Why Are Highly Educated Americans Getting More Liberal?

NPR ^ | 04/30/2016 | Danielle Kurtzleben

[MaxFlint]

If you go the elite education route the only establishment left to join is hardcore liberal. You hold (or at least pretend to hold) liberal beliefs or go home. Among these highly educated elites even support for a squish like Romney is shockingly right wing. Showing up to a faculty dinner in a Make America Great Again hat would be a career ending event. Which is why no one does it.

This does not apply to the technical elite. In the worlds of computer programming, engineering, physics and math there's still plenty of right wing sentiment. Especially the engineers and programmers who work in the private sector.

[GenXteacher]

My college experience made me more actively conservative.

[5th MEB]

Tell me about it; took me eight years from the time I started as an apprentice in my trade (plumber), to finally get my Masters Certification.
Most of those eight years were spent in a classroom studying engineering, fluid physics, hydraulics, materials testing, chemistry, mathematics, and all the other physical sciences pertaining to the transport, treatment, and handling of fluids, in any and all states.
Eight hours a day on the job and another six to eight hours a day in the classroom.
Weekends were reserved for homework, or field trips to major hydro construction projects or treatment plants.

[PapaBear3625]

In 1994, 7 percent of post-grads were "consistently liberal," and 1 percent of people with high school educations or less were — not much of a difference. Today, the gap is 25 points wide — 31 percent of people with post-grad educations are consistently liberal, compared to 5 percent of those with high school educations or less.

What you may be observing is the extent to which non-liberals are hounded out of academia.

[5th MEB]

The Vets are already highly trained, but they also realize that they need the sheepskin for the Human Resources Department.
Most of the people in those departments couldn’t find their ass with their own two hands, but they do get to make the decisions.

[TChad]

Why Are Highly Educated Americans Getting More Liberal?

Perhaps because highly educated conservatives have stopped participating in polls. That includes me.