Colleges are turning into partisan echo chambers, warning a threat to democracy

In his new book, Neil Gross contends that American higher education has become organized around politics, influencing everything from admissions to daily student life. Survey data shows about fifty percent of undergraduates assess a school's political climate before applying, with some seeking activist-rich campuses like Oberlin and Barnard, and others preferring apolitical environments. Colleges reinforce these divides through subtle messaging on tours and brochures, and some, such as UC Berkeley, openly celebrate their protest history.

Conversely, schools like Vanderbilt and the University of Chicago emphasize a commitment to free speech to attract more moderate students. A growing trend sees Southern universities positioning themselves as low-conflict alternatives for northern applicants. Gross warns that this self-segregation extends to roommate selection, dating, and even academic choices, producing echo chambers that erode the skills needed for constructive democratic dialogue.