But a majority also says colleges should base admissions decisions on a variety of factors.

Despite a rise in protests at schools across the country against high-profile conservative speakers, a new poll finds that 57 percent of Americans believe colleges should invite speakers to campus even if their speech offends some.

We asked more than 1,000 adults about their views on higher education. Here's how they answered our questions.

Notes on the WGBH News/Abt Associates poll on Americans' views on higher education.