The survey briefed 2,613 registered voter respondents on the cost of higher education and the arguments for as well as against increasing federal spending, specifically for tuition-free community college.
When respondents were first asked if the federal government should offer more financial aid for a college or university education, 64% of voters said that they support the idea. This percentage broke down to 90% of Democrats, 62% of independents, and 35% of Republicans.
But when respondents were asked to weigh varied options to raise federal spending for higher education, as much as 53% of Republicans said they favored some increase.
Specifically, respondents looked at a proposal to raise the maximum amount of a Pell Grant for low-income students from $6,500 to $8,300 a year, figures based on President Biden's American Families Plan and 2022 budget proposal. Respondents were told that this raise would increase spending by about $8.5 billion a year. About 70% of respondents favored the proposal, including 53% of Republicans, 88% of Democrats, and 64% of independents.
"Support for increased federal assistance for higher education is fairly robust and grows to seven-in-ten as Americans deliberate about the specific options," said Dr. Steven Kull, director of the University of Maryland's Program for Public Consultation, which conducted the survey.
