The Buckley Institute Releases Tenth Annual National Undergraduate Student Survey

College Students Support Harris; Concerned About the Border and Urban Crime
Harris Supporters Less Likely to Trust Losing Election Outcome
Support for Free Speech Remains High Though So Does Fear of Speaking Up

The Buckley Institute is proud to release its 2024 National College Student Survey. In addition to looking at questions of free speech, this year’s student survey polled college students nationwide on the presidential race and their thoughts on the issues dominating the campaign, including abortion, the border, and crime in America’s cities. 

“While undergraduate attitudes toward free speech are moving in the right direction, there are still warning lights flashing,” said Lauren Noble, Buckley Institute Founder and Executive Director. “A sizeable minority of students who believe in shouting down or violently stopping speech they don’t like can do a lot to undermine free speech on campus and around the country.”

Conducted by Inquire LLC, the survey collected the opinions of 823 undergraduate students, in a demographic breakdown mirroring that of America’s college student population, between September 5 to 12, 2024. A record high 65% of students believe the U.S. Constitution is important (up from 57% last year) versus 28% who believe it is outdated, also a record margin in favor of the Constitution. Similarly, a record 85% believe the First Amendment is important versus 12% who believe it is outdated. 

America’s college students still remain afraid to speak up in class, though the number who feel that way dropped in this year’s survey. 51% report being intimidated from sharing opinions different than their professors, a drop from 61% last year, while 56% report being intimidated from disagreeing with classmates, a drop from 59% in 2023.On a more concerning note, while majorities oppose shouting down speakers or using violence to stop offensive comments, a substantial minority support shout downs (40%) and using violence to stop hate speech or racially charged comments (38%).

Students Improved on Handling Disagreement But Warning Lights Remain

Willingness to get along with different opinions also improved. After a plurality reported not being able to be friends with those of a different political party in last year’s college student survey, an outright majority (54%-40%) said cross-the-aisle friendships would not bother them. Notably, exactly half of liberal students said they couldn’t have friendships with those of a different political party, around a third of moderates (32%) and conservatives (34%) felt the same. The percentage of American college students who believe hearing political comments they disagree with is harmful to their mental health dropped 8 points to 31% this year. 

America’s college student body also improved on dealing with offensive speech. By a 54% to 41% margin, students agreed that hate speech is still technically protected under the First Amendment as free speech, a net change of 10-points from last year. Similarly, while a plurality supported shouting down speakers on campus last year, an outright majority came out against it this year, the first time in 4 years. That four in ten (40%) still support shout downs remains a cause for concern. In a similar vein, though an outright majority (53%) oppose using violence to stop hate speech or racially charged comments, 38% still believe doing so would be justified.

College Students Support Harris; Harris Supporters Less Likely to Trust an Election Where She Loses

55% of America’s college students support Vice President Kamala Harris for president; 29% support Donald Trump; and 10% remain undecided. (NOTE: The presidential debate occurred on September 10, 2024, while answers were being collected). When asked if the candidate they oppose could be elected in a way that is “fair and trustworthy,” Harris supporters were less likely to trust the outcome (31% agreed-63% disagreed) than Trump supporters (35% agreed-60% disagreed).

College Students on Campaign Issues: Price Controls, Crime, The Border, Abortion

When it comes to specific campaign issues, 72% believe “that federal government price controls on groceries are an effective way to address the inflation and increasing costs that are making it harder for Americans to buy food.” Only 17% disagree, with only one in four conservatives disagreeing, the largest of any subgroup. 

79% percent of America’s college students believe “rising crime in America’s cities is a serious issue” and 52% believe “securing America’s Southern border should be a priority for American politicians.”62% of moderates believe securing the border should be a priority, as do 55% of Black and 53% of Hispanic college students, outpacing White and Asian students at a similar but lower 51%. On abortion, nearly 7 in 10 (67%) support some restrictions on abortion, with only 29% believing there should be no restrictions at all. By contrast, only 12% believe it should be outlawed in all or most cases.

Policy Issues: Race, Economics, Israel

For the first time in the 5-year history of asking the question, a plurality (49%) of America’s college students agree that “the promise of equality continues to be extended to more people.” By contrast, 42% believe America is “inextricably linked to white supremacy and in general most minorities remain excluded from the American promise of equality.” Liberal college students were the only subgroup where more than 50% believe America is “inextricably linked to white supremacy.” 

This year, America’s college students were asked whether they supported university divestment from a broad range of foreign countries. Almost a third (32%) opposed divestment in all cases. A quarter (25%) supported divesting from all foreign countries listed. Among those countries specified, 18% supported divesting from Israel, the most chosen country. By contrast, 17% supported divesting from Russia, 11% from China, and 9% from Iran or Gaza.On the economic front, a plurality (36%-33%) prefer to live in a capitalist system over a socialist one, the first time in the three years of asking the question that capitalism won out.

Other Data

• 46% to 44%, college students support speech codes to regulate speech for students and faculty, a drop from 51% in favor last year
• 64% agree with their university or college taking stances on political issues, even if they disagree with the stance taken
• 31% believe offensive speech should be subject to criminal prosecution, while 55% disagree
• 53% have attended a protest or rally in the last year, with pro-abortion rights and pro-LGBTQ+ rights being the most common causes (23% each)
  • 48% of respondents attended a rally for a cause considered left-of-center, while only 14% attended a rally for a cause considered right-of-center, with some overlap between the two groups
• 49% believe the Supreme Court has become a partisan institution versus 38% who believe the Justices decide based on their understanding of the law, similar to last year
• One in three (33%) believe they won’t be able to pay back their student loan debt after they graduate
• 63% believe transgender athletes should have to compete in the league of their biological gender, continuing a three-year trend in favor of competition along biological lines

Check out the national undergraduate student survey memo, top lines, full survey, year-over-year comparison, and crosstabs.