North Carolina

North Carolina is narrowly split among Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. It is a “purple” state, one that swings back and forth between the parties it elects for key positions both nationally and statewide. In 2016, for example, North Carolina voters sent Trump to the White House and Democrat Roy Cooper to the governor’s office, both at thin margins.

North Carolina is also known for its strong system of public higher education, from its flagship campus—the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill—to its highly regarded regional comprehensive and community colleges. It is home to many innovative postsecondary programs such as multiple registered apprenticeships for youth and adults, and Early College High Schools where high school students have an opportunity to earn an associate degree while also earning their high school diploma.

Given the well-known higher education system in place in North Carolina and its role as a swing state, New America oversampled North Carolinians this year to have a better understanding of their thoughts about higher education and whether they differ from those nationwide. North Carolina could be a bellwether on higher education policy, given its mix of demographics.

North Carolina residents are less likely to believe there are well-paying jobs that do not require college.

Slightly fewer North Carolinians (51 percent) believe that there are lots of “well-paying jobs” that do not require college, compared with 57 percent nationwide. Similar to Americans nationwide, broadening the concept of college to include any education beyond high school causes the opinions of North Carolina residents to go down, but only slightly, to 49 percent.

North Carolinians think higher education is a requirement for career growth.

Similar to Americans nationwide, more than four out of five North Carolina residents (85 percent) believe there are more opportunities for those who pursue education after high school instead of pursuing work right away.

Just like Americans nationwide, nearly three in five (63 percent) North Carolina residents believe that it is harder to be successful without a higher education degree. They also believe that if you have a bachelor’s degree (also known as a four-year degree), you are paid more for the same job than those who do not have a bachelor’s degree (74 percent versus 73 percent nationwide). And more than two-thirds (69 percent) believe there is a limit to how much people without a bachelor’s degree are able to grow in their careers, tracking with American sentiments nationwide (66 percent).

A majority of North Carolinians think higher education needs to change.

Only one in four North Carolinians believes higher education is fine the way it is. The top reason given? One-third believe college is too expensive, which inhibits access. Just over two in five North Carolina residents believe that all Americans have a decent chance of getting into a good college.

Like Americans nationwide, North Carolina residents believe public colleges and universities are worth the cost, but feel more mixed about private and for-profit colleges and universities.

Just like Americans nationwide, a majority of North Carolina residents say public two-year community colleges and public four-year colleges and universities are worth the cost (88 percent and 65 percent, respectively). They do not think this is the case for private nonprofit four-year and for-profit colleges and universities (37 percent for both).

A majority of North Carolinians believe that public sector schools are for people in “my situation:” 75 percent say community colleges and public four-year colleges and universities are for people like them. Slightly less than half think that private colleges and universities are for them (44 percent); fewer than two in five (38 percent) believe for-profit institutions are for people like them.

A majority of North Carolinians believe all sectors of higher education contribute to a strong American workforce and prepare people to be successful. However, they believe this more for the public sector than for the private for-profit or nonprofit sectors. Perhaps as evidence of their well-regarded public higher-education system, North Carolinians have a strong belief that community colleges contribute to a strong American workforce (94 percent versus 83 percent nationwide) and prepare people to be successful and happy in life (78 percent versus 69 percent nationwide).

North Carolina residents have favorable views of their local colleges and universities.

Nationwide, 81 percent of Americans have a positive view of the colleges and universities near them. In North Carolina, that sentiment is stronger. Nearly nine in 10 (87 percent) North Carolina residents have a positive view of the institutions located near them, a significant difference.

There is strong support for workforce-based programs such as apprenticeship.

Like Americans nationwide, there is wide agreement (93 percent of North Carolinians) that apprenticeships and skills training programs prepare students for a good standard of living.

North Carolina residents believe higher education is a public benefit and that the government should do more to make it affordable.

More North Carolina residents (49 percent) believe the government should spend tax revenue on higher education because it is a good for society than believe students should fund it because it is a personal benefit (33 percent). North Carolinians' view of government funding is significantly different—and less positive—from Americans across the country, 60 percent of whom are more likely to say the government should fund higher education because it is a good for society. However, their view of student financing is comparable to national views; fewer than one-third (27 percent) of Americans believe students should be primarily responsible because higher education is a personal benefit.

Perhaps as indication of the fact that a near majority of North Carolinians think that higher education is a good for society, 79 percent are comfortable with their own tax dollars going to support it. Three-quarters of North Carolinians think the state (75 percent) and federal (74 percent) government should spend more tax revenue on higher education to make it more affordable.