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| From the issue dated January 26, 2007 |
This Year's Freshmen at 4-Year Colleges: a Statistical Profile
Related article: More Students Seek Campus Jobs as Work-Study Positions Dwindle (1/26/2007)
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17 or younger |
1.8% |
18 |
68.5% |
19 |
28.2% |
20 |
0.9% |
21 to 24 |
0.4% |
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 |
10.5% |
Asian-American/Asian |
7.6% |
Mexican-American/Chicano |
3.4% |
Puerto Rican |
1.4% |
Other Latino |
3.4% |
American Indian/Alaska Native |
2.2% |
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander |
1.0% |
Other |
3.6% |
|
Roman Catholic |
27.7% |
Baptist |
11.0% |
Methodist |
5.2% |
Lutheran |
4.0% |
Church of Christ |
3.5% |
Presbyterian |
3.4% |
Jewish |
2.6% |
Episcopalian |
1.6% |
Buddhist |
1.1% |
United Church of Christ/Congregational |
1.0% |
Hindu |
0.8% |
Islamic |
0.8% |
Eastern Orthodox |
0.6% |
Latter-day Saints (Mormon) |
0.3% |
Quaker |
0.2% |
Seventh-day Adventist |
0.2% |
Other Christian |
13.7% |
Other religion |
2.9% |
None |
19.1% |
Making the choice, settling in |
Number of other colleges applied to for admission this year: |
None |
17.7% |
1 |
10.9% |
2 |
14.8% |
3 |
16.8% |
4 |
12.7% |
5 |
9.2% |
6 |
6.3% |
7 to 10 |
9.3% |
11 or more |
2.2% |
College attended is student's: |
First choice |
67.3% |
Second choice |
22.8% |
Third choice |
6.2% |
Less than third choice |
3.7% |
Miles from college to permanent home |
5 or less |
4.7% |
6 to 10 |
6.0% |
11 to 50 |
24.6% |
51 to 100 |
18.8% |
101 to 500 |
32.5% |
Over 500 |
13.5% |
Housing plans during fall term |
College residence hall |
79.1% |
With family or other relatives |
14.3% |
Other private home, apartment, or room |
3.6% |
Other campus student housing |
2.5% |
Fraternity or sorority house |
0.3% |
Other |
0.3% |
Top reasons noted as very important in selecting college attended |
College has a very good academic reputation |
57.4% |
52.4% |
61.4% |
Graduates get good jobs |
49.3% |
46.1% |
51.8% |
Wanted to go to a school about the size of this college |
38.9% |
31.2% |
45.1% |
A visit to the campus |
38.2% |
32.2% |
43.2% |
Was offered financial assistance |
34.3% |
30.7% |
37.2% |
Top reasons noted as very important in deciding to go to college |
To learn more about things that interest me |
76.8% |
72.1% |
80.6% |
To be able to get a better job |
70.4% |
70.4% |
70.4% |
To get training for a specific career |
69.2% |
64.8% |
72.7% |
To be able to make more money |
69.0% |
71.9% |
66.6% |
To gain a general education and appreciation of ideas |
64.3% |
57.5% |
69.9% |
To prepare myself for graduate or professional school |
57.7% |
51.0% |
63.1% |
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Student rated self above average or highest 10 percent in: |
Cooperativeness |
73.3% |
72.0% |
74.3% |
Drive to achieve |
72.6% |
69.3% |
75.4% |
Academic ability |
68.6% |
71.9% |
65.9% |
Understanding of others |
66.8% |
64.5% |
68.7% |
Leadership ability |
61.0% |
64.5% |
58.2% |
Self-confidence (intellectual) |
59.7% |
68.8% |
52.2% |
Self-understanding |
57.3% |
62.4% |
53.3% |
Creativity |
56.6% |
57.8% |
55.6% |
Physical health |
55.7% |
67.2% |
46.3% |
Emotional health |
54.6% |
62.2% |
48.5% |
Self-confidence (social) |
52.8% |
57.7% |
48.9% |
Writing ability |
47.7% |
45.7% |
49.3% |
Mathematical ability |
43.7% |
53.1% |
35.9% |
Computer skills |
37.9% |
48.5% |
29.2% |
Public-speaking ability |
37.0% |
40.5% |
34.2% |
Spirituality |
36.7% |
35.8% |
37.4% |
Artistic ability |
29.2% |
28.4% |
29.8% |
Religiousness |
29.0% |
27.6% |
30.2% |
Agree strongly or somewhat that: |
The federal government is not doing enough to control environmental pollution |
77.9% |
74.4% |
80.8% |
Through hard work, everybody can succeed in American society |
77.6% |
77.9% |
77.4% |
The federal government should do more to control the sale of handguns |
73.8% |
65.6% |
80.6% |
A national health care plan is needed to cover everybody's medical costs |
73.0% |
68.7% |
76.5% |
The chief benefit of a college education is that it increases one's earning power |
66.5% |
69.7% |
63.8% |
Only volunteers should serve in the armed forces |
63.2% |
63.0% |
63.4% |
Dissent is a critical component of the political process |
62.2% |
65.6% |
59.3% |
Same-sex couples should have the right to legal marital status |
61.2% |
52.9% |
67.9% |
Wealthy people should pay a larger share of taxes than they do now |
58.0% |
57.8% |
58.2% |
Abortion should be legal |
56.8% |
57.3% |
56.3% |
There is too much concern in the courts for the rights of criminals |
55.9% |
59.1% |
53.3% |
Affirmative action in college admissions should be abolished |
47.1% |
52.7% |
42.4% |
Undocumented immigrants should be denied access to public education |
46.7% |
53.0% |
41.6% |
Colleges have the right to ban extreme speakers from campus |
40.5% |
43.8% |
37.8% |
Marijuana should be legalized |
37.1% |
42.0% |
33.1% |
The death penalty should be abolished |
34.5% |
30.7% |
37.6% |
Federal military spending should be increased |
32.3% |
35.5% |
29.7% |
Realistically, an individual can do little to bring about changes in our society |
27.0% |
31.0% |
23.7% |
The federal government should raise taxes to reduce the deficit |
26.7% |
31.0% |
23.1% |
It is important to have laws prohibiting homosexual relationships |
25.6% |
33.4% |
19.3% |
Racial discrimination is no longer a major problem in America |
19.1% |
23.8% |
15.2% |
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Objectives considered to be essential or very important |
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Raising a family |
75.5% |
Being very well off financially |
73.4% |
Helping others who are in difficulty |
66.7% |
Becoming an authority in my field |
58.2% |
Obtaining recognition from my colleagues for contributions to my special field |
53.8% |
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Participating in an organization like the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps/VISTA |
11.3% |
Becoming accomplished in one of the performing arts (acting, dancing, etc.) |
15.7% |
Writing original works (poems, novels, short stories, etc.) |
16.2% |
Creating artistic work (painting, sculpture, decorating, etc.) |
16.2% |
Making a theoretical contribution to science |
19.7% |
Students' estimate of the chances that they will: |
Socialize with someone of another racial/ethnic group |
64.8% |
Make at least a B average |
60.6% |
Be satisfied with college |
53.4% |
Participate in student clubs/groups |
44.5% |
Get a job to help pay for college expenses |
44.1% |
Communicate regularly with professors |
33.4% |
Participate in a study-abroad program |
28.5% |
Participate in volunteer or community-service work |
26.8% |
Play varsity/intercollegiate athletics |
16.5% |
Change major field |
13.9% |
Change career choice |
13.3% |
Join a social fraternity or sorority |
10.1% |
Seek personal counseling |
7.8% |
Participate in student government |
7.5% |
Transfer to another college before graduating |
7.0% |
Need extra time to complete degree requirements |
6.6% |
Participate in student protests or demonstrations |
5.8% |
Work full time while attending college |
5.6% |
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Parents' education (highest level) |
Grammar school or less |
3.4% |
2.9% |
Some high school |
4.4% |
3.2% |
High-school graduate |
20.8% |
20.2% |
Postsecondary school other than college |
3.8% |
4.2% |
Some college |
14.7% |
16.7% |
College degree |
27.9% |
32.0% |
Some graduate school |
2.2% |
2.9% |
Graduate degree |
22.8% |
17.9% |
Estimated parental income |
Less than $10,000 |
3.2% |
$10,000 to $14,999 |
2.6% |
$15,000 to $19,999 |
2.4% |
$20,000 to $24,999 |
3.3% |
$25,000 to $29,999 |
3.3% |
$30,000 to $39,999 |
6.2% |
$40,000 to $49,999 |
7.4% |
$50,000 to $59,999 |
8.9% |
$60,000 to $74,999 |
12.0% |
$75,000 to $99,999 |
14.9% |
$100,000 to $149,999 |
17.3% |
$150,000 to $199,999 |
7.4% |
$200,000 to $249,999 |
3.8% |
$250,000 or more |
7.1% |
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Both alive and living with each other |
71.2% |
Both alive, divorced or living apart |
25.2% |
One or both deceased |
3.7% |
Did either of your parents or legal guardians attend the institution that you are now attending? |
No |
89.4% |
Yes, mother or female legal guardian only |
3.8% |
Yes, father or male legal guardian only |
3.9% |
Yes, both |
2.9% |
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Concern about financing college |
None (I am confident that I will have sufficient funds) |
35.8% |
Some (but I probably will have enough funds) |
52.5% |
Major (not sure I will have enough funds to complete college) |
11.6% |
How much of your first year's educational expenses do you expect to cover from: |
None |
71.0% |
75.7% |
95.3% |
Less than $1,000 |
16.0% |
14.0% |
1.7% |
$1,000 to $2,999 |
11.0% |
7.7% |
1.5% |
$3,000 to $5,999 |
1.6% |
2.0% |
0.9% |
$6,000 to $9,999 |
0.2% |
0.4% |
0.3% |
Over $10,000 |
0.1% |
0.2% |
0.3% |
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Far right |
1.7% |
Far left |
2.8% |
Conservative |
23.9% |
Liberal |
28.4% |
Middle of the road |
43.3% |
What This Year's Freshmen Expect to Major In |
Business |
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Professional |
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Arts and humanities |
|
Social Sciences |
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Education |
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Biological sciences |
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Engineering |
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Physical sciences |
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Technical |
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Other fields |
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Undecided |
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13.1% |
11.9% |
14.4% |
Art, fine and applied |
2.5% |
1.8% |
3.1% |
English (language and literature) |
2.0% |
1.5% |
2.4% |
History |
1.6% |
2.1% |
1.2% |
Journalism |
1.9% |
1.3% |
2.5% |
Language and literature (except English) |
0.7% |
0.4% |
0.9% |
Music |
1.4% |
1.9% |
1.1% |
Philosophy |
0.3% |
0.5% |
0.2% |
Speech |
0.1% |
0.1% |
0.2% |
Theater or drama |
1.2% |
1.1% |
1.3% |
Theology or religion |
0.3% |
0.4% |
0.2% |
Other |
1.1% |
0.8% |
1.3% |
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8.3% |
7.4% |
9.2% |
Biochemistry or biophysics |
1.2% |
1.2% |
1.2% |
Biology (general) |
4.7% |
3.9% |
5.4% |
Botany |
0.0% |
0.1% |
0.0% |
Environmental science |
0.5% |
0.6% |
0.5% |
Marine (life) science |
0.4% |
0.3% |
0.4% |
Microbiology or bacteriology |
0.3% |
0.3% |
0.3% |
Zoology |
0.4% |
0.3% |
0.5% |
Other |
0.8% |
0.7% |
0.9% |
| 17.9% |
23.6% |
13.6% |
Accounting |
2.7% |
3.3% |
2.2% |
Business administration (general) |
4.0% |
5.7% |
2.7% |
Finance |
1.7% |
2.8% |
0.9% |
International business |
1.5% |
1.6% |
1.5% |
Management |
4.0% |
5.9% |
2.5% |
Marketing |
2.9% |
2.9% |
3.0% |
Other |
1.1% |
1.4% |
0.8% |
| 9.5% |
5.9% |
12.5% |
Business education |
0.2% |
0.3% |
0.2% |
Elementary education |
4.2% |
0.8% |
7.0% |
Music or art education |
0.7% |
0.5% |
0.8% |
Physical education or recreation |
1.0% |
1.6% |
0.5% |
Secondary education |
2.4% |
2.3% |
2.6% |
Special education |
0.6% |
0.2% |
0.9% |
Other |
0.4% |
0.2% |
0.5% |
| 8.0% |
14.5% |
2.5% |
Aeronautical or astronautical engineering |
0.6% |
1.0% |
0.2% |
Chemical engineering |
0.7% |
1.0% |
0.4% |
Civil engineering |
1.1% |
1.9% |
0.4% |
Computer engineering |
1.0% |
2.1% |
0.2% |
Electrical or electronic engineering |
1.0% |
2.0% |
0.2% |
Industrial engineering |
0.2% |
0.3% |
0.1% |
Mechanical engineering |
2.1% |
4.2% |
0.4% |
Other |
1.3% |
2.0% |
0.6% |
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3.1% |
3.7% |
2.6% |
Astronomy |
0.1% |
0.1% |
0.1% |
Atmospheric science |
0.1% |
0.1% |
0.1% |
Chemistry |
1.2% |
1.2% |
1.1% |
Earth science |
0.1% |
0.2% |
0.1% |
Marine science |
0.1% |
0.1% |
0.2% |
Mathematics |
0.8% |
0.9% |
0.6% |
Physics |
0.5% |
0.9% |
0.2% |
Other |
0.2% |
0.2% |
0.2% |
|
13.5% |
8.0% |
17.9% |
Architecture or urban planning |
0.5% |
0.7% |
0.4% |
Family and consumer sciences |
0.2% |
0.0% |
0.3% |
Health technology (medical, dental, laboratory) |
0.6% |
0.5% |
0.7% |
Medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine |
3.9% |
2.9% |
4.6% |
Nursing |
4.1% |
0.7% |
6.8% |
Pharmacy |
1.5% |
1.3% |
1.7% |
Therapy (occupational, physical, speech) |
2.0% |
1.3% |
2.6% |
Other |
0.7% |
0.6% |
0.8% |
|
11.2% |
8.8% |
13.2% |
Anthropology |
0.4% |
0.3% |
0.5% |
Economics |
0.7% |
1.2% |
0.4% |
Ethnic studies |
0.1% |
0.0% |
0.1% |
Geography |
0.0% |
0.1% |
0.0% |
Political science |
3.5% |
3.6% |
3.3% |
Psychology |
4.8% |
2.6% |
6.6% |
Social work |
0.7% |
0.2% |
1.1% |
Sociology |
0.7% |
0.5% |
0.8% |
Other |
0.3% |
0.3% |
0.4% |
| 1.1% |
1.8% |
0.5% |
Building trades |
0.1% |
0.1% |
0.0% |
Data processing or computer programming |
0.5% |
0.9% |
0.1% |
Drafting or design |
0.3% |
0.3% |
0.3% |
Electronics |
0.1% |
0.2% |
0.0% |
Mechanics |
0.0% |
0.1% |
0.0% |
Other |
0.1% |
0.2% |
0.1% |
|
7.0% |
8.5% |
6.0% |
Agriculture |
0.5% |
0.7% |
0.4% |
Communications |
2.2% |
1.7% |
2.6% |
Computer science |
1.1% |
2.1% |
0.3% |
Forestry |
0.1% |
0.2% |
0.0% |
Kinesiology |
0.4% |
0.4% |
0.4% |
Law enforcement |
1.2% |
1.8% |
0.8% |
Military science |
0.1% |
0.2% |
0.0% |
Other |
1.4% |
1.4% |
1.5% |
|
7.2% |
6.4% |
7.8% |
NOTE: Figures may not equal 100 percent because of rounding. |
SOURCE: "The American Freshman: National Norms for Fall 2006," published by the U. of California at Los Angeles Higher Education Research Institute |
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http://chronicle.com
Section: Students
Volume 53, Issue 21, Page A40-41
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