Is DEI Shaping Inclusivity or Division on College Campuses?

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives have become a staple in educational settings, from middle schools to college campuses - but are they fostering genuine inclusion or sparking division? As these programs expand, so do questions about their influence on students' beliefs and campus experiences. To understand the effects, we surveyed 1,000 American college students, exploring whether DEI programs build bridges or inadvertently widen divides.

Key takeaways

• 70% of college students describe the overall impact of DEI programs as positive.
• 49% say their DEI experiences made them more open to diverse perspectives.
• 30% report that DEI initiatives have shaped their political views; 25% say it made them rethink certain issues.
• 2 in 5 students have taken a class that focused on race, gender, or identity, and 54% believe these classes should be mandatory for all students.
• 1 in 10 students feel uncomfortable discussing race, gender, or sexual identity in class, mainly due to the fear of being judged or misunderstood.
• Barack Obama, Trevor Noah, and Elon Musk are the top influential figures students rely on for alternative perspectives.

Impact of DEI programs on students

• 70% of college students describe the overall impact of DEI programs as positive, saying these initiatives have increased their understanding of diversity and inclusion. Percentage who agree, by political affiliation:
  • Democrat: 79%
  • Republican: 64%
  • Moderate: 63%
  • Independent: 56%

• 49% became more open to diverse perspectives after experiencing a DEI program.
• 10% became more uncomfortable discussing diversity issues after experiencing a DEI program.

DEI impact on political views

• DEI programs have influenced more than 30% of college students' voting preferences or political views.
• 25% say DEI initiatives have made them rethink certain issues, including 31% of Republican students and 17% of Democratic students.
• 18% say DEI initiatives have reinforced their existing political beliefs.

Race, gender, and identity in the classroom

• 2 in 5 college students have taken a class that focused on race, gender, or identity.
• Over half (54%) believe these classes should be mandatory for all students.
• 47% would be interested in taking a class that focuses on race, gender, or identity. Students' interest by political affiliation:
  • Democrat: 61%
  • Moderate: 43%
  • Independent: 39%
  • Republican: 30%
• 1 in 10 feel uncomfortable discussing race, gender, or sexual identity in class, mainly due to the fear of being judged or misunderstood.

DEI and social justice

• Nearly 70% of college students think DEI programs are an effective tool for promoting social justice. Percentage who agree, by political affiliation:
  • Democrat: 84%
  • Moderate: 60%
  • Independent: 57%
  • Republican: 55%

Who do college students turn to for other perspectives?

• Barack Obama, Trevor Noah, and Elon Musk are the most influential figures college students are listening to for alternative perspectives.
• Most influential figures by students' political affiliation:
  • Democrat:
    1. Barack Obama
    2. Trevor Noah
    3. Jon Stewart
    4. John Oliver
    5. Ben Carson
  • Republican:
    1. Elon Musk
    2. Ben Shapiro
    3. Joe Rogan
    4. Tucker Carlson
    5. Jordan Peterson
  • Independent:
    1. Barack Obama
    2. Candace Owens
    3. Elon Musk
    4. Joe Rogan
    5. Trevor Noah
  • Moderate:
    1. Barack Obama
    2. Joe Rogan
    3. Elon Musk
    4. Andrew Yang
    5. Ben Shapiro

• 32% say these figures confirm the beliefs they already hold.
• 29% say these figures have made them more open to DEI initiatives.
• 20% say these figures have made them more critical of DEI initiatives.

Methodology

For this study, we surveyed 1,000 American college students to explore their experiences with diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Their average age was 24; 55% of respondents were women, 42% were male, and 3% were non-binary. Politically, 48% identified as Democrats, 22% as Republicans, 18% as Moderates, and 12% as Independents.

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