2009 Panetta Institute Survey Shows:

College Students Much More Optimistic Than Last Year Despite Economic Downturn

In our 2009 survey, we found that although U.S. college students knew they face challenges in the deeply troubled economy, they were far happier with the direction of the country and with its political leaders than they were a year ago. Overall a majority of students felt the country was heading in the right direction. Students were hopeful that President Obama would be able to bring real change and 73 percent said they are satisfied with the country’s political leadership overall, the highest in the survey’s history.