College professors skew modestly more to the left. Recent studies examine professors’ Wikipedia pages and Twitter feeds to discern political leanings. They estimate Democratic support around 70% and Republicans around 25% or less, though neither source can be considered nationally representative of professors. More importantly, a focus on liberal-conservative ratios (as many critics reference) misses the large and rising share of moderates. A nationally representative 2006 survey identified 46% of professors as moderates. Two more recent studies find an increase in the ranks of moderate professors, primarily due to fewer professors identifying with Republicans (these shifts coincide with a national trend in which educational attainment has become a significant predictor of Democratic vote shares). Importantly, the politics of professors also vary across multiple dimensions including academic departments (humanities and social sciences are more liberal; business and the natural sciences are more conservative) and institutions (elite and Ph.D. granting institutions are more liberal; less-selective and religious institutions are more conservative). These nuances reveal far greater variety in professors’ political views than is acknowledged in claims of indoctrination.
Students also sort across schools. In fact, recent evidence shows that students are increasingly choosing universities based on political dimensions; for example, liberal (or conservative) students avoiding states with restrictive abortion (or gun) policies. This sorting dynamic contributes to politically homogeneous college campuses where students are less likely to encounter classmates with opposing viewpoints. Indeed, a recent analysis suggests many students are willing to pay more to avoid contrary views. Though outside partisans may revile at the idea of ideological bubbles on college campuses, it’s apparently something students value and are willing to vote with their feet (and wallets) to secure.