8.30.25
President Donald Trump is facing steep challenges with college-educated voters, as new polling shows his approval rating among the group steadily declining throughout the summer. In June, just 34 percent of college graduates approved of Trump's job performance, while 63 percent disapproved, according to Gallup polling. That margin widened in July, with approval slipping to 32 percent against 66 percent disapproval. By August, Trump hit a new low with only 28 percent approving and 70 percent disapproving. College-educated voters are a growing and influential bloc in U.S. elections, particularly in suburban areas that often decide swing states. Historically aligned with Democrats, their dissatisfaction with Trump could further weaken Republican chances of flipping or holding swing seats in 2026, shaping the balance of power in Congress.
As of early 2025, adults aged 25 and above with a bachelor's degree or higher had a low unemployment rate of 2.3 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But younger graduates are struggling: just 69.6 percent of recent bachelor's recipients aged 20–29 were employed in late 2024, with unemployment among 23–27-year-old degree holders rising to nearly 6 percent, well above the national average of 4.2 percent. Those challenges are reflected in polling. A Gallup survey found that 39 percent of college graduates describe the nation's economic conditions as "poor," far outpacing the share who see them positively. Meanwhile, 64 percent reported struggling to find a job.