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| From the issue dated February 4, 2005 |
This Year's Freshmen at 4-Year Colleges: A Statistical Profile
| Age, race, religion |
| Age on Dec. 31, 2004 |
17 or younger |
1.7% |
18 |
66.7% |
19 |
29.9% |
20 |
1.0% |
21 to 24 |
0.5% |
25 or older |
0.1% |
| English is native language |
Yes |
92.5% |
No |
7.5% |
| Racial and ethnic background |
White/Caucasian |
76.5% |
African-American/Black |
9.7 % |
Asian-American/Asian |
7.9% |
Mexican American/Chicano |
3.5% |
Puerto Rican |
1.1% |
Other Latino |
2.4% |
American Indian/Alaska Native |
1.9% |
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander |
0.8% |
Other |
3.1% |
| Religious preference |
Roman Catholic |
27.8% |
Baptist |
11.8% |
Methodist |
5.8% |
Lutheran |
5.4% |
Presbyterian |
3.8% |
Church of Christ |
3.5% |
Jewish |
2.5% |
Episcopalian |
1.7% |
Latter-day Saints (Mormon) |
1.6% |
Buddhist |
1.1% |
Islamic |
0.9% |
United Church of Christ/Congregational |
0.9% |
Hindu |
0.8% |
Eastern Orthodox |
0.7% |
Seventh-day Adventist |
0.3% |
Unitarian Universalist |
0.3% |
Quaker |
0.2% |
Other Christian |
10.9% |
Other religion |
2.6% |
None |
17.5% |
Born-again Christian |
No |
76.0% |
Yes |
24.0% |
| Making the choice, settling in |
| Number of other colleges applied to for admission this year |
None |
19.3% |
1 |
12.6% |
2 |
15.4% |
3 |
16.5% |
4 |
12.0% |
5 |
8.2% |
6 |
5.8% |
7 to 10 |
8.4% |
11 or more |
1.9% |
| College attended is student's: |
First choice |
69.5% |
Second choice |
21.4% |
Third choice |
5.8% |
Less than third choice |
3.3% |
Miles from college to permanent home |
5 or less |
5.0% |
6 to 10 |
5.6% |
11 to 50 |
24.4% |
51 to 100 |
17.6% |
101 to 500 |
34.9% |
Over 500 |
12.6% |
Top reasons noted as very important in deciding to go to college |
|
To learn more about things that interest me |
76.8% |
72.0% |
80.7% |
To get training for a specific career |
74.6% |
70.1% |
78.2% |
To be able to get a better job |
71.8% |
71.9% |
71.8% |
To be able to make more money |
70.1% |
72.9% |
67.8% |
To gain a general education and appreciation of ideas |
64.6% |
57.6% |
70.2% |
To prepare myself for graduate or professional school |
56.7% |
49.8% |
62.2% |
To find my purpose in life |
51.8% |
44.0% |
58.0% |
Top reasons noted as very important in selecting college attended |
|
College has a very good academic reputation |
56.7% |
52.1% |
60.4% |
Graduates get good jobs |
49.1% |
45.3% |
52.1% |
A visit to the campus |
39.0% |
32.7% |
44.1% |
Wanted to go to a college about the size of this one |
35.8% |
28.2% |
41.8% |
Housing plans during fall term: |
College residence hall |
77.7% |
With family or other relatives |
14.8% |
Other private home, apartment, or room |
4.2% |
Other campus student housing |
2.4% |
Fraternity or sorority house |
0.5% |
Other |
0.3% |
|
| Students rated self above average or highest 10 percent in: |
|
Kindness |
75.3% |
72.6% |
77.4% |
Drive to achieve |
70.9% |
67.3% |
73.8% |
Academic ability |
69.5% |
73.1% |
66.6% |
Cooperativeness |
68.7% |
67.5% |
69.7% |
Compassion |
67.1% |
59.5% |
73.3% |
Generosity |
67.1% |
64.5% |
69.2% |
Understanding of others |
62.8% |
58.5% |
66.3% |
Leadership ability |
59.7% |
63.0% |
57.1% |
Self-confidence (intellectual) |
57.6% |
66.4% |
50.4% |
Forgiveness |
56.7% |
57.5% |
56.1% |
Creativity |
55.7% |
56.6% |
55.0% |
Courage |
54.0% |
63.7% |
46.1% |
Physical health |
52.2% |
64.1% |
42.6% |
Self-understanding |
51.3% |
55.6% |
47.9% |
Emotional health |
50.9% |
57.1% |
45.8% |
Self-confidence (social) |
49.4% |
53.8% |
45.8% |
Writing ability |
46.4% |
44.6% |
47.8% |
Mathematical ability |
44.9% |
54.9% |
36.8% |
Computer skills |
36.8% |
49.5% |
26.5% |
Spirituality |
36.5% |
34.8% |
37.8% |
Public-speaking ability |
35.1% |
38.4% |
32.4% |
Time management |
34.8% |
31.5% |
37.4% |
Religiousness |
31.3% |
28.9% |
33.2% |
Artistic ability |
30.1% |
29.9% |
30.3% |
| Agree strongly or somewhat that: |
|
The federal government should do more to control the sale of handguns |
78.7% |
70.1% |
85.7% |
Colleges should prohibit racist/sexist speech on campus |
58.6% |
54.5% |
61.9% |
There is too much concern in the courts for rights of criminals |
58.1% |
61.0% |
55.7% |
Same-sex couples should have the right to legal marital status |
56.7% |
48.3% |
63.5% |
Wealthy people should pay a larger share of taxes than they do now |
55.5% |
54.9% |
55.9% |
Abortion should be legal |
53.9% |
54.6% |
53.3% |
Affirmative action in college admissions should be abolished |
50.4% |
56.1% |
45.8% |
If two people really like each other, it's all right for them to have sex even if they've known each other for only a very short time |
46.2% |
59.8% |
35.1% |
Colleges have the right to ban extreme speakers |
43.7% |
45.8% |
42.1% |
Marijuana should be legalized |
37.2% |
43.1% |
32.5% |
Federal military spending should be increased |
35.4% |
39.9% |
31.7% |
The death penalty should be abolished |
33.2% |
29.5% |
36.2% |
It is important to have laws prohibiting homosexual relationships |
29.9% |
38.0% |
23.4% |
Realistically, an individual can do little to bring about changes in our society |
26.8% |
31.4% |
23.1% |
Racial discrimination is no longer a major problem in America |
22.7% |
27.9% |
18.5% |
The activities of married women are best confined to the home and family |
21.0% |
27.4% |
15.8% |
| Activities and goals |
Objectives considered to be essential or very important |
| Top Three |
Raising a family |
75.1% |
Being very well off financially |
73.6% |
Helping others who are in difficulty |
62.4% |
| Bottom Three |
Writing original works (poems, novels, short stories, etc.) |
15.1% |
Becoming accomplished in one of the performing arts (acting, dancing, etc.) |
15.1% |
Creating artistic work (painting, sculpture, decorating, etc.) |
15.6% |
| Students estimate chances are very good that they will: |
Socialize with someone of another racial/ethnic group |
63.1% |
Make at least a B average |
59.6% |
Be satisfied with college |
51.3% |
Get a job to help pay for college expenses |
47.2% |
Participate in student clubs/groups |
40.2% |
Communicate regularly with professors |
30.6% |
Strengthen religious beliefs/convictions |
24.8% |
Participate in volunteer or community-service work |
24.1% |
Participate in a study-abroad program |
24.1% |
Play varsity/intercollegiate athletics |
15.7% |
Change major field |
14.2% |
Change career choice |
13.4% |
Join a social fraternity or sorority |
9.5% |
Participate in student government |
7.2% |
Transfer to another college before graduating |
7.1% |
Seek personal counseling |
7.1% |
Work full time while attending college |
6.3% |
Participate in student protests or demonstrations |
6.0% |
| Parents |
| Parents' education (highest level) |
|
Grammar school or less |
2.7% |
2.4% |
Some high school |
4.2% |
3.2% |
High-school graduate |
21.0% |
20.9% |
Postsecondary school other than college |
4.0% |
4.7% |
Some college |
14.8% |
17.4% |
College degree |
28.1% |
31.4% |
Some graduate school |
2.2% |
2.7% |
Graduate degree |
23.0% |
17.4% |
| Estimated parental income |
Less than $10,000 |
3.2% |
$10,000 to $14,999 |
2.7% |
$15,000 to $19,999 |
2.5% |
$20,000 to $24,999 |
3.7% |
$25,000 to $29,999 |
3.6% |
$30,000 to $39,999 |
6.6% |
$40,000 to $49,999 |
8.2% |
$50,000 to $59,999 |
9.6% |
$60,000 to $74,999 |
12.5% |
$75,000 to $99,999 |
15.3% |
$100,000 to $149,999 |
16.6% |
$150,000 to $199,999 |
6.5% |
$200,000 to $249,999 |
3.1% |
$250,000 or more |
6.0% |
| Finances |
| Students expecting to borrow more than $10,000 to cover first-year expenses |
2001 |
5.6% |
2002 |
5.9% |
2003 |
7.8% |
2004 |
8.8% |
| Concern about financing college |
None (I am confident that I will have sufficient funds) |
34.5% |
Some (but I probably will have enough funds) |
52.5% |
Major (not sure I will have enough funds to complete college) |
13.0% |
| Students reporting a very good chance they will have to get a job while in college |
|
2000 |
36.4% |
47.5% |
2001 |
38.1% |
50.1% |
2002 |
40.0% |
52.9% |
2003 |
39.2% |
53.2% |
2004 |
39.6% |
53.3% |
| Political Views |
|
2003 survey |
2004 survey |
Conservative |
21.1% |
21.9% |
Far right |
1.6% |
2.2% |
Middle of the road |
50.3% |
46.4% |
Liberal |
24.2% |
26.1% |
Far left |
2.8% |
3.4% |
NOTE: The statistics are based on survey responses of 289,452 first-year students entering 440 four-year colleges and universities in the fall of 2004. The figures were statistically adjusted to represent the total population of approximately 1.2 million first-time, full-time students at four-year institutions. Because of rounding or multiple responses, figures may add up to more than 100 percent. |
SOURCE: "The American Freshman: National Norms for Fall 2004," published by the American Council on Education and the University of California at Los Angeles Higher Education Research Institute |
What this year's freshman expect to major in |
Business |
16.0% |
Professional |
15.1% |
Arts and humanities |
12.0% |
Social sciences |
10.2% |
Education |
9.6% |
Engineering |
9.6% |
Biological sciences |
7.7% |
Physical sciences |
3.0% |
Technical |
1.5% |
Other fields |
7.6% |
Undecided |
7.4% |
| What this year's freshman expect to major in |
| Arts and humanities |
12.0% |
10.6% |
13.2% |
Art, fine and applied |
2.4% |
1.9% |
2.9% |
English (language and literature) |
1.9% |
1.3% |
2.3% |
History |
1.3% |
1.7% |
1.0% |
Journalism |
1.7% |
1.2% |
2.0% |
Language and literature (except English) |
0.6% |
0.3% |
0.8% |
Music |
1.4% |
1.7% |
1.2% |
Philosophy |
0.3% |
0.4% |
0.2% |
Speech |
0.1% |
0.1% |
0.2% |
Theater or drama |
1.0% |
0.8% |
1.2% |
Theology or religion |
0.3% |
0.4% |
0.2% |
Other |
1.0% |
0.8% |
1.2% |
| Biological sciences |
7.7% |
6.8% |
8.5% |
Biology (general) |
4.5% |
3.7% |
5.2% |
Biochemistry or biophysics |
1.1% |
1.1% |
1.1% |
Environmental science |
0.5% |
0.5% |
0.4% |
Marine (life) science |
0.3% |
0.3% |
0.3% |
Microbiology or bacteriology |
0.3% |
0.3% |
0.3% |
Zoology |
0.3% |
0.3% |
0.4% |
Other |
0.7% |
0.6% |
0.8% |
| Business |
16.0% |
20.5% |
12.5% |
Accounting |
2.2% |
2.5% |
1.9% |
Business administration (general) |
3.7% |
5.1% |
2.5% |
Finance |
1.4% |
2.1% |
0.7% |
International business |
1.3% |
1.4% |
1.3% |
Marketing |
2.7% |
2.7% |
2.8% |
Management |
3.8% |
5.5% |
2.5% |
Other |
0.9% |
1.2% |
0.8% |
| Education |
9.6% |
5.6% |
12.8% |
Business education |
0.2% |
0.2% |
0.1% |
Elementary education |
4.6% |
0.9% |
7.5% |
Music or art education |
0.6% |
0.5% |
0.7% |
Physical education or recreation |
0.9% |
1.4% |
0.5% |
Secondary education |
2.4% |
2.2% |
2.6% |
Special education |
0.6% |
0.2% |
1.0% |
Other |
0.3% |
0.2% |
0.4% |
| Engineering |
9.6% |
17.9% |
2.9% |
Aeronautical or astronautical engineering |
0.9% |
1.8% |
0.3% |
Civil engineering |
1.1% |
2.0% |
0.4% |
Chemical engineering |
0.7% |
1.0% |
0.4% |
Computer engineering |
1.3% |
2.7% |
0.2% |
Electrical or electronic engineering |
1.3% |
2.6% |
0.2% |
Industrial engineering |
0.3% |
0.4% |
0.1% |
Mechanical engineering |
2.6% |
5.2% |
0.5% |
Other |
1.4% |
2.2% |
0.8% |
| Physical sciences |
3.0% |
3.9% |
2.5% |
Astronomy |
0.1% |
0.1% |
0.1% |
Atmospheric science |
0.1% |
0.2% |
0.1% |
Chemistry |
1.1% |
1.1% |
1.1% |
Earth science |
0.1% |
0.2% |
0.1% |
Marine science |
0.1% |
0.1% |
0.1% |
Mathematics |
0.7% |
0.9% |
0.6% |
Physics |
0.6% |
1.0% |
0.2% |
Statistics |
0.0% |
0.1% |
0.0% |
Other |
0.2% |
0.2% |
0.2% |
| Professional |
15.1% |
9.4% |
19.9% |
Architecture or urban planning |
1.1% |
1.5% |
0.9% |
Home economics |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.1% |
Health technology (medical, dental, laboratory) |
0.5% |
0.4% |
0.6% |
Medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine |
4.4% |
3.1% |
5.4% |
Nursing |
4.0% |
0.6% |
6.7% |
Pharmacy |
2.0% |
1.7% |
2.2% |
Therapy (occupational, physical, speech) |
2.3% |
1.4% |
3.1% |
Other |
0.8% |
0.7% |
0.9% |
| Social sciences |
10.2% |
7.5% |
12.5% |
Anthropology |
0.3% |
0.2% |
0.4% |
Economics |
0.5% |
0.8% |
0.3% |
Ethnic studies |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.1% |
Geography |
0.0% |
0.1% |
0.0% |
Political science |
3.3% |
3.3% |
3.2% |
Psychology |
4.6% |
2.3% |
6.4% |
Social work |
0.6% |
0.1% |
1.0% |
Sociology |
0.6% |
0.4% |
0.7% |
Other |
0.3% |
0.3% |
0.4% |
| Technical |
1.5% |
2.5% |
0.6% |
Building trades |
0.1% |
0.1% |
0.0% |
Data processing or computer programming |
0.6% |
1.3% |
0.1% |
Drafting or design |
0.3% |
0.4% |
0.3% |
Electronics |
0.2% |
0.2% |
0.1% |
Mechanics |
0.1% |
0.2% |
0.0% |
Other |
0.2% |
0.3% |
0.1% |
| Other fields |
7.6% |
9.2% |
6.1% |
Agriculture |
0.6% |
0.6% |
0.5% |
Communications |
1.9% |
1.5% |
2.2% |
Computer science |
1.4% |
2.8% |
0.3% |
Forestry |
0.1% |
0.2% |
0.0% |
Kinesiology |
0.5% |
0.4% |
0.5% |
Law enforcement |
1.4% |
2.0% |
0.9% |
Military science |
0.1% |
0.2% |
0.0% |
Other |
1.6% |
1.5% |
1.7% |
| Undecided |
7.4% |
6.4% |
8.3% |
NOTE: Figures may not equal 100 percent because of rounding. |
SOURCE: "The American Freshman: National Norms for Fall 2004" |
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http://chronicle.com
Section: Students
Volume 51, Issue 22, Page A34
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