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Longitudinal Evidence of Shifting Political Affiliations and Public Attitudes Toward Higher Education

This longitudinal study tracks changes in public opinion toward public higher education in the United States from 2021 to 2025, with a focus on issues directly relevant to state and local policymakers: university funding priorities, rural and urban involvement, global and local engagement, financial aid, and institutional rankings. Based on a panel of respondents across nine states, the findings reveal significant shifts in public attitudes, particularly along lines of political affiliation. These trends have direct implications for how state and local governments allocate resources, design financial aid programs, and engage with constituents on higher education policy. Because cross-sectional surveys often fail to capture the evolving nature of public sentiment and political affiliation, this sort of longitudinal approach offers a more accurate and actionable understanding of how public trust in higher education institutions is formed and reshaped over time.

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Stephen M. Gavazzi (2025). Longitudinal Evidence of Shifting Political Affiliations and Public Attitudes Toward Higher Education [Data set]. CHRR at The Ohio State University. https://doi.org/10.82271/th3hln4n
Retrieved: 08:43 05 Feb 2026 (UTC)

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Author Stephen M. Gavazzi
Maintainer CHRR at The Ohio State University
Last Updated February 2, 2026, 18:44 (UTC)
Created August 25, 2025, 20:02 (UTC)