Poll: Sanders hits 50 percent support among college students

Fully half of U.S. college students nationally back Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersBiden assures supporters the primary is still 'wide open' in lengthy phone call: report Limbaugh on Buttigieg: 'America's still not ready to elect a gay guy kissing his husband on the debate stage' CNN announces Democratic town halls in Nevada MORE's (I-Vt.) 2020 presidential bid, according to the latest poll from Chegg/College Pulse, more than double the support of his nearest rival.

"[Sanders] has increased his position, he's now at 50 percent of college students," Bonny Brown, Chegg's head of research, told Hill.TV Thursday, adding that, among the group, Sanders polls strongly in every demographic because he speaks to the issues that most concern them.

"There is one thing that really unites them, that really worries them, and that is climate change," Brown said. The second most important issue for college students, she added, is income inequality.

Sanders, a self-described Democratic Socialist, has detailed policy plans to combat both of these issues, as well as his signature "Medicare for All" health care plan.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth Ann WarrenBiden assures supporters the primary is still 'wide open' in lengthy phone call: report Former HUD secretary criticizes Bloomberg on housing policy Warren: We are watching a descent into authoritarianism MORE (D-Mass.), who also touts a version of Medicare for All, comes in second in the poll at 18 percent. Brown noted that Sanders has recently expanding his lead over his progressive rival, a trend that it also reflected in broader national polls.

Entrepreneur and businessman Andrew Yang Andrew YangSaagar Enjeti: A tribute to Andrew Yang who changed politics forever The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout How the left's brand of diversity promotes division MORE, who dropped out of the race Tuesday night amid a weak showing in the New Hampshire primary, was at 10 percent.

Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg Peter (Pete) Paul ButtigiegBiden assures supporters the primary is still 'wide open' in lengthy phone call: report Limbaugh on Buttigieg: 'America's still not ready to elect a gay guy kissing his husband on the debate stage' CNN announces Democratic town halls in Nevada MORE, the youngest candidate in the race, received only 8 percent support, though Brown said that Buttigieg has performed much stronger regionally.

For example, before the Iowa caucuses, 19 percent of college students in the state said that they supported the former mayor.

In New Hampshire, 23 percent of college kids supported Buttigieg.

In the state's primary this week, Buttigieg narrowly came in second behind Sanders with 24 percent of the vote. The two candidates virtually tied in Iowa, with Sanders claiming the popular vote and Buttigieg taking an edge in delegates.

Brown added that Chegg is in the process of surveying college students in Nevada, home of the next Democratic caucus.

Chegg/College Pulse surveys more than 1,500 full and part-time students attending two- and four-year colleges or universities across the United States on a weekly basis. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.