The Class of COVID-19

• (43%) of students in college or applying want smaller class sizes; (38%) shared spaces configured for social distancing; (40%) mandatory temperature tests before entering any buildings on campus; and (34%) private dorm rooms
• Nearly 2 in 5 Americans (39%) believe standardized tests like the SAT/ACT are a fair and accurate assessment of a college applicants’ aptitude, knowledge and potential for success. 
  • While 6 in 10 Americans who are either currently enrolled or in the process of applying to college believe standardized tests are a fair and accurate assessment of a college applicants’ aptitude, knowledge and potential for success, a third of them believe it is not 
  • While more than 2 in 5 parents (45%) believe standardized tests like the SAT/ACT are a fair and accurate assessment of a college applicants’ aptitude, knowledge and potential for success, around a third of parents (34%) do not believe so.
• Around 2 in 5 Americans say shared spaces configured for social distancing (40%) and mandatory temperature test before entering any buildings on campus (37%) would make them feel safe to go to college/universities post COVID-19
  • More than 2 in 5 parents (42%) say shared spaces configured for social distancing would make them feel safe
  • Around 2 in 5 parents (39%) say mandatory temperature test before entering any buildings on campus would make them feel safe 
  • Around 2 in 5 Americans (38%) who are either currently enrolled or in the process of applying to college say shared spaces configured for social distancing would make them feel safe 
  • 2 in 5 Americans who are either currently enrolled or in the process of applying to college say mandatory temperature test before entering any buildings on campus but would make them feel safe
• More than half of Americans (51%) say a guarantee of hygienic cleaning of shared spaces would make them feel safe to go to colleges/universities post COVID-19.
  • More than half of parents (53%) say guarantee of hygienic cleaning of shared spaces would make them feel safe.
  • More than half of Americans who are either currently enrolled or in the process of applying to college (53%) say guarantee of hygienic cleaning of shared spaces would make them feel safe.
• More than half of Americans who are either currently enrolled or in the process of applying to college (55%) believe SAT/ACT test scores should be permanently suspended, with more than 3 in 10 (32%) who do not believe so
• More than 3 in 5 Americans (66%) support colleges and universities suspending SAT/ACT test requirements for undergraduate applicants through at least 2024, while just over a third of Americans (34%) oppose it 
  • More than 4 in 5 Americans who are either currently enrolled or in the process of applying to college (82%) support suspending SAT/ACT test requirements for undergraduate applicants through at least 2024, less than a fifth of them (18%) oppose it 
  • Nearly 7 in 10 parents (68%) support suspending SAT/ACT test requirements through at least 2024, yet more than 3 in 10 (32%) oppose.
• 7 in 10 Americans who are either currently enrolled or in the process of applying to college think colleges and universities should create their own entrance exams 
• More than 3 in 5 parents (63%) think colleges and universities should create their own entrance exams

Methodology

This survey (Wave 14) was conducted online within the U.S. by The Harris Poll from May 29 – 31 among a nationally representative sample of 1,965 U.S. adults.