Young America’s Foundation Survey
N=840 high school students ages 15–20 and 812 college students ages 15–24
Sample from online panels
Field Dates: July 19–24, 2023
Margin of Error - High school students: ± 4.0 Percentage Points
Margin of Error - College students: ± 4.1 Percentage Points
LANDSCAPE
1 [QRightDirection] Would you say things in the United States are headed in the right direction, or is the country off on the wrong track? [RANDOMIZE 1-2]
2 [QIssues] Thinking about issues facing the country today, which issues are you most concerned about personally? Select up to three. [SELECT MULTIPLE, UP TO THREE]
[RANDOMIZE 1-11]
HS College 1. Right direction 16% 20% 2 Wrong track 54% 59% 3 Unsure 30% 21%
HS College 1 The economy 37% 38% 2 School safety 45% 29% 3. Gun policies 27% 36% 4 Education 26% 29% 5 The environment and climate change 27% 27% 6. Abortion 15% 27% 7 LGBTQ+ Rights 18% 22% 8 Health care 16% 23% 9. Political corruption 17% 22% 10 Race relations 16% 13% 11 Immigration 13% 12% 12 Something else (Please specify) 2% 2% 13 Unsure 4% 1%
3. [Political Involvement Battery] In the past 12 months, how often did you do each of the following? [DISPLAY AS GRID] [RANDOMIZE
views
4 [QContactOfficial] In the past 12 months, did you contact or visit a public official at any level of government to express your opinion?
5. [QPolGroup] In the past 12 months, did you belong to any groups, organizations, or associations that involve politics or current affairs?
ITEM ORDER] [RANDOMIZE SCALE 1-6,
1 Basically every day 2 A few times a week 3 A few times a month 4 Once a month 5 Less than once a month 6 Not at all 7 Don’t know HS A FEW TIMES/ WEEK OR MORE LESS OFTEN 1 Basic every day 2 A few times a week 3 A few times a month 4 Once a month 5 Less than once a month 6 Not at all 7 Don’t know 1. Read, watch, or
to news or information about political, societal, or local issues 38% 59% 13% 25% 20% 7% 14% 18% 3% 2 Post your views about political, societal, or local issues on the internet or social media 8% 89% 3% 5% 7% 3% 6% 74% 3% COLLEGE A FEW TIMES/ WEEK OR MORE LESS OFTEN 1 Basic every day 2 A few times a week 3 A few times a month 4 Once a month 5 Less than once a month 6 Not at all 7 Don’t know
political, societal, or local issues 48% 50% 18% 30% 24% 9% 9% 8% 2%
6-1]
listen
1. Read, watch, or listen to news or information about
on the internet or social media 12% 85% 4% 7% 8% 5% 9% 63% 4%
2. Post your
about political, societal, or local issues
HS College 1 Yes 7% 17% 2 No 93% 83%
HS College
Yes 9%
2 No 91% 80%
1.
20%
6. [QApproval] Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling his job as President? [RANDOMIZE SCALE 1-4, 4-1]
7. [QBidenFit] In your opinion, is Joe Biden mentally fit enough to handle the job of president? [RANDOMIZE 1-2]
8. [QBidenYoung] How confident are you that Joe Biden is an effective leader when it comes to the needs of young people? [RANDOMIZE SCALE 1-4, 4-1]
9 [QDemPrimary] President Joe Biden is running for re-election in 2024 Would you like to see Joe Biden face a challenge from other serious candidates in a Democratic primary, or not? [RANDOMIZE 1-2]
1 Yes, would like to see Biden face a challenge in the Democratic primary
No, would not like to see Biden face a challenge in the Democratic primary
10 [QGOPDebates] Do you think all of the 2024 Republican presidential candidates should be expected to participate in televised primary debates with the other candidates running for the Republican Party’s nomination to talk about their views on important issues? [RANDOMIZE 1-2]
HS College STRONGLY/SOMEWHAT APPROVE 33% 38% STRONGLY/SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE 47% 51% 1. Strongly approve 7% 7% 2 Somewhat approve 26% 30% 3 Somewhat disapprove 19% 30% 4 Strongly disapprove 29% 21% 5. Unsure 20% 11%
HS College 1 Yes 26% 27% 2. No 46% 47% 3 Unsure 28% 26%
HS College
CONFIDENT 32% 38%
VERY CONFIDENT/NOT CONFIDENT AT ALL 53% 54% 1 Very confident 7% 9% 2 Somewhat confident 25% 29% 3. Not very confident 22% 28% 4 Not confident at all 31% 26% 5 Unsure 14% 8%
VERY/SOMEWHAT
NOT
HS College
56% 61% 2.
19% 22% 3 Unsure 25% 18%
HS College
6%
3
26%
1 Should 67% 65% 2. Should not
12%
Unsure
23%
11. [QPresidentAge] A presidential candidate must be at least 35 years old to run for office, but no maximum age limit currently exists. Would you support or oppose establishing a maximum age limit for presidential candidates? [RANDOMIZE SCALE 1-4, 4-1]
[ONLY
SHOW TO QPRESIDENTAGE = 1 STRONGLY SUPPORT OR 2 SOMEWHAT SUPPORT]
12. [QMaximumAge] In your opinion, what would be the appropriate maximum age limit for presidential candidates? (The oldest age that should be allowed) [RANDOMIZE SCALE 1-5, 5-1]
HS College STRONGLY/SOMEWHAT SUPPORT 68% 74% STRONGLY/SOMEWHAT OPPOSE 16% 18% 1 Strongly support 39% 46% 2 Somewhat support 30% 28% 3. Somewhat oppose 11% 12% 4 Strongly oppose 5% 6% 5 Unsure 16% 8%
(n=589) (n=584) HS College 1 50-59 years old 18% 23% 2 60-69 years old 46% 37% 3. 70-79 years old 28% 25% 4 80-89 years old 6% 11% 5 90+ years old 1% 1% 6. Something else 1% 2% 7 Unsure 1% 1%
IDEOLOGY AND SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT
13 [QIdeology] Regardless of how you typically vote, would you say you consider yourself to be…? [RANDOMIZE SCALE 1-5, 5-1]
14. [QPeerIdeology] In general, how would you describe most of your classmates at your current or most recent school? [ROTATE 1-2]
15 [QTeacherIdeology] In general, how would you describe most of your teachers at your current or most recent school? [ROTATE 1-2]
Please rate how much you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about the school you attended during the 2022–2023 school year. [DISPLAY AS INSTRUCTIONS ABOVE EACH QSCHOOL QUESTION] [RANDOMIZE ORDER OF QSCHOOL QUESTIONS]
16. [QSchool 1] I feel comfortable discussing my views on national political and economic issues with my teachers [RANDOMIZE SCALE 1-4, 4-1]
HS College VERY/SOMEWHAT CONSERVATIVE 20% 21% VERY/SOMEWHAT LIBERAL 25% 40% 1 Very conservative 7% 8% 2. Somewhat conservative 12% 13% 3 Moderate 33% 32% 4 Somewhat liberal 15% 21% 5. Very liberal 10% 19% 6 Unsure 23% 8%
HS College
More
13% 23%
More ideologically
14% 28% 3 About ideologically the same
42% 31% 4 Unsure 30% 19%
1
ideologically conservative than me
2.
progressive than me
as me
HS College
More ideologically conservative than
20% 25% 2 More ideologically progressive than me 21% 25% 3 About ideologically the same as me 19% 21% 4. Unsure 40% 29%
1.
me
HS College STRONGLY/SOMEWHAT AGREE 54% 52% STRONGLY/SOMEWHAT DISAGREE 33% 40% 1 Strongly agree 19% 19% 2 Somewhat agree 36% 33% 3. Somewhat disagree 20% 23% 4 Strongly disagree 13% 16% 5 Unsure 13% 9%
17. [QSchool 2] My teachers generally try to teach about subjects like culture, government, or economics in a fair and unbiased way. [RANDOMIZE SCALE 1-4, 4-1]
18. [QSchool 3] I feel safe expressing controversial or unpopular opinions in the classroom. [RANDOMIZE SCALE 1-4, 4-1]
19. [QProtectFreeSpeech] In your opinion, should publicly funded colleges and universities lose funding if they fail to protect free speech on campus? [RANDOMIZE 1-2]
20 [QPolClassDisc] Thinking about the 2022-2023 school year, how often did your class instructors share their personal opinions on political topics that did not pertain to the educational material or content of the class? [RANDOMIZE SCALE 1-4, 4-1]
HS College STRONGLY/SOMEWHAT AGREE 74% 67% STRONGLY/SOMEWHAT DISAGREE 18% 25% 1. Strongly agree 28% 28% 2 Somewhat agree 46% 39% 3 Somewhat disagree 12% 17% 4 Strongly disagree 6% 8% 5. Unsure 8% 8%
HS College STRONGLY/SOMEWHAT AGREE 52% 49% STRONGLY/SOMEWHAT DISAGREE 37% 42% 1 Strongly agree 19% 16% 2 Somewhat agree 33% 33% 3 Somewhat disagree 23% 25% 4 Strongly disagree 14% 18% 5 Unsure 11% 9%
HS College 1. Yes 52% 53% 2 No 20% 21% 3 Unsure 28% 26%
HS College VERY/SOMEWHAT OFTEN 32% 39% RARELY/NEVER 59% 55% 1. Very often 8% 11% 2 Somewhat often 24% 28% 3 Rarely 45% 43% 4. Never 14% 12% 5 Unsure 9% 6%
FAIRNESS IN OUR SOCIETY
21 [Fairness Battery] For each of the following statements, please indicate whether you think the action being proposed is fair or unfair. [DISPLAY AS GRID, 3 PER PAGE] [RANDOMIZE ITEM ORDER] [RANDOMIZE RESPONSES 1-2] 1
1. Forgiving $10,000 worth of student loans for every borrower, so they don’t have to pay them back
2 Asking taxpayers—including those who didn’t take out loans or attend college to cover $10,000 of the student loan debt of every borrower who still owes
3. Allowing the use of racial quotas in the workplace and educational institutions
4. Allowing biologically male athletes who identify as women to compete against biologically female athletes in varsity women's sports
5. The federal government spending more money than it takes in, growing the national debt so that future generations will have to address it
1. Forgiving $10,000 worth of student loans for every borrower, so they don’t have to pay them back
2. Allowing biologically male athletes who identify as women to compete against biologically female athletes in varsity women's sports
3 Allowing the use of racial quotas in the workplace and educational institutions
4. Asking taxpayers including those who didn’t take out loans or attend college—to cover $10,000 of the student loan debt of every borrower who still owes
5. The federal government spending more money than it takes in, growing the national debt so that future generations will have to address it
Fair
Unfair 3 Unsure HS Fair 2 Unfair 3 Unsure
2
63% 20% 17%
18% 63% 19%
14% 61% 25%
18% 66% 16%
11% 75% 14%
Fair 2 Unfair 3 Unsure
COLLEGE
60% 20% 20%
27% 54% 19%
24%
51% 25%
26% 54% 20%
16%
14%
70%
22. [QTuitionCaps] Which of the following statements do you agree with more, even if neither perfectly describes your views? [RANDOMIZE 1-2]
1 The government should place a maximum limit on tuition costs for colleges and universities
2. Colleges and universities should be able to set their own tuition costs without any maximum limit
23. [QStudentLoan] Would you support or oppose the federal government canceling student loan debt for all borrowers? [RANDOMIZE SCALE 1-4, 4-1]
24. [QStudentLoanFair] Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It isn’t fair that those who did not attend college should have their tax dollars go to canceling the student loans of those who did. [RANDOMIZE 1-2]
25. [QGovSpending] In your opinion, should the government generally be spending more money, less money, or keep spending the same? [RANDOMIZE SCALE 1-4, 4-1]
26. [QTaxEffective] Do you believe you or your family’s tax dollars are being spent effectively by the government? [RANDOMIZE 1-2]
HS College
65% 70%
19% 20%
Unsure 16% 10%
3
HS College STRONGLY/SOMEWHAT SUPPORT 61% 67% STRONGLY/SOMEWHAT OPPOSE 25% 22% 1 Strongly support 35% 38% 2. Somewhat support 26% 29% 3 Somewhat oppose 13% 14% 4 Strongly oppose 12% 8% 5 Unsure 14% 12%
HS College 1 Agree 58% 58% 2. Disagree 20% 23% 3 Unsure 22% 18%
HS College MUCH/SLIGHTLY MORE MONEY 12% 15% MUCH/SLIGHTLY LESS MONEY 59% 57% 1 Much more money 5% 6% 2 Slightly more money 7% 8% 3. Keep spending the same 15% 16% 4 Slightly less money 28% 31% 5 Much less money 31% 26% 6. Unsure 14% 13%
HS College
Yes 10% 17% 2 No 61% 58% 3. Unsure 28% 25%
1
27. [Tax Spending Battery] If you were making up the budget for the federal government to decide how to spend tax dollars this year, would you increase, decrease, or keep spending the same for… [DISPLAY AS GRID, THREE PER PAGE] [RANDOMIZE ITEMS IN GRID]
[RANDOMIZE ORDER OF SCALE 1-3, 3-1]
1. Increase spending
2. Keep spending the same
3. Decrease spending
4. Unsure
2 Keep spending the same 3.
1. Increase spending
2 Keep spending the same 3. Decrease
28. [QSCOTUSRaceAdm] Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that race can no longer be considered in the college admissions process. Which of the following statements do you agree with more, even if neither perfectly describes your views? [RANDOMIZE 1-2]
1 Admissions counselors should consider only merit and not be allowed to consider race as a factor for decision making.
2 Admissions counselors should be allowed to consider race when making decisions on college acceptance
HS College
HS
1. Increase spending
Decrease spending 4 Unsure 1. Education 68% 21% 5% 7% 2. Health care 63% 22% 6% 9% 3 Veterans benefits 61% 27% 4% 8% 4. Social welfare programs 41% 31% 15% 12% 5. Green energy 39% 32% 16% 13% 6. Scientific research 36% 40% 14% 10% 7. Infrastructure 28% 36% 12% 23% 8. Military defense 31% 38% 20% 11% 9. Foreign aid 9% 22% 55% 13% COLLEGE
4 Unsure 1. Education 66% 23% 5% 6% 2. Health care 60% 25% 7% 7% 3. Green energy 52% 28% 10% 10% 4. Veterans benefits 41% 40% 10% 10% 5. Scientific research 39% 39% 11% 11% 6. Social welfare programs 41% 34% 13% 12% 7 Infrastructure 29% 37% 16% 19% 8. Military defense 22% 31% 39% 9% 9. Foreign aid 15% 36% 36% 13%
spending
72% 66%
14% 23% 3. Unsure 14% 12%
THE ENVIRONMENT AND ESG INVESTING
Changing topics slightly…
29. [QWokeCorpInitial] Woke corporations are described by some as companies that take progressive stances on cultural and political issues such as race and gender. Based on what you know, are you more or less likely to support a company that engages in ‘woke’ marketing or activism? [RANDOMIZE SCALE 1-5, 5-1]
MUCH/SOMEWHAT MORE LIKELY
30. [ESG Policies Battery] Should private businesses be required by the government to take each of the following actions? [GRID] [RANDOMIZE ITEM ORDER] [RANDOMIZE RESPONSES 1-2]
1. Should be required
2. Should not be required
3. Unsure HS
1. Stop doing business in countries that violate their citizens' human rights
2 Reduce their carbon emissions
3. Have a certain minimum number of people who are women or are from racial or ethnic minority groups to serve on the board that runs the company
4. Hire a certain minimum number of people who are women or from racial or ethnic minority groups
5. Support the mission of social movements like Black Lives Matter
1. Should be required
HS College
28% 39% MUCH/SOMEWHAT
23% 21%
Much more
10% 14%
Somewhat
18% 25% 3 Makes no
27% 28% 4 Somewhat
9% 12%
Much less
14% 9%
Unsure 22% 13%
LESS LIKELY
1
likely
2.
more likely
difference
less likely
5
likely
6.
Unsure
2. Should not be required 3
70% 12% 19%
63% 13% 24%
36% 41% 24%
35% 40% 25%
29% 48% 22%
1. Reduce their carbon emissions
2 Stop doing business in countries that violate their citizens' human rights
3. Support the mission of social movements like Black Lives Matter
4. Have a certain minimum number of people who are women or are from racial or ethnic minority groups to serve on the board that runs the company
5. Hire a certain minimum number of people who are women or from racial or ethnic minority groups
44. [QClimateHappening] Do you believe climate change is happening? [RANDOMIZE 1-2]
[ONLY SHOW TO QCLIMATEHAPPENING = 1 YES]
45. [QClimateHuman] Do you believe human activity has played a role in causing climate change? [RANDOMIZE 1-2]
46. [QMitigateClimateChange] Which of the following, if any, would you be willing to give up or significantly cut down on to help mitigate climate change? Select all that apply. [RANDOMIZE 1-8] [SELECT MULTIPLE]
COLLEGE
3
1 Should be required 2 Should not be required
Unsure
66%
17% 17%
63% 18% 19%
39%
19%
42%
37% 41% 22%
36% 43% 21%
HS College 1 Yes 81% 86% 2 No 9% 8% 3 Unsure 10% 5%
(n=683) (n=698) HS College 1 Yes 91% 91% 2 No 5% 6% 3 Unsure 4% 2%
HS College 1 Gas powered cars 50% 58% 2. Gas stoves 47% 48% 3 Airplane travel 46% 39% 4 Social media 27% 25% 5. Having children 18% 30% 6 Meat 20% 26% 7 Air conditioning and heating 11% 17% 8 Smart phones 12% 13% 9. None of the above 16% 11%
47. [QClimateThreat] Do you believe climate change is an existential threat to your generation? [RANDOMIZE 1-2]
1
48. [QFossilFuels] Do you believe or not believe the following statement?
If we continue at our current rate of consumption, we will run out of fossil fuels in my lifetime. [RANDOMIZE 1-2]
HS College
Yes 64% 67%
No 19% 22%
Unsure 17% 10%
2
3.
HS College
Believe 46% 54%
Do not believe 25% 23%
Unsure 30% 23%
1.
2
3
DEMOGRAPHICS
Now, a few final questions for statistical purposes
47. [QParty] Regardless of how you typically vote, would you say you consider yourself a Republican, Democrat, independent, or something else? [RANDOMIZE 1-2]
[ONLY SHOW TO QPARTY = 3 INDEPENDENT, 4 SOMETHING ELSE, OR 5 UNSURE]
48. [QPartyLean] Which of the following statements would you say best describes you?
[RANDOMIZE SCALE 1-4, 4-1]
PARTY CONSOLIDATED: QParty + QPartyLean
HS College 1. Republican 21% 19% 2 Democrat 27% 41% 3 Independent 24% 30% 4. Something else (Please specify) 1% 2% 5 Unsure 26% 8%
(n=396) (n=293) HS College TOTAL VOTES FOR REPUBLICANS 9% 17% TOTAL VOTES FOR DEMOCRATS 12% 30% 1 I almost always vote for Republican candidates 2% 5% 2 I vote for Republicans more often than I vote for Democrats 7% 12% 3 I vote for Democrats more often than I vote for Republicans 6% 19% 4 I almost always vote for Democratic candidates 5% 11% 5 I vote equally for Democrats and Republicans 11% 21% 6 Unsure 68% 32%
HS College 1. Total Republican+Republican-leaning Independents 26% 26% 2 Total Democratic+Democratic-leaning Independents 33% 53% 3 Total Independent 41% 21%
49. [QSocial] Which social media platforms or apps do you use? [SELECT MULTIPLE] [RANDOMIZE 1-13]
50. [QJob] Do you currently have a job?
IF COLLEGE STUDENT IN 2022–2023 [QCollegeEnroll=2-4], ASK:
51. [QStudent] During the 2022–2023 school year, were you a full-time or part-time college student?
IF COLLEGE STUDENT IN 2022–2023 [QCollegeEnroll=2-4], ASK:
52. [QStudentLoans] Do you currently have student loan debt? [RANDOMIZE 1-2] College
HS College 1. YouTube 84% 83% 2 Instagram 74% 80% 3 TikTok 78% 73% 4 Snapchat 68% 67% 5 Facebook 61% 46% 6 Twitter 36% 48% 7 Pinterest 35% 40% 8. Reddit 20% 30% 9 Twitch 20% 22% 10 WhatsApp 20% 21% 11. LinkedIn 8% 21% 12 Threads 7% 12% 13 Rumble 1% 2% 14. Something else (Please specify) 2% 1% 15 None of these 1% *%
HS College 1 Yes, a full-time job (30 or more hours per week) 9% 37% 2. Yes, a part-time job 29% 29% 3 No, but I am currently applying for jobs 23% 18% 4 No, and I’m not applying for jobs at the moment 37% 14% 5. Prefer not to say 3% 1%
College 1. Full-time 86% 2 Part-time 13% 3 Prefer not to say 1%
1 Yes 41% 2 No 55% 3. Prefer not to say 5%
53. [QUrbanRural] How would you describe the area in which you live?
[ONLY SHOW TO QAGE = 18-24]
54. [QMarital] What is your current marital status?
55. [QKids] Do you currently have children under the age of 18 in your home?
HS College 1 City 31% 34% 2. Suburb near a city 40% 48% 3 Small town not near a city 12% 10% 4 Rural or country area 17% 8%
(n=184) (n=788) HS College 1 Single, never married 89% 90% 2. Married 4% 7% 3 Separated 4% 1% 4 Divorced - *% 5. Widowed *% *% 6 Prefer not to say 3% 1%
HS College 1 Yes 48% 19% 2. No 44% 80% 3 Prefer not to
7% 2%
say
SCREENERS / DEMOGRAPHIC QUOTAS (ASKED AT BEGINNING OF SURVEY)
SCREENING FOR CONSENT FROM PARENTS OF 15-17 YEAR OLDS BEFORE THEIR CHILD ENTERS THE SURVEY:
You have indicated that you have a child in the household under the age of 18. Is your child available to come to the computer and participate in a survey with your assistance?
[IF PARENT SAYS YES]
Thank you for agreeing to participate. At this point, please pass the computer over to your child and have them answer the following questions from his or her perspective. The next questions will be for your teen
56. [QIntro] Echelon National Research is conducting this survey to learn about people’s experiences and views on current topics This survey will take about 15 minutes to complete, and your answers will be kept completely confidential. You will NOT be asked for any information that could be used to identify or contact you, and the results of the survey will be used for research purposes only. Participation is voluntary, meaning you do not have to participate. It is up to you. If at any time while taking the survey you decide you do not want to finish it, you may leave the survey by exiting the webpage. Taking this survey or not taking this survey will have no impact on your personal or academic life.
If you choose to stop taking the survey before finishing, any answers you already gave will not be used and will never be shared with anyone. If you finish the survey, your answers will always be kept completely anonymous Would you like to participate in this survey?
31 [QAge] What is your age?
[TEXT BOX]
[SURVEY LINK FOR 15-17: TERMINATE IF UNDER 15 OR ABOVE 17]
[SURVEY LINK FOR 18+: TERMINATE IF UNDER 18 OR ABOVE 24]
HS College
Yes CONTINUE 100% 100%
No TERMINATE - -
Unsure TERMINATE - -
1.
2
3
HS College 15-17 79% 2% 18-24 21% 98% 1 15 29% *% 2 16 30% *% 3. 17 20% 1% 4 18 18% 7% 5 19 2% 23% 6. 20 1% 21% 7 21 - 10% 8 22 - 13% 9. 23 - 14% 10 24 - 10%
32. [QIndustry] Do you or does anyone in your household work in any of the following industries? [SELECT MULTIPLE] [RANDOMIZE 1-7]
33 [QGender] Do you describe yourself as a male, female, or in some other way? [RANDOMIZE 1-2]
34 [QRace] What is your race or ethnicity? [SELECT MULTIPLE] [RANDOMIZE 1-6]
35 [QEducation] What is the highest degree or level of education you have completed?
1. Less than 8th grade TERMINATE - -
2 8th grade TERMINATE - -
3 9th grade IF AGE 18+, TERMINATE 23%4 10th grade IF AGE 19+, TERMINATE 28%5 11th grade IF AGE 20+, TERMINATE 24%6 12th grade, high school diploma, or equivalent (GED) IF AGE 21+, TERMINATE
7. 1 year of college or more, but no college degree
HS College
Technology 4% 10% 2 Sales 7% 11%
Healthcare or the
industry 13% 20% 4 Journalism or the media TERMINATE -5 Food service or the restaurant industry 15% 18% 6 Market research TERMINATE - -
Public relations TERMINATE -8 None of these 68% 54%
1
3.
pharmaceutical
7.
HS College
Male 50% 44% 2 Female 49% 54% 3 In some other way 1% 2%
1.
HS College
White 64% 61% 2 Black or African American 19% 16% 3 Hispanic or Latino 24% 21% 4 Asian 5% 12% 5 Native American or Alaska Native 2% 1% 6 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 1% 1% 7 Something else (Please specify) 1% 1%
1.
HS College
25%
6%
- 59%
-
-
8 Associate degree
8% 9. Bachelor’s degree
20% 10 Graduate degree - 7% 11 Prefer not to say TERMINATE - -
IF SAYS COMPLETED GRADE 9-12 [QEducation=3-6], ASK:
36. [QHSEnroll] Were you enrolled in high school during the 2022–2023 school year? If so, what type of high school? [RANDOMIZE 2-4]
HS College
1 No, I was not attending high school during the 2022–2023 school year - 100%
2 Yes, public school
-
-
IF LESS THAN GRADE 12/HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE AND WAS NOT ATTENDING HIGH SCHOOL [QEducation=3-5 AND QHSEnroll=1], TERMINATE.
IF GRADE 12/HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE AND WAS NOT ATTENDING HIGH SCHOOL [QEducation=6 AND QHSEnroll=1] OR IF COMPLETED 1 YEAR OF COLLEGE OR MORE [QEducation=7-10], ASK:
37 [QCollegeEnroll] Were you attending college during the 2022–2023 school year? If so, what type of degree were you working toward? College
1 No, I was not attending college during the 2022–2023 school year TERMINATE -
2
associate degree
4
graduate degree (e g , master’s or doctorate)
IF COLLEGE STUDENT DURING 2022–2023 SCHOOL YEAR [QCollegeEnroll=2-4], ASK:
38. [QCollegeType] What type of college or university were you attending during the 2022–2023 school year? [RANDOMIZE 1-2] College
39 [QState] In which state do you live? [50 STATE DROPDOWN]
93%
3%
4%
3 Yes, private school
4 Yes, homeschool
33%
Yes,
56%
11%
3. Yes, bachelor’s degree
Yes,
1 Public or state college/university 79% 2. Private college/university 19% 3 Other (Please specify) 1% 4 Unsure 1%
HS College 1. States in the Northeast 17% 19% 2 States in the Midwest 20% 20% 3 States in the South 39% 36% 4. States in the West 24% 25%
METHODOLOGY
Echelon Insights conducted a survey on behalf of Young America’s Foundation to examine high school and college students’ attitudes toward current issues and politics The survey was fielded online from July 19–24, 2023 in English among a sample of 840 high school students ages 15–20 and 812 college students ages 15–24 using non-probability sampling
The sample was drawn from the Lucid sample exchange based on gender, age, race/ethnicity, and education level quota targets derived from the U S Census Bureau’s October 2021 Current Population Survey School Enrollment Supplement Respondents ages 15–17 were contacted through their parents, who were asked if their child could take the survey To protect their privacy and anonymity, the survey did not ask respondents for any personally-identifiable information or contact information.
All respondents were required to answer screening questions to verify they fit the criteria for the study Students were classified as high school students or college students based on their level of enrollment during the 2022–2023 school year
Data quality measures included the use of an attentiveness check where respondents were directed to select a particular response and measures to prevent duplicate responses Respondents who completed the survey in less than one-third of the median interview time for the full sample were removed from the data file.
The high school students sample and college students sample were weighted separately to population benchmarks for students ages 15-24 nationwide from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey October 2021 School Enrollment Supplement and September 2021 Volunteering and Civic Life Supplement on the following variables
Based on the October 2021 CPS School Enrollment Supplement:
● Gender
● Age
● Race/Ethnicity
● Census region
● School type (public vs private/homeschool)
● College students only: Full-time vs part-time status
● College students only: Undergraduate vs graduate level
Based on the September 2021 Volunteering and Civic Life Supplement (self-response data):
● Gender x Whether they said they did or did not post their views about political, societal, or local issues on the internet or social media in the past 12 months
Calculated the way it would be for a random sample and adjusted to incorporate the effect of weighting, the margin of sampling error is ± 4 0 percentage points for high school students and ± 4 1 percentage points for college students This estimate of precision does not account for other potential sources of error that can occur in online surveys with non-probability samples, such as non-coverage due to the survey being conducted online
