Should Issues Like Race and Gender Factor Into Admissions? And the Survey Says…

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Many people reject the idea that race and gender should factor into college admissions.

According to a Pew Research Center survey, nearly three quarters (73%) of American adults think that a college applicant’s race or ethnicity should not represent a factor in admissions decisions, while only 7% think that it should represent a major factor and 19% believe it should be a minor factor.

Majorities on both sides of the political spectrum share these sentiments: 63% of Democrats and those leaning Democrat and 85% of Republicans and those leaning Republican thought that race or ethnicity should not be a factor in admissions.

Similarly, respondents resoundingly rejected the idea that gender should matter in admissions: A whopping 81% thought gender should not be a factor, while 5% thought it should be a major factor and 14% thought gender should be a minor factor.

Over half of people (57%) answered that athletic ability should not be a factor, but about one third (34%) believed it should be a minor factor and 8% thought it should be a major factor.

What did people think should influence admissions decisions?

67% thought that high school grades should play a major role in admissions determinations, while 7% thought those grades should not be a factor and 26% thought they should be a minor factor.

Nearly half (47%) thought that standardized test scores such as those compiled by the SAT and ACT should be a significant consideration. Almost as many thought these test results should be a minor factor (41%) and 11% thought they should not be a factor in admissions.