Politics Are Shaping Gen Z’s College Choices
New survey data also shows students’ definition of campus safety evolving to include free speech protections
Washington, DC, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Education company EAB released a report today, “Recruiting the Anxious Generation,” that draws from three new surveys of American teenagers. Survey data indicates that politics are having a growing impact on where students choose to attend college. Nearly one-third (29 percent) of prospective students reported removing at least one college from consideration for political reasons. Sixteen percent of students removed a school from consideration because of the political environment of the state where that college is located. Students from families with higher incomes were more likely than their peers to remove colleges they considered too liberal or too conservative.
“Gen Z students aren’t just evaluating academic offerings and campus amenities,” said EAB’s Head of Research for Enrollment Services, Pam Royall. “Whether they lean left or right politically, feeling welcomed and supported is central to the college experience they want.”
Student definitions of campus safety are also evolving. Survey data shows that 60 percent of students define a safe campus as one that includes “freedom to express my thoughts and values without harassment,” up more than 8 percent from 2024. More than two-thirds (67 percent) of first-year college students said that mental health and wellness support is critical to feeling safe on campus.
“Previously, conversations about campus safety have centered on physical safety,” Royall added. “Today’s students—sometimes called ‘The Anxious Generation’ by social scientists—have a more holistic definition of safety that also includes emotional well-being and affirmation of their right to express their political opinions without fear of judgment or reprisal.”
EAB’s report, “Recruiting the Anxious Generation,” summarizes the findings from the following three surveys the company conducted across late 2024 and early 2025:
1. 2025 Communication Preferences Survey: 19,299 current high school students were surveyed about their preferred communication channels in college search.
2. 2025 First-Year Experience Survey: 11,500 prospective first-year college students from the entering class of 2024 were surveyed about their perceptions of college and the criteria they used to decide whether and where to enroll.
3. December 2024 Mental Health Survey: 7,720 high school and first-year college students were surveyed about the impact of mental health concerns on their college search process.
About EAB
At EAB, our mission is to make education smarter and our communities stronger. We work with more than 2,800 institutions to drive transformative change through data-driven insights and best-in-class capabilities. From kindergarten to college to career, EAB partners with leaders and practitioners to accelerate progress and drive results across enrollment, student success, institutional strategy, data analytics, and advancement. We work with each partner differently, tailoring our portfolio of research, technology, and marketing and enrollment solutions to meet the unique needs of every leadership team, as well as the students and employees they serve. Learn more at eab.com.
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John Michaels EAB (202) 747-1788 jmichaels@eab.com
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