What explains liberal dominance at colleges? Blame New England

Need a culprit to blame for the ideological imbalance in college? Look to New England.

Thanks to its regional penchant to be more liberal, and the heavy concentration of institutions that exert disproportionate influence on higher education nationwide, it could explain why so few professors are conservative, according to Inside Higher Ed.

Research conducted by Samuel J. Abrams of Sarah Lawrence College found that, when analyzing data about faculty and their political beliefs, region became destiny.

“What I can say, based on the evidence, is that if you are looking for an ideologically balanced education, don’t put New England at the top of your list,” Abrams wrote for The New York Times.

While other regions are as liberal as New England, the concentration of high-quality colleges in the area gives extra sway to ideas that are influential in the region. All else equal, the graduate of Harvard applying for a teaching position against a graduate of Akron tends to have the edge of prestige.