-year college education (AA equivalent) should be free for all eligible students in families with a household income less than $125,000.

Strongly Agree 34.1%

Agree 22.1%

Neither Agree Nor Disagree 11.8%

Disagree 30.2%

Strongly Disagree 1.8%

8. A free two-year college education (AA equivalent) for students from families with a household income less than $125,000 would help my institution.

Strongly Agree 21.5%

Agree 35.6%

Neither Agree Nor Disagree 11.1%

Disagree 31.5%

Strongly Disagree 0.3%

9. I support the idea of the federal government covering the first $10,000 of a student’s tuition and fees each year.

Strongly Agree 46.7%

Agree 10.7%

Neither Agree Nor Disagree 11.1%

Disagree 31.7%

Strongly Disagree 0.1%

10. Having the federal government covering the first $10,000 of a student’s tuition and fees each year would be good for my institution.

Strongly Agree 45.3%

Agree 22.2%

Neither Agree Nor Disagree 23.1%

Disagree 9.3%

Strongly Disagree 0.1%

11. I support the idea of the federal government covering the first $25,000 of a student’s tuition and fees each year.

Strongly Agree 22.2%

Agree 10.3%

Neither Agree Nor Disagree 11.8%

Disagree 55.5%

Strongly Disagree 0.2%

12. Having the federal government covering the first $25,000 of a student’s tuition and fees each year would be good for my institution.

Strongly Agree 26.7%

Agree 10.4%

Neither Agree Nor Disagree 21.1%

Disagree 41.1%

Strongly Disagree 0.7%

Of those who responded to our survey, 87.3% were from public institutions, 12.7% were from private institutions. Roughly two-thirds said that their schools enrolled between 10,000 and 20,000 students. Only eight respondents were from a school with an enrollment greater than 25,000. The remainder were almost equally split between schools with fewer than 5,000 students and those with between 5,000 and 10,000 students.