A large majority of Americans—73 percent—say that neither race nor ethnicity should be factors in deciding which students are granted admission to colleges and universities. Only 7 percent think race and ethnicity should be major factors, and 19 percent favor allowing them to be light factors. The survey was conducted by Pew Research Center in January and February of this year.

Every major racial or ethnic grouping rejects admission by race or ethnicity, but the largest such rejection come from white Americans—78 percent, compared with 65 percent Hispanics, 62 percent blacks, and 59 percent Asians, surveying only Asians who speak English.

What Factors Should Colleges Consider?

A total of 67 percent of Americans think high school grades should be the major factor in admission decision, while 47 percent think it should be SATs or ACTs.

On most college campuses, administrators and faculty have been widely assumed to be heavily in favor of affirmative action, with students mostly in agreement. This survey shows a large consensus leaning the other way.