How U.S. Laws and Policies Affect High School Students’ College Decisions

A new survey from CollegeIQ has documented how the opinions of high school students on various local and state policies affect their decisions on where to apply to and attend college.

Over 600 high school juniors and seniors from diverse geographic, demographic, and political backgrounds completed the survey regarding how campus gun laws, DEI laws, LGBTQIA+ friendliness, abortion laws, and local politics impacted their college choices. Women students reported the biggest concern with gun laws and abortion laws.

The most important issue among all students surveyed related to gun laws. About 63 percent of students said campus carry gun laws have at least a moderate impact on their college choice, and 37 percent stated these laws have a significant impact. Women students are more concerned about gun laws than their male classmates, with 69 percent of women and 55 percent of men stating gun laws are at least moderately important in their choice of college. The majority of all students who are concerned about campus gun laws stated they would prefer a college with more restrictive policies.

Women high school students are also more likely than men to take state abortion laws into consideration when applying to college. According to the survey, about 40 percent of women participants said abortion laws have at least a moderate impact on their college decision, compared to 27 percent of male respondents. Roughly 14 percent of women said abortion laws significantly impact their college decision-making process. Only 5 percent of men held the same opinion. Among those who were significantly concerned about abortion laws, 73 percent stated they would prefer to apply to colleges in states with fewer abortion restrictions.