A new study reveals that 88% of college undergraduates say they have pretended to hold more progressive or liberal ideas than they actually believe, all in the name of fitting in socially or securing academic success. The findings come from confidential interviews with over 1,400 students at Northwestern University and the University of Michigan.
The survey shows deep pressure on students to conform. Around 78% of respondents say they self-censor on gender identity, 72% on politics, and 68% on family values. Many also reported misrepresenting their private beliefs in classwork just to align with what professors or peers expect.
A majority of students disagree with the idea that gender identity should override biological sex in areas like sports, health care, or public data—but most are unwilling to speak up openly. This reluctance reflects a fear of social or academic reprisal.
Besides concealing opinions, students report broader effects on their identity. More than a third describe feeling “morally confused,” unsure whether speaking honestly is worth the potential exclusion. And this adaptive behavior isn’t just in class—it extends to friends and relationships, where many avoid discussing deeply held beliefs.
The study highlights a crisis in higher education: instead of fostering robust debate, campuses are pushing a default orthodoxy that forces conformity. This undermines academic freedom, harms students’ moral development, and weakens foundational liberties rooted in truth and free speech.