Americans’ views on higher education varied along sociodemographic lines. Some of these differences—especially by age and race—are stark and speak to different visions of what government should be and should do. For example, racial minorities are more likely than white Americans to endorse both the idea of government responsibility and the idea of parental responsibility. To racial minorities, students’ responsibility should be to focus on their schoolwork, while parents and government’s responsibility should be to facilitate students’ success by reducing the financial burden on students.

Age differences also are pronounced. Older Americans (65 and over) are much more likely than other age groups to see parents as responsible for funding college and much less likely to see both students and government as responsible. In contrast, younger Americans (under the age of 30) are the least likely to see parents as responsible and the most likely to see government as responsible. Interestingly, although the media often portrays youths as “entitled” and “spoiled,” young Americans are the only age group that places more responsibility on students than on parents.  

Professor Powell is writing a book Who Should Pay? Higher Education, Responsibility and the Public, which summarizes the key patterns found from these interviews. Chapters of the book are coauthored with current and former graduate students.