Studies consistently showing a liberal skew in academia, particularly in the humanities and social sciences.

Below, is a detailed breakdown of available statistics on the political affiliations of college professors, focusing on the percentage identifying as liberal, as well as other political categories (e.g., moderate, conservative, Democrat, Republican). All sources are cited.

Overview of Key Findings

Liberal Dominance: Studies consistently show that 44–80% of college professors identify as liberal or very liberal, with conservative representation typically ranging from 2–15%. The liberal skew is more pronounced in elite institutions, liberal arts colleges, and certain disciplines (e.g., humanities, social sciences).

Historical Trends: The proportion of liberal professors has increased over time, particularly since the early 2000s, with Democratic-to-Republican (D:R) ratios rising from 4.5:1 in the 1980s to 10.4–12.7:1 in recent decades.

Variations: Political affiliations vary by discipline, institution type, region, and demographics (e.g., gender, race, tenure status). For example, business and engineering faculties are more conservative, while humanities and social sciences lean heavily liberal.

Limitations: Many studies rely on self-reported data, which may be subject to bias, and some fail to distinguish between political ideology (liberal/conservative) and party affiliation (Democrat/Republican). Community college faculty, who tend to be more conservative, are often underrepresented in surveys.

Detailed Breakdown of Political Affiliation Statistics

1. 2006 Gross and Simmons Study (The Social and Political Views of American Professors)Statistics:44.1% of professors identified as liberal.

• 46.1% identified as moderate

• 9.2% identified as conservative

• By party affiliation: 50% Democrat, 11% Republican, 33% independent, 5% other

• At liberal arts colleges: 61% liberal, 3.9% conservative

• At community colleges: 37.1% liberal, 19% conservative

Details: This nationally representative survey of 1,417 full-time professors from 927 institutions is one of the most comprehensive studies. It included community colleges, which are often excluded, revealing a more moderate faculty at these institutions. The study found that even among moderates, liberal views on social issues (e.g., gender equality, gay rights) were common. The D:R ratio was approximately 4.5:1.

Source: Gross, N., & Simmons, S. (2007). The Social and Political Views of American Professors

2. 2018 Langbert Study (Homogenous: The Political Affiliations of Elite Liberal Arts College Faculty)

• Across 8,688 tenure-track, Ph.D.-holding professors at 51 top-ranked liberal arts colleges: D:R ratio of 10.4:1 (5,197 registered Democrat or Republican)

• Excluding military colleges (West Point, Annapolis): D:R ratio of 12.7:1

By discipline:

• Anthropology: 36:0 (no Republicans)

• Sociology: 27:1

• Economics: 4.5:1

• Engineering: More balanced but still liberal-leaning

Details: This study analyzed voter registration data, providing a more objective measure than self-reported ideology. It highlighted extreme liberal dominance in elite liberal arts colleges, with institutional factors (e.g., religious or military affiliation) influencing political diversity. The study suggests that ideological homogeneity may bias research and teaching.

Source: Langbert, M. (2018). Homogenous: The Political Affiliations of Elite Liberal Arts College Faculty. Academic Questions, 31(2), 186–197.

3. 2022 Harvard Faculty Survey (The Harvard Crimson)

• 80% of Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) respondents identified as (37% very liberal, 43% liberal)

• 20% moderate

• 1% conservative, 0% very conservative

Details: This survey of 476 faculty (1,182 contacted) at Harvard showed one of the highest liberal skews, with only 25% supporting increased hiring of conservative professors for ideological diversity. The results reflect the left-leaning culture of elite institutions, though the sample is specific to Harvard and may not generalize nationally.

Source: The Harvard Crimson. (2022). More Than 80 Percent of Surveyed Harvard Faculty Identify as Liberal.

4. 2023 Harvard Faculty Survey (The Harvard Crimson)

• 77% of FAS and SEAS respondents identified as liberal or very liberal (32% very liberal, 45% liberal)

• 20% moderate

• 2% conservative, <1% very conservative

Details: This survey of 386 respondents (1,300 contacted) showed a slight decrease in liberal identification compared to 2022 but confirmed the liberal dominance at Harvard. The consistency across years suggests a stable ideological profile at elite institutions.

Source: The Harvard Crimson. (2023). More Than Three-Quarters of Surveyed Harvard Faculty Identify As Liberal.

5. 2024 Duke Faculty Survey (The Chronicle)

• 60% of faculty respondents identified as liberal (disaggregated by tenure status):

• Full-time, non-tenure-track: 68.21% liberal

• Tenure-track: 59.26% liberal

• Tenured: 56.2% liberal

• Part-time, non-tenure-track: 52.63% liberal

• Black or African American: 67.86% liberal

• Hispanic/Latinx: 62.86% liberal

• White: 62.44% liberal

• Asian: 57.61% liberal

Details: This survey highlighted variations by tenure status, discipline, and race. Faculty in technical fields (e.g., engineering, business) were less liberal, while humanities and nursing leaned heavily liberal. Female respondents were more liberal than male respondents.

Source: The Chronicle. (2024). Over 60% of Professors Identify as Liberal, per The Chronicle’s Faculty Survey.

6. 2016 Abrams Study (Voter Registration Data)

• National D:R ratio among faculty at 40 leading universities: 11.5:1

• In New England: 28:1.

By discipline

• History: 33.5:1

• Psychology: 17.4:1

By age:

• Over 65: 10:1

• Under 36: 22.7:1

Details: This study used voter registration data from 7,243 professors, showing a growing liberal skew among younger faculty. The regional variation (e.g., New England’s extreme ratio) suggests geographic factors influence political affiliation. The study argues that ideological homogeneity may impede open inquiry.

Source: Abrams, S. J. (2016). Cited in Inside Higher Ed and Washington Times.

7. 2024 Havey Study (Social Media Analysis)

• 15% of professors were strongly right-leaning (conservative)

• 15% were moderate (lower than the 46% in Gross and Simmons, 2006)

• Remaining ~70% leaned liberal (exact breakdown not provided)

Details: This study analyzed social media activity (e.g., Twitter likes, posts) of over 4,000 faculty at 500 institutions, offering a contemporary methodology. It found more conservative faculty than earlier surveys (13% strongly conservative vs. 9% in 2006), suggesting self-reported surveys may underestimate conservative presence due to social desirability bias. However, liberals still dominated, particularly in humanities and sociology.

Source: Havey, N. (2024). Forthcoming in The Review of Higher Education. Cited in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

8. 2005 Rothman et al. Study (North American Academic Study Survey)

• 50% of faculty identified as liberal or extremely liberal

• 44% identified as liberal

• 11% identified as Republican, 50% as Democrat

Details: This survey of 1,643 faculty from 183 four-year colleges found a D:R ratio of ~5:1. It noted that the liberal skew was more pronounced in social sciences and humanities, with sociologists of religion perceived as more conservative but still marginalized within their field.

Source: Rothman, S., Lichter, S. R., & Nevitte, N. (2005). Politics and Professional Advancement Among College Faculty.

9. 1989–2014 Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) SurveysStatistics:1989–1990:

• 42% liberal, 40% moderate, 18% conservative

• 2014:57% liberal or far-left, ~30% moderate, ~13% conservative or far-right

• Change: 15 percentage point increase in liberal identification from 1989 to 2014

Details: The HERI surveys, conducted triennially by UCLA, show a steady leftward shift in faculty ideology. By 2014, the liberal-to-conservative ratio was approximately 4:1, with social sciences and humanities showing stronger liberal trends. The data suggest that faculty are more liberal than the general public (34% liberal in 2014 Pew Research) and college freshmen (35.5% liberal in 2014).

Source: Higher Education Research Institute. (1970–present). Your First College Year Survey.

10. 1969–1984 Carnegie Surveys (Historical Baseline)

• 1969: 45% liberal, 28% conservative

• 1975: 41% liberal, 26% conservative

• 1984: 39% liberal, 34% conservative

Details: These early surveys showed a more balanced faculty, with a slight liberal lean. The shift toward liberalism became more pronounced post-1984, with a 7% net shift from liberal to conservative self-identification by 1984, followed by a sharp leftward turn by 1999 (72% liberal per Rothman et al.).

Source: Hamilton, R. F., & Hargens, L. L. (1993). The Politics of the Professors: Self-Identifications, 1969–1984. Social Forces, 71(3), 603–627.

MISC.

Institution Type:

• Elite liberal arts colleges: 12.7:1 D:R ratio

• Community colleges: 37.1% liberal, 19% conservative

• Military colleges (e.g., West Point): Near parity (1.3:1 D:R)

Demographics:

• Gender: Female faculty are more liberal than male faculty (e.g., 67.86% of Black female faculty vs. 57.61% of Asian male faculty at Duke)

• Age: Younger faculty (<36) show a stronger liberal skew (22.7:1 D:R) than older faculty (>65, 10:1 D:R)

• Race: Black (67.86%) and Hispanic (62.86%) faculty are more liberal than White (62.44%) or Asian (57.61%) faculty

Critical Analysis

Why the Liberal Skew?

Self-Selection: Liberals may be more drawn to academia due to its emphasis on social issues, intellectual inquiry, and lower financial rewards compared to private-sector jobs.

Institutional Factors: Urban, secular, and elite institutions attract liberal faculty, while religious or military colleges have more conservative faculty.

Discrimination: Some studies suggest conservative faculty face hiring or promotion barriers, though evidence is mixed.

Cultural Shifts: The post-1960s era (e.g., Vietnam War, Watergate) saw academia shift left, with younger faculty amplifying this trend.

Implications:

Teaching and Research Bias: Ideological homogeneity may lead to confirmation bias, discouraging dissent and affecting research objectivity (e.g., social psychology’s focus on conservative traits).

Student Experience: 72% of students believe professors influence peers’ political views, with 59% fearing expressing their own beliefs. Conservative students report higher self-censorship (68%) than liberal students (8%).

Campus Climate: Liberal faculty are more likely to support actions like shouting down speakers (63% vs. 12% of conservatives), potentially stifling open discourse.

Counterarguments:

Gross and Simmons argue that the liberal skew is modest compared to the general public (34% liberal in 2014 Pew Research) and that moderates dominate many institutions.

Studies find little evidence of widespread indoctrination, with 90% of students reporting no pressure to align with professors’ views.

Technical fields (e.g., engineering) show less political influence, as “a chunk of metal doesn’t have politics.”

Limitations:

Self-Reporting Bias: Faculty may underreport conservative views due to perceived hostility in liberal-dominated settings.

Sample Bias: Many studies focus on elite institutions, underrepresenting community colleges or conservative-leaning schools.

Party vs. Ideology: Voter registration (D:R ratios) doesn’t capture nuanced ideological positions, as some Democrats may be moderate or conservative.

Data Age: Older studies (e.g., 2006 Gross and Simmons) may not reflect recent shifts, though newer data (e.g., Havey, 2024) suggest persistent liberal dominance.

Conclusion

The percentage of college professors identifying as liberal ranges from 44% (Gross and Simmons, 2006) to 80% (Harvard, 2022), with most studies estimating 50–60% nationally. Conservative representation is low (2–15%), with D:R ratios of 10.4–12.7:1 in elite institutions and 4.5–6:1 nationally. The liberal skew is more pronounced in humanities, social sciences, and elite colleges, while community colleges, business, and engineering show more balance. Historical data indicate a leftward shift since the 1980s, driven by self-selection, institutional culture, and possibly discrimination. While some argue this skew biases teaching and research, others contend that moderates and technical fields mitigate indoctrination concerns. For a more precise estimate, further research isolating specific disciplines and institution types is needed. If you want me to explore a specific discipline, institution type, or related issue (e.g., impact on students, hiring practices), let me know!

Full Citation List

Gross, N., & Simmons, S. (2007). The Social and Political Views of American Professors.

Sources

Langbert, M. (2018). Homogenous: The Political Affiliations of Elite Liberal Arts College Faculty. Academic Questions, 31(2), 186–197.

The Harvard Crimson. (2022). More Than 80 Percent of Surveyed Harvard Faculty Identify as Liberal

The Harvard Crimson. (2023). More Than Three-Quarters of Surveyed Harvard Faculty Identify As Liberal.

The Chronicle. (2024). Over 60% of Professors Identify as Liberal, per The Chronicle’s Faculty Survey.

Abrams, S. J. (2016). Cited in Inside Higher Ed and Washington Times.

Havey, N. (2024). Forthcoming in The Review of Higher Education. Cited in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Rothman, S., Lichter, S. R., & Nevitte, N. (2005). Politics and Professional Advancement Among College Faculty.

Hamilton, R. F., & Hargens, L. L. (1993). The Politics of the Professors: Self-Identifications, 1969–1984. Social Forces, 71(3), 603–627.

Posts on X, 2019–2025.

Pew Research Center. (2014). Cited in Social Epistemology.

Higher Education Research Institute. (1970–present). Your First College Year Survey.