Americans’ confidence in higher education has fallen to 36%, sharply lower than in two prior readings in 2015 (57%) and 2018 (48%). In addition to the 17% of U.S. adults who have “a great deal” and 19% “quite a lot” of confidence, 40% have “some” and 22% “very little” confidence. …

In 2015, majorities of Americans in all key subgroups expressed confidence in higher education, with one exception — independents (48%). By 2018, though, confidence had fallen across all groups, with the largest drop, 17 percentage points, among Republicans. In the latest measure, confidence once again fell across the board, but Republicans’ sank the most — 20 points to 19%, the lowest of any group. Confidence among adults without a college degree and those aged 55 and older dropped nearly as much as Republicans’ since 2018.

[Alternative headline: Americans prove that they are paying attention. The rot in Academia has become unavoidably obvious by now. Confidence among Democrats has sunk nine points in eight years, and now only 59% of the party of Academia declares “a great deal” or “a lot” of confidence in higher education. Eight years ago, all age demos showed a majority of respondents with that level of confidence; today, none of the age demos do, and the high-water mark is 42% among 18-34YOs. Only 50% of *post-grads* have that level of confidence in colleges and universities. Democrats are the only demo above 50% in this poll. Academia is cruising for a bruising, especially in the next Republican administration, and it will be a popular bruising when it comes. — Ed]