Illinois institutions of higher education face an impending funding crisis. Despite recent gains in first-year student enrollment, overall enrollment in public undergraduate colleges and universities is still down over the last decade. Public funding is a key element in opening up access by controlling the cost of college, which is otherwise passed along to students in the form of higher tuition. Furthermore, cost is a primary deterrent to individuals hoping to receive a higher education degree, particularly among low-income families who simply cannot afford the expense of college. For example, about 44 percent of low-income, high school graduates enrolled in college in 2021, compared to 69 percent of middle- and high-income graduates. 

There are also large disparities in educational attainment across segments of the Illinois population. While 68 percent of Asian and 48 percent of white Illinoisans have an associate degree or higher, only 31 percent of Black and 22 percent of Latino residents have earned higher education credentials. Forty-six percent of residents in non-rural areas have a college degree compared to just 33 percent of rural residents. These attainment gaps represent economic losses for Illinois as higher levels of educational attainment correspond with higher levels of productivity and economic growth. 

In 2024, the nonpartisan Illinois Commission on Equitable Public University Funding published a recommended funding model. The proposed approach, guided by a commitment to funding that is equitable, stable, and sufficient, would provide an additional $1.4 billion to public universities in Illinois. Since the model’s publication, the threat of federal cuts has increased uncertainty and underlined the need for state action to guarantee access to higher education. Against this backdrop, Public Agenda surveyed Illinois residents to learn about how they view public higher education and what would help it serve them and the state better. The survey includes specific findings about adults without college degrees—the group that might become students in the future. 

Public Agenda’s research finds that nearly three in four Illinoisans—including majorities of Democrats, independents, and Republicans—believe that the state government should increase funding to improve accessibility and affordability of public colleges and universities. Nearly 70 percent, again including cross-partisan majorities, support prioritizing funding to schools that enroll large numbers of underrepresented groups, such as students from low-income backgrounds, racial and ethnic minorities, and rural areas. Although about half of Illinois residents believe that a college degree is now a questionable investment, many believe that lowering tuition and offering more courses that provide workplace skills would help make it a better investment.

The survey found that the large majority of Illinoisans believe higher education should be accessible, and many believe that having more college-educated residents would benefit the state economy. However, more than half of Illinoisans, particularly Black residents, report there are many people who would like to pursue a degree but don’t have the opportunity to do so. Among those without a degree who are not currently enrolled, most wanted to pursue a degree after high school but couldn’t afford to, and most say the lack of a degree has negatively impacted them. About a third would still like to pursue a degree but face barriers such as cost and time constraints and Thirty-eight percent say they are likely to pursue an associate or bachelor’s program in the next five years. Most of this group is 30 years and older, and most are from low-income households.

Findings are based on a representative survey of 2,062 Illinois resident adults aged 18 years and older. The survey was designed by Public Agenda and fielded January 8 – January 28, 2025 by Ipsos in English and Spanish. The survey has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3 percentage points for all respondents. Follow-up interviews were conducted with survey respondents between March 7 – March 28, 2025. For details about the methodology and topline with full question wording, see the methodology. 

This Public Agenda project is supported by the Joyce Foundation.