President Donald Trump is now facing one of his toughest battles yet: the growing hostility of college-educated voters. New polling reveals his approval among degree-holders has steadily collapsed through the summer, highlighting America’s deep divide between working families and the liberal university elite.
Trump’s Struggles With College Graduates
Gallup polling shows the downward slide.
- June 2025: 34% approval, 63% disapproval.
- July 2025: 32% approval, 66% disapproval.
- August 2025: just 28% approval, with a massive 70% disapproval rate.
This bloc of college graduates has become decisive in suburban swing states, where control of Congress could be decided in 2026.
Trump’s Crackdown on Liberal Universities
The polling shift comes as Trump’s second-term administration ramps up a historic crackdown on elite universities accused of left-wing indoctrination, antisemitism, and abuse of federal funding.
- Harvard University: Lost $100 million in federal contracts, had $3.2 billion in research funding frozen, faced restrictions on foreign student enrollment, and was warned its tax-exempt status could be revoked.
- Columbia, UPenn, and Cornell: Faced funding cuts over pro-Palestinian activism and allowing biological males in women’s sports.
Liberals call it an “attack on autonomy.” Conservatives call it accountability for schools bloated with taxpayer dollars.
Polling Shows a Stark Divide
Among college graduates, only 26% approve of Trump’s education policies. But inside the GOP, support is overwhelming: 8 in 10 Republicans back Trump’s efforts to rein in the universities, even stronger than support for his economic agenda.
Still, Republicans are split on tactics:
- Half support cutting federal money for non-compliant schools.
- One-quarter oppose it.
- One-quarter remain undecided.
The Real Crisis: Soaring College Costs
While campus protests dominate headlines, the cost of college is the real kitchen-table issue for most Americans.
For the 2024–25 school year:
- Public in-state: $29,910 per year with housing and expenses.
- Out-of-state: $49,080 per year.
- Private colleges: $61,990 per year.
- After aid: average $20,800 public, $36,150 private.
Since 1963, the cost of a public in-state degree has exploded from $2,489 to nearly $90,000. In just the past decade, tuition rose 58% for in-state students.
Student Loan Debt and Jobs
The result? A crushing student loan debt crisis. The average graduate leaves school with about $29,000 in debt.
- Older degree-holders enjoy a low 2.3% unemployment rate.
- Younger grads (20–29) face nearly 6% unemployment, well above the national average.
- A Gallup poll found 64% of college graduates struggle to find work, with 39% rating the economy as “poor.”
What It Means for Trump—and America
The clash between Trump and higher education underscores America’s cultural divide:
- College elites demand autonomy and funding.
- Conservatives and parents demand accountability, lower costs, and an end to political indoctrination.
Trump has made clear he will not back down from this fight. The question is whether America’s families—burdened by tuition and debt—will side with him against the entrenched liberal establishment.
📌 Key Takeaways (SEO & Engagement Boost)
- Trump’s approval among college-educated voters is falling sharply.
- His crackdown on universities has cut billions in funding.
- College costs remain the #1 concern for families nationwide.
- Graduates face record debt and a weak job market.
- Republicans are united on the issue—Democrats remain divided.