COVID

Vaccines and Quarantines

COVID

Vaccines and Quarantines

After a high school experience deeply colored by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Class of 2025 is entering college under unprecedented circumstances. For the past two years, their lives have been shaped by government lockdowns, virtual classes, and personal health struggles. More than 1 in 10 survey respondents reported having contracted COVID-19, and nearly 9 in 10 personally knew somebody who had it — close to double the rate from last year’s survey. Students shared their opinions on vaccinations, mask mandates, and the U.S. government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as their preferences for COVID-19 regulations on campus in the fall.


An important note: This survey was taken by students early in the summer and closed on July 1. Opinions may have changed given the ever-volatile state of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the spread of the Delta variant and the fourth wave of COVID-19 cases.

Highlights

At the time of the survey, only 8.8 percent of respondents had not been vaccinated against COVID-19, and 82 percent were fully vaccinated. Over three quarters were inoculated with the Pfizer vaccine, and only 5.1 percent received Johnson & Johnson. Undergraduate students on campus are required by the University to have been vaccinated, a mandate that 91.7 percent of survey respondents viewed favorably.
93.9 percent of all survey respondents said that they were likely to pursue a COVID-19 vaccine before Princeton mandated it for students. This was true for the majority of students from across the political spectrum. However, there was a noticeable pattern based on respondents’ political views: liberal respondents were more likely to pursue vaccination before the University required it.
Students were much more pleased with the U.S. federal government's response to COVID-19 this year compared to last year. The timing of the surveys may explain this trend. The Class of 2025 survey was administered at a time when it might have seemed like we were emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, or the respondents may view the White House's new resident, President Biden, more favorably than they view President Trump.
97.5 percent of survey respondents viewed the University’s return to full residential operation this fall favorably. At the time of the survey, respondents indicated a desire for a normal year of college, complete with parties and club meetings. Over three quarters were in support of permitting campus gatherings this fall without restrictions.
Unlike with the vaccine mandate, there was no clear majority opinion on a University-wide mask mandate. Opinions varied, with 40.7 percent reporting unfavorable views and 36.8 percent reporting favorable views. The University announced its present mask mandate after the survey closed.

Explore the Data

Covid and the Government

Personal COVID

Princeton Issues

Campus Gatherings

Vaccine Mandate Approval by Political Persuasion

Mask Mandate Approval by Political Persuasion

COVID Diagnosis by Vaccine Mandate

COVID Diagnosis by Mask Mandate

COVID Diagnosis by Political Persuasion

Princeton Mask Mandate

Vaccine Requirement

Return to Residential Life

Mask Wearing