Roughly two-thirds of Americans believe that college admissions boards give unfair – if legal – advantages to teens who are rich or related to alumni, according to a new survey.
The problem isn't just the recent allegations that wealthy and famous parents – including actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman – spent big money to cheat their children's way into elite schools.
Some 67 percent of Americans believe there is a fundamental unfairness to the system overall, according to the USA Today/Suffolk University Poll of 1,000 registered voters.
'If you're a millionaire, you can get your kids to the front of the class,' Robert Lynch, 62, of Selden, New York, told USA Today.
This chart illustrates the proportion of Americans who believe that college admissions unfairly favor the rich and well-connected. Source: USA Today/Suffolk University Poll
The father of 12 said that five of his children have attended college thanks to scholarships and student loans.
Less than 20 percent of Americans believe the college entrance process is 'generally fair.'
Democrats are slightly more likely to feel strongly about the issue, with about 75 percent calling the system unfair, compared to about 60 percent of Republicans.
'Respondents in the poll are saying money talks and they don't like it,' said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk Political Research Center.
'Across all demographics, Americans find college admissions unfairly favor the wealthy and well-connected,' he told USA Today.
It's a problem because entrance into top universities can open doors to innumerable opportunities and powerful connections.
This chart illustrates what proportion of Americans think it's fair vs. unfair for different groups to receive favorable treatment when applying to college. Source: USA Today/Suffolk University Poll
Americans are particularly offended by the idea of rich people getting their children
