1 in 4 college applicants avoid certain states over politics

A NEW POLL SHOWS THAT MORE THAN A QUARTER OF COLLEGE APPLICANTS ARE RULING OUT SCHOOLS BASED ON THE POLITICAL CLIMATE IN THE STATES WHERE THOSE INSTITUTIONS ARE LOCATED.

THE ART AND SCIENCE GROUP REVEALS THAT 28% OF STUDENTS RULED OUT CERTAIN SCHOOLS DUE TO THE POLITICAL, LEGAL OR POLICY ENVIRONMENT IN THE STATES WHERE THOSE SCHOOLS ARE LOCATED.

OUT OF THAT GROUP, ABOUT TWO-THIRDS MADE THESE DECISIONS EARLY IN THEIR COLLEGE SEARCH, SHOWING JUST HOW INFLUENTIAL POLITICAL CONCERNS HAVE BECOME.

FOR LIBERAL STUDENTS, THE BIG ISSUES ARE STATES WITH CONSERVATIVE POLICIES ON ABORTION AND LGBTQ-PLUS RIGHTS. MEANWHILE, CONSERVATIVE STUDENTS ARE AVOIDING SCHOOLS IN STATES THEY FEEL ARE TOO LENIENT ON CRIME, SOCIAL ISSUES OR IDENTITY POLITICS.

ACCORDING TO THE POLL, TEXAS AND FLORIDA TOP THE LIST AS THE MOST FREQUENTLY EXCLUDED STATE FOR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS FROM LIBERAL STUDENTS. WHILE CONSERVATIVE STUDENTS ARE LOOKING TO STAY OUT OF CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK… EACH RULED OUT BY 15% OR MORE OF PROSPECTS.

THIS SHIFT COMES AT A TIME WHEN THE U-S IS MORE POLITICALLY DIVIDED THAN EVER, WITH STATE-LEVEL POLICIES MAKING HEADLINES ALMOST DAILY. SINCE THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE IN 2022, MANY STATES HAVE ENACTED STRICT ABORTION LAWS. AT THE SAME TIME, BATTLES OVER TRANSGENDER RIGHTS… INCLUDING WHO CAN USE CERTAIN BATHROOMS OR PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS, ARE ALSO INFLUENCING STATE POLITICS.

WITH POLITICS NOW PART OF THE EQUATION FOR WHERE STUDENTS GO TO SCHOOL, THE LANDSCAPE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IS CHANGING. AND WITH BOTH LIBERAL AND CONSERVATIVE STUDENTS MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON STATE POLICIES… COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES MAY FACE INCREASING CHALLENGES IN ATTRACTING A DIVERSE STUDENT BODY.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.

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