THEJEMBE and QuestionPro surveyed 1,000 college students to understand their views on a potential Department of Education (DOE) shutdown, focusing on its impact on financial aid, education quality, accessibility, and career prospects.

Executive Summary: The survey reveals that students heavily rely on DOE support, with 54% using federal student loans to fund their education. A potential DOE shutdown raises significant concerns, particularly around financial aid disruptions, with 55% believing it would greatly affect their financial support.

Key Findings:

• Reliance on Federal Aid: 54% of students depend on federal loans, and 52% see loss of loans as the top concern in a DOE shutdown.
• Level of Concern: 24% are very concerned about a shutdown, with 23% worried about financial aid loss and 24% fearing a decline in education quality.
• Financial Aid Disruption: 55% believe a shutdown would significantly disrupt financial aid, while 28% are unsure.
• Impact of Losing Loans: 44% say losing federal loans would majorly impact degree completion, 27% would pause or drop out, and 4% see no impact.
• Expectations from Schools: 41% expect colleges to offer significant support during a shutdown, 13% expect some help, and 7% anticipate minimal support.
• Accessibility Concerns: 38% fear reduced access to higher education, especially for students with disabilities, with only 4% disagreeing.
• Tuition and Quality: 27% expect rising tuition, 22% foresee reduced support for at-risk students, and 18% predict lower education quality.
• Career Impact: 45% believe a shutdown would significantly affect career plans, 37% see some impact, and 10% feel confident in achieving career goals.
• Student Advocacy: 56% would advocate through petitions or protests, with 8% very likely and 6% somewhat likely to participate.
• Biggest Concern: “Money” is the top word associated with a DOE shutdown, followed by “education,” “loans,” and “future.”