Donald Trump’s support among Americans without a college degree—a group that makes up a key part of his political base—has shifted over the last three months.
Gallup polling shows that in June, 41% of non-college-educated Americans approved of Trump’s job performance, while 56% disapproved. His approval dipped slightly in July, with 38% approving and 55% disapproving. But by August, his numbers bounced back: 45% approved, compared to 49% who disapproved.
Why It Matters
Non-college-educated Americans have long been one of Trump’s strongest groups of supporters. In 2024, he won 56% of voters without a college degree, up from 51% in 2020.
The rebound in approval suggests his populist messaging and economic focus may still resonate, even as he loses support among college-educated voters.
What To Know
Trump’s growing support with non-college voters contrasts with his struggles among college-educated voters. According to Gallup, his net approval rating among college graduates now stands at -42 points.
The divide is sharpest on education. Just 26% of college graduates approve of Trump’s handling of education, while 71% disapprove. Among non-college voters, 45% approve and 53% disapprove.
Since the start of his second term, Trump has targeted universities he calls “hotbeds of liberalism and antisemitism.” Harvard has been his main focus: the White House canceled $100 million in contracts, froze $3.2 billion in research funding, tried to block international student enrollment, and even threatened Harvard’s tax-exempt status. These moves sparked protests and comparisons to Cold War-era loyalty tests.
Other elite schools, including Columbia, Penn, and Cornell, have also lost federal funding over disputes involving pro-Palestinian activism and transgender athletes. Harvard has warned that such demands threaten the independence of U.S. universities.
Gallup found a split on whether the federal government should cut funding to schools. Most college graduates—62%—oppose withholding funds, while non-college voters are divided: about 3 in 10 support the cuts, 3 in 10 oppose them, and about 4 in 10 have no opinion. About half of Republicans back the policy.
Peter Loge, director of George Washington University’s Project on Ethics in Political Communication, said this education divide explains why Trump remains polarizing.
“It would be a huge mistake to say these polling results show that smart people dislike Trump and only dumb people support him. This survey does not measure intellect. A lot of well-educated people support President Trump,” Loge told Newsweek.
He said the difference is tied to economic security. Men with bachelor’s degrees earn nearly $900,000 more in median lifetime earnings than men with only a high school diploma, according to the Social Security Administration. College graduates, often living in diverse cities, lean Democratic, while non-college voters—more likely to feel “the system is rigged”—remain loyal to Trump, Loge said.
“Trump exploits this divide by arguing ‘those people’ are out to get ‘you,’” he explained.
Joan Williams, a law professor at UC Hastings, agreed. She said college graduates are dismayed by Trump’s attacks on the rule of law and institutions, while non-college voters often take pride in his defiance.
“Trump’s always been their middle finger,” Williams said.
Economic Concerns
Even as his approval rating improved among non-college voters, Gallup found growing pessimism about the economy in this group.
In August, 42% of Americans with the least education rated the economy as “poor”—up from 36% in June. A majority, 61%, said the economy is getting worse. Views on the job market were evenly split, with 48% saying good jobs are available and 48% saying they are not.
Trump’s economic ratings remain weak: 38% approve of his handling of the economy, while 56% disapprove. His numbers on trade are also poor, with 54% disapproving.
These views reflect the job market. In January 2025, unemployment for adults 25 and older with only a high school diploma was 4.5%, compared to 5.2% for those without a diploma and just 2.3% for those with a bachelor’s degree or higher, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Trump’s new tariffs, introduced April 1, could affect the economy further. Goldman Sachs estimated the tariffs could raise inflation by 1%, reduce U.S. company profits, and strain relations with trading partners.
If that happens, Williams warned, Trump could lose support among the very group he relies on.
“For now the tariffs non-college grads were concerned about earlier in the summer haven’t fueled inflation. If that happens, watch out: voters no longer trust Republicans more than Democrats on the economy,” she told Newsweek.
