A newly released survey of young Americans shows that patriotism and a favorable view of American history plummets once high schoolers head to college.
The 2020 Youth Patriotism Index takes a look at the rising generation’s opinions of America, its institutions, and its values. A dramatic change occurs after high school.
Here are some of the findings.
- 66% of high school students believe America is exceptional, compared to 47% of college students
- 55% of high school students believe America is a good example for other countries, compared to 37% of college students
- 70% of high school students hold a favorable view of America’s history, compared to 44% of college students
- 63% of high school students report feeling proud of America, compared to 40% of college students
“While many young people today hold positive opinions about America and its attributes, it’s clear that once a student gets to college, those positive feelings are eroded or replaced with more negative opinions about our country,” the survey summarizes.
Religious conviction was also lukewarm for both age groups. When asked about church attendance, only 30% of high school students and 29% of high school graduates said they attend at least once a week. On the flip side, 25% of high school students and 29% of high school graduates said they “never” attend religious services.
The survey was conducted June 21 to June 25 from a sample of 800 high school and 800 college students.
