Current:Home > MarketsCBS News poll finds most say colleges shouldn't factor race into admissions -Intelligent Capital Compass
CBS News poll finds most say colleges shouldn't factor race into admissions
View
Date:2025-04-18 05:20:10
The American public feels that many groups face discrimination today and widely believes that racism remains a problem in the country, at least to some degree — but it is more closely divided over affirmative action as a general policy, with a narrow majority supporting it.
Those who feel there's a lot of discrimination in the country also tend to favor affirmative action in general.
But for many of them, that general view doesn't extend into the particular mechanism of having college admissions consider an applicant's race. Looking at the pending Supreme Court decision, Americans' views tilt to a substantial majority against allowing colleges to consider race.
Across partisan groups and racial groups, there are comparably fewer who favor colleges considering race than there are those favoring affirmative action in general.
So, on the college admissions matter, partisan differences exist but aren't overly dramatic. Republicans are widely opposed to the use of race in admissions, and they are joined in that view by more than half of Democrats, and by three in four independents. Black Americans are relatively more likely than White Americans to say colleges should be allowed to consider race, but still just split on it. College graduates are slightly likelier than people without college degrees to say so, too.
This proportion saying affirmative action programs should continue today is generally comparable to what we've seen in our polling when the topic has come up over the last 25 years.
Now, here's where perceptions of discrimination come in today, at least a bit.
Most Americans say there is at least some discrimination against Black, Hispanic, and Asian people in America today, and those who feel there's a lot of it are relatively more likely to think that colleges ought to consider race — though, even then, it's fewer than half who say so.
Then nearly half of Americans feel White people also suffer from at least some discrimination, and over half of White Americans say this. (Conservatives and Republicans are especially likely to.) Among those who express this sentiment, there's majority opposition to affirmative action and to colleges considering race.
Most think racism remains a problem today, and even more Americans — three-quarters — say racism has been a major problem in the nation's history.
This CBS News/YouGov survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 2,145 U.S. adult residents interviewed between June 14-17, 2023. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, and education based on the U.S. Census American Community Survey and Current Population Survey, as well as past vote. The margin of error is ±3.0 points.
Toplines
- In:
- Affirmative Action
Anthony Salvanto, Ph.D., is CBS News' director of elections and surveys. He oversees all polling across the nation, states and congressional races, and heads the CBS News Decision Desk that estimates outcomes on election nights. He is the author of "Where Did You Get This Number: A Pollster's Guide to Making Sense of the World," from Simon & Schuster (a division of Paramount Global), and appears regularly across all CBS News platforms. His scholarly research and writings cover topics on polling methodology, voting behavior, and sampling techniques.
TwitterveryGood! (7924)
Related
- Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
- A New Hampshire school bus driver and his wife have been charged with producing child pornography
- Escaped white supremacist inmate and accomplice still at large after Idaho hospital ambush
- South Carolina House votes to expand voucher program. It’s fate in Senate is less clear
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- NFL rumors target WR Brandon Aiyuk this week. Here's 5 best fits if 49ers trade him
- Congrats, you just got a dry promotion — no raise included
- Federal officials want to know how airlines handle — and share — passengers’ personal information
- The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
- A New Hampshire school bus driver and his wife have been charged with producing child pornography
Ranking
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- The Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady. Here's the impact on your money.
- Angela Chao, Mitch McConnell’s sister-in-law, was drunk when she drove into pond, police say
- International Day of Happiness: How the holiday got its start plus the happiest US cities
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Ashley Graham's Favorite Self-Tanning Mist Is on Sale at Amazon Right Now
- Chipotle plans rare 50-for-1 stock split as share price nears $3,000
- Metropolitan Opera presents semi-staged `Turandot’ after stage malfunction
Recommendation
Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
Mississippi deputies arrest 14-year-old in mother’s shooting death, injuring stepfather
Idaho prisoner Skylar Meade at large after accomplice ambushed hospital, shot at Boise PD
Idaho prisoner Skylar Meade at large after accomplice ambushed hospital, shot at Boise PD
Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
2024 NFL free agency grades: Which teams aced their moves, and which ones bombed?
Ashley Graham's Favorite Self-Tanning Mist Is on Sale at Amazon Right Now
Bruce Springsteen setlist 2024: Every song he sang at world tour relaunch in Phoenix