Poll finds sizable share of college students favor socialism over capitalism, with broad views on free speech and culture

A Yale University–Buckley Institute poll found a notable share of four-year college students say socialist economic models offer a better path than capitalism, underscoring what researchers describe as rising skepticism of traditional free-market approaches among younger voters. Forty-six percent of undergraduates surveyed agreed with the statement that socialist countries like Cuba and the Soviet Union have offered a better economic model than capitalist countries such as the United States. Thirty-nine percent disagreed, and 15% said they were unsure. When asked more directly about living under such systems, about 40% slightly preferred capitalism, 36% said socialism, and 24% were unsure.

The liberal-conservative divide on the question was pronounced. Among students who identified as liberal, nearly six in 10 — about 58% — agreed that socialism was a better economic model than capitalism, while 63% of conservatives disagreed and favored the free market. The survey also found a sizable portion of respondents expressed support for socialist—or at least non-capitalist—economic ideas while not necessarily endorsing living under a socialist regime. When asked to choose an economic system they would prefer to live under, roughly 36% chose socialism, 40% chose capitalism, and 24% were unsure. The survey notes that the margin between ideological groups reflected broader shifts in attitudes toward capitalism within the U.S. adult population, particularly among Democrats.

The poll sought to capture views across political lines on a range of campus-culture issues. It found that 90% of students support some form of deportation for people who entered the country illegally, including a combined 70% who backed removal for those with violent or other crimes. On sports policy, 61% oppose transgender athletes competing against biological females, citing concerns about competitive disadvantages for other athletes. On foreign policy alignment, respondents were split: 33% said Palestine is a better ally for the United States, 29% said Israel, and 38% were unsure. Liberal students were more inclined to view Palestine as a better ally, while conservatives leaned toward Israel.

Housing and free-speech questions also surfaced. Seventy percent of students supported rent control, a stance shared even by a majority of conservatives. The survey asked whether it is acceptable to shout down or disrupt a speaker on campus; 48% said yes in some circumstances, while 45% said it is not appropriate. Liberals were more likely to support disruption, with 60% saying it is okay to shout down a speaker, compared with 38% of moderates and 35% of conservatives. About 60% of liberal students also indicated it is acceptable to disrupt a speaker, compared to 38% of moderates and 35% of conservatives.

On civil rights and race, 47% of respondents said America is moving forward on equality, while 48% believed the country remains tied to white supremacy. Roughly two-thirds of liberal students and 62% of Black students said entrenched racism continues to exclude minorities from the nation’s promise. And 65% agreed that their college should require all professors and administrators to support diversity, equity, and inclusion as a condition of employment.

The study’s methodology and limitations were noted by researchers. The Buckley Institute poll surveyed a representative national sample of 820 undergraduate students online from Sept. 5 to 14 who attend a four-year private or public college or university. The sample is based on individuals who initially self-selected for participation, a factor researchers say should be considered when interpreting the results. While the findings reveal broad patterns in attitudes toward economics, free speech, and campus culture, analysts cautioned that the results reflect self-selected respondents at a single point in time rather than a scientific cross-section of all U.S. undergraduates.

The results come as debates over campus free speech, civility, and the role of higher education in shaping political life continue to roil universities nationwide. Buckley Institute founder and executive director Lauren Noble framed the results as a call to action for colleges seeking to reconcile free-speech commitments with concerns about violence and intimidation. “It is alarming that a record percentage of undergraduates support shouting down opinions they don’t like,” Noble said. “It is clear that despite support for free speech in theory, America’s undergraduates don’t support it in practice. America’s colleges and universities still have a lot of work to do.”

The findings contribute to a broader conversation about how higher education is perceived among younger Americans and how campus culture intersects with political views on economic models, civil discourse, and social policy.