Louisiana Public Square

Online Survey Results

Higher Education

Q1. How closely would you say that you follow news on state government and public affairs in Louisiana?

	%
Very closely	44.40
Somewhat	44.40
Not very closely	11.10
Not at all	0.00
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	0.00

Q2. In terms of the quality of academic programs, how would you rate Louisiana's public colleges and universities compared to other colleges and universities in the Southeast region?

	%
Better	11.10
About the same	38.90
Worse	44.40
Don't know / Not available	5.60
Refused	0.00

Q3. How do you think Louisiana's Public colleges and universities compare to other public colleges and universities in the Southeast region when it comes to tuition?

	%
More expensive	0.00
About the same	44.40
Less expensive	44.40
Don't know / Not available	11.10
Refused	0.00

Q4. How much would you say you know about what it costs, on average, to attend a public college these days?

Almost nothing

	%
A lot	50.00
A good amount	33.30
A little	5.60
5.60
Don't know / Not available	5.60
Refused	0.00

Q5. When it comes to paying for a college education, who do you think should have the primary responsibility - parents & families or the state government?

	%
Parents & families	23.50
State government	5.90
Both	70.60
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	0.00

Q6. When it comes to setting tuition rates at Louisiana's public colleges and universities, who do you think should have primary responsibility?

	%
Higher education management boards	82.40
State legislation	5.90
Neither	0.00
Other	11.80
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	0.00

Q7. Do you think that a college education is necessary for a person to be successful in today's work world, or do you think there are many ways to succeed to without a college education?

	%
College education is necessary	66.70
Many ways to succeed without a college education	27.80
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	5.60

Q8. How familiar would you say are with TOPS - the Tuition Opportunity Program for Students?

	%
Very familiar	55.60
Somewhat familiar	38.90
Not very familiar	0.00
Not at all familiar	5.60
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	0.00

Q9. Indicate whether you strongly agree, agree, neither agree nor disagree, disagree, or strongly disagree with each of the following statements:

a. If someone really wants to go to college, they can find a way to pay for it, even if they have to go to school and work at the same time.

	%
Strongly agree	44.40
Agree	33.30
Neither agree nor disagree	0.00
Disagree	11.10
Strongly disagree	11.10
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	0.00

b. The state should only provide tuition assistance to students who otherwise would not be able to afford a college education.

	%
Strongly agree	33.30
Agree	5.60
Neither agree nor disagree	16.70
Disagree	33.30
Strongly disagree	11.10
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	0.00

c. The state should only provide tuition assistance to students who attend public colleges and universities, and should not provide assistance to students attending private colleges and universities.

	%
Strongly agree	50.00
Agree	0.00
Neither agree nor disagree	5.60
Disagree	27.80
Strongly disagree	16.70
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	0.00

d. Louisiana's colleges and universities could reduce their costs without hurting the quality of the institution.

	%
Strongly agree	11.10
Agree	5.60
Neither agree nor disagree	27.80
Disagree	11.10
Strongly disagree	44.40
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	0.00

Q10. On a scale from 1 to 10 where 10 means you know everything and 1 means you don't know anything, about how much would you say you know about the subject of colleges and universities in Louisiana?

	%
1	0.00
2	5.60
3	16.70
4	5.60
5	0.00
6	5.60
7	5.60
8	38.90
9	11.10
10	11.10
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	0.00

Q11. Would you say the government is pretty much run by a few big interests looking out for themselves or that it is run for the benefit of all the people?

	%
Few Big Interests	61.10
Benefit of All	33.30
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	5.60

Q12. How much attention do you feel the government pays to what the people think when it decides what to do?

	%
Good Deal	22.20
Some	50.00
Not Much	27.80
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	0.00

Q13. Discussions - even those that involve serious disagreements - should be an important part of the political processes.

	%
Strongly agree	83.30
Agree	16.70
Neither agree nor disagree	0.00
Disagree	0.00
Strongly disagree	0.00
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	0.00

b. Democracy requires hearing from all sides of a political issue, even those with unpopular views.

	%
Strongly agree	77.80
Agree	22.20
Neither agree nor disagree	0.00
Disagree	0.00
Strongly disagree	0.00
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	0.00

Q12. What is your political party affiliation?

Republican	38.90
Democrat	44.40
Independent	16.70
Other	0.00
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	0.00

Q13. The terms "liberal" and "conservative" may mean different things to people, depending on the kind of issue one is considering. In terms of ECONOMIC issues, would you say you are:

Very Liberal	0.00
Liberal	16.70
Somewhat Liberal	11.10
Moderate	44.40
Somewhat Conservative	22.20
Conservative	5.60
Very Conservative	0.00
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	0.00

Q14. Now, thinking in terms of SOCIAL issues and people's behavior, would you say you are:

Very Liberal	11.10
Liberal	22.20
Somewhat Liberal	22.20
Moderate	5.60
Somewhat Conservative	16.70
Conservative	16.70
Very Conservative	5.60
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	0.00

Q15. What race or ethnicity do you consider yourself?

White	94.40
Black	0.00
Asian	0.00
Hispanic	0.00
Native American	0.00
Mixed Race	0.00
Other	0.00
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	5.60

Q16. What is the highest level of education you have received?

Grade School	0.00
High School Diploma/GED	11.10
Vocational/Technical Degree	0.00
Associates Degree	0.00
Bachelors Degree	27.80
Masters Degree	38.90
PhD/MD/JD	22.20
Other	0.00
Refused	0.00

Q17. What was your age on your last birthday?

17 or Younger	0.00
18-24	5.90
25-34	5.90
35-44	23.50
45-54	35.30
55-64	17.60
65-74	11.80
75-84	0.00
85 or older	0.00
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	0.00

Q18. Marital Status?

Single	33.30
Married	66.70
Divorced/Separated	0.00
Widowed	0.00
Other	0.00
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	0.00

Q19. 2003 Household Income Before Taxes?

	%
$10,000 or Less	0.00
$10,001 - $20,000	5.60
$20,001 - $30,000	5.60
$30,001 - $40,000	22.20
$40,001 - $50,000	16.70
$50,001 - $60,000	5.60
$60,001 - $70,000	5.60
$70,001 - $80,000	0.00
$80,001 - $90,000	11.10
$90,001 - $100,000	0.00
$100,001 or More	27.80
Don't know / Not available	0.00
Refused	0.00

Q20. Gender?

	%
Male	61.10
Female	27.80
Refused	11.10