New Yorkers see a college education as the key to getting ahead, and affordability as the key to getting to college.

HIGH LEVELS OF SUPPORT TO MAKE PUBLIC COLLEGE EDUCATION FREE

Findings from The Unheard Third 2015

October 8, 2015

Apurva Mehrotra, Policy Analyst

Q:

2

Making college more affordable was the second most popular response—after raising the minimum wage—when low-income New Yorkers were asked what two things would help them get ahead economically.

Which two of the following would most increase your potential top get ahead economically (low-income New Yorkers only)

College Education

5%

7%

7%

7%

10%

11%

22%

22%

36%

47%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

Reduce dependence on government benefits

Family friendly work policies

Stronger enforcement of wage rules and worker protections

Affordable childcare

A path to citizenship for immigrants

Make NY more business friendly

Increase access to job training

Cut taxes

Make college more affordable

Increase the minimum wage

Q:

3

And it was the most cited response when moderate- to higher-income New Yorkers were asked which two things would most help low-income New Yorkers get ahead.

Which two of the following would most increase low-income people’s potential top get ahead economically (mod-high income New Yorkers only)

College Education

6%

8%

9%

11%

13%

14%

19%

28%

36%

39%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

A path to citizenship for immigrants

Stronger enforcement of wage rules and worker protections

Reduce dependence on government benefits

Family friendly work policies

Make NY more business friendly

Cut taxes

Affordable childcare

Increase access to job training

Increase the minimum wage

Make college more affordable

Q:

4

Nearly two-thirds of New Yorkers feel a young person needs at least an Associate’s degree to get a family sustaining job, and over half believe you need at least a four-year degree.

In your opinion, what level of education does a young person need to get a job that enables them to sustain a family?

College Education

7%

16%

11%

22%

20%

21%

12%

9%

11%

37%

36%

37%

18%

15%

17%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Mod-high income

Low-income

Total

HS or less Some college or post HS training AA degree Four year degree Post-graduate

54%

65%

Q:

5

Parents across income groups have high aspirations for their children. More than 8 out of 10 want their children to get at least a four-year degree, including more than one-third of low-income parents who want their children to get a post-graduate degree.

What level of education do you want for your own children so that they can sustain a family of their own one day? (Parents only)

College Education

3%

7%

5%

6%

7%

7%

1%

6%

3%

32%

42%

37%

56%

36%

46%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Mod-high income

Low-income

Total

HS or less Some college or post HS training AA degree Four year degree Post-graduate

83%

Q:

6

New Yorkers of all income levels agree that the cost of college tuition is by far the biggest barrier to entering a four-year college.

Which of the following do you think is the biggest barrier to entering a four-year college?

College Education

6%

4%

9%

8%

9%

15%

44%

6%

9%

5%

8%

12%

9%

44%

6%

6%

7%

8%

10%

13%

44%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

Not enough support from family and friends

Other responsibilities like work and family

College isn’t for everyone

Lack of counseling and information

Cost of living including food and housing

Level of academic preparation

Cost of college tuition

Total Low-income Mod-high income

Q:

7

And they also feel the cost of college tuition is the biggest barrier to finishing a four-year college.

Which of the following do you think is the biggest barrier to finishing a four-year college?

College Education

4%

7%

7%

11%

10%

14%

44%

6%

6%

8%

7%

10%

18%

42%

5%

7%

7%

9%

10%

16%

43%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

Lack of counseling and information

Not enough support from family and friends

College isn’t for everyone

Level of academic preparation

Other responsibilities like work and family

Cost of living including food and housing

Cost of college tuition

Total Low-income Mod-high income

Q:

8

More than 8 out of 10 New Yorkers—across income levels—believe that the United States should expand its commitment to free public education so that it includes college; and 7 out of 10 strongly agree with that idea.

65%

77%

70%

81%

88%

84%

8%

5%

6%

17%

10%

14%

-40% -20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Mod-high income

Low-income

Total

Strongly Agree Not so strongly agree Strongly disagree Not so strongly disagree

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: In the first half of the 20th century, the United States expanded public high school education. Now for the 21st century, we should expand our commitment to include a free public college education.

College Education

How the survey was conducted

The Unheard Third 2015 is based on a scientific survey of 1,705 New York City adults conducted for CSS by

Lake Research. Respondents were reached by telephone using land lines and cell phones. The survey was

fielded July 19 through August 17, 2015. The margin of error is +/- 2.37 percentage points for the total sample,

+/- 3 percentage points for the low-income sample of 1,052 respondents with incomes below twice the federal

poverty level, and +/- 3.8 percentage points for the moderate and high income sample of 653 respondents.

When reporting the findings for the total sample, the low-income respondents are weighted down to their actual

proportion of the population.