Overview
- The Gallup–Lumina student survey, published Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, finds 55 percent of students say campus leaders act in their best interest most or all of the time while 45 percent say leaders do so sometimes, rarely, or never.
- Fifty-eight percent of undergraduates reported that state or federal policies produced at least a moderate change on their campus, signaling tangible policy effects on curriculum, funding, and campus programs.
- Students approve of decisions made by their own institutions at much higher rates than external policymakers, with 79 percent approving campus decisions versus 56 percent for state and 45 percent for federal policies affecting campuses.
- Trust levels vary by institution and politics: community college students report slightly higher trust than four-year students, the most selective colleges show lower trust, and Republican-identified students report higher confidence in leaders than Democratic-identified students.
- The student findings come as public confidence in higher education has fallen since 2015 and many college presidents have launched outreach campaigns to explain college value, outcomes, and workforce relevance.