2002 First Year Student
Survey Data Tables:
Gender and Racial/Ethnic Comparisons of
Educational Intent and Interests
This document reports gender and racial/ethnic differences in the respondents' plans for their first year at NC State and their education in general. For information about the survey and analysis methods, see "2002 First-Year Student Survey: Introduction, Methods, and Student Demographic Profile." Exact question wording is available on the web or by clicking on the "Q" next to the table heading.
First Semester Enrollment Status | Reasons for Less Than 15 Credit Hours | Time to Complete Degree | Intended Highest Level of Education | Goals and Objectives at NC State | Certainty of College Major | First Semester Employment Plans | Interest in Co-Curricular Activities
Q First Semester Enrollment Status
| Enrollment status | All | Female | Male | Af.Am. | White | Other |
| 15 credit hours of classes or more | 86.6% | 88.7% | 85.1% | 81.3% | 87.1% | 88.9% |
| 12-14 credit hours of classes | 13.3% | 11.3% | 14.8% | 18.7% | 12.9% | 11.1% |
| Total (N) | 2,872 | 1,225 | 1,647 | 283 | 2,382 | 207 |
Q Reported Reasons for Less than 15 Credit Hours (Among Those Taking Less Than 15 cr. hrs., n = 384)
| Reason | All | Female | Male | AfAm | White | Other |
| Need to work | 20.3% | 20.1% | 20.4% | 9.4% | 21.4% | 30.4% |
| Courses unavailable | 25.5% | 26.6% | 24.9% | 9.4% | 28.9% | 17.4% |
| Want better grades | 48.7% | 53.2% | 46.1% | 32.1% | 50.6% | 60.9% |
| Advice of advisor | 16.7% | 18.0% | 15.9% | 32.1% | 14.6% | 8.7% |
| Did not need more courses | 4.9% | 2.2% | 6.5% | 3.8% | 5.5% | 0.0% |
| Other obligations | 2.1% | 1.4% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 4.3% |
| Combination of courses | 18.5% | 14.4% | 20.8% | 22.6% | 17.5% | 21.7% |
| Family responsibilities | 3.4% | 2.9% | 3.7% | 1.9% | 3.2% | 8.7% |
| Other | 15.1% | 17.3% | 13.9% | 17.0% | 15.3% | 8.7% |
Q Number of Years Expected to Complete Degree
| Amount of Time | All | Female | Male | AfAm | White | Other |
| Less than 4 years | 4.8% | 3.4% | 5.8% | 6.9% | 4.0% | 10.3% |
| 4 years | 72.3% | 79.2% | 67.2% | 70.0% | 73.2% | 65.2% |
| 4 1/2 years | 8.7% | 7.1% | 9.8% | 10.0% | 8.7% | 6.3% |
| 5 years | 11.7% | 7.6% | 14.7% | 11.6% | 11.5% | 14.7% |
| 5 1/2 years | 0.9% | 0.5% | 1.2% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% |
| 6 or more years | 1.0% | 1.1% | 0.9% | 0.3% | 1.0% | 0.9% |
| Will not complete Bachelor's | 0.7% | 1.1% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 1.8% |
| Total (N) | 3,122 | 1,315 | 1,807 | 320 | 2,578 | 224 |
Q Intended Highest Level of Education
| Level of education | All | Female | Male | AfAm | White | Other |
| Certificate | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| Bachelor's degree | 27.2% | 21.7% | 31.2% | 17.5% | 28.9% | 20.5% |
| Master's degree | 40.8% | 37.2% | 43.5% | 33.7% | 41.8% | 40.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 14.4% | 14.6% | 14.2% | 24.6% | 12.5% | 21.5% |
| Doctor of Veterinary Medicine | 4.4% | 8.8% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 4.9% | 2.3% |
| Medical degree | 8.1% | 12.0% | 5.3% | 14.2% | 7.1% | 11.0% |
| Law degree | 4.6% | 5.6% | 3.9% | 8.1% | 4.2% | 4.6% |
| Divinity degree | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| Do not intend to complete a degree | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| Total (N) | 3,036 | 1,287 | 1,749 | 309 | 2,508 | 219 |
Q Goals and Objectives in Attending NC State
| Primary goal/objective | All | Female | Male | AfAm | White | Other |
| BA for school preparation | 55.5% | 64.3% | 49.1% | 62.1% | 54.2% | 60.3% |
| BA for career preparation | 30.8% | 25.5% | 34.7% | 24.5% | 32.0% | 25.9% |
| BA/certificate only | 9.4% | 7.0% | 11.2% | 8.1% | 9.8% | 6.7% |
| Improve for current profession | 1.7% | 1.1% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1.6% | 3.1% |
| Other | 1.6% | 1.7% | 1.5% | 2.5% | 1.4% | 1.8% |
| Courses for personal interest | 1.0% | 0.5% | 1.4% | 0.6% | 0.9% | 2.2% |
| Total (N) | 3,124 | 1,316 | 1,808 | 322 | 2,578 | 224 |
Q Certainty of College Major
| Level of Certainty | All | Female | Male | AfAm | White | Other |
| Very certain | 27.0% | 28.2% | 26.1% | 34.0% | 26.4% | 24.2% |
| Certain | 41.1% | 38.5% | 43.0% | 43.3% | 40.3% | 47.1% |
| Uncertain | 25.6% | 24.9% | 26.1% | 19.0% | 26.7% | 21.5% |
| Very uncertain | 6.3% | 8.4% | 4.9% | 3.7% | 6.6% | 7.2% |
| Total (N) | 3,125 | 1,317 | 1,808 | 321 | 2,581 | 223 |
Q First Semester Employment Plans
| Employment Status | All | Female | Male | AfAm | White | Other |
| 20 or more hrs./wk. | 5.6% | 6.3% | 5.2% | 9.3% | 5.0% | 8.4% |
| Less than 20 hrs./wk. | 29.8% | 29.0% | 30.3% | 31.2% | 28.4% | 43.5% |
| Do not plan to work | 64.6% | 64.7% | 64.5% | 59.5% | 66.6% | 48.1% |
| Total (N) | 2,993 | 1,274 | 1,719 | 301 | 2,478 | 214 |
Q NC State Co-Curricular Programs/Activities (Percent Expressing Interest)
| Program/Activity | All | Female | Male | AfAm | White | Other |
| Intramurals | 52.4% | 38.9% | 62.3% | 41.8% | 53.7% | 53.1% |
| Fitness | 48.2% | 63.7% | 37.0% | 51.4% | 48.3% | 42.9% |
| Outdoor adventures | 38.1% | 35.0% | 40.4% | 2.7% | 41.9% | 31.4% |
| Study Abroad/student exchange | 37.9% | 50.9% | 28.4% | 33.4% | 38.0% | 43.8% |
| Volunteer Services | 36.8% | 55.0% | 23.4% | 51.4% | 34.5% | 41.6% |
| Social Fraternity/Sorority | 31.9% | 39.8% | 26.1% | 49.2% | 30.1% | 28.3% |
| Co-op program | 31.8% | 24.1% | 37.4% | 28.5% | 31.1% | 44.2% |
| Club Sports | 31.3% | 24.8% | 36.1% | 16.4% | 33.2% | 31.9% |
| Indoor recreation | 23.9% | 20.4% | 26.4% | 19.8% | 24.6% | 21.2% |
| Theater as audience | 21.9% | 30.1% | 15.9% | 18.9% | 22.1% | 23.0% |
| Student government | 21.4% | 27.1% | 17.3% | 42.1% | 18.9% | 20.4% |
| Informal recreation | 17.0% | 12.0% | 20.6% | 8.4% | 18.4% | 12.8% |
| Student leadership program | 16.0% | 20.1% | 13.0% | 28.8% | 13.9% | 21.7% |
| Attend art exhibits | 15.5% | 21.3% | 11.2% | 13.3% | 15.5% | 18.6% |
| Performing arts | 13.6% | 20.4% | 8.5% | 16.7% | 13.1% | 14.2% |
| Student publications/Media | 13.2% | 17.3% | 10.1% | 12.4% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| Healthy-life issues | 12.9% | 19.1% | 8.4% | 17.6% | 12.2% | 14.2% |
| Musical interests | 12.3% | 14.2% | 11.0% | 17.0% | 11.8% | 11.9% |
| Residence hall council | 10.7% | 13.7% | 8.4% | 23.5% | 9.0% | 11.5% |
| Theater as artist | 9.5% | 12.8% | 7.1% | 12.4% | 9.2% | 8.8% |
| Planning programs/services | 8.6% | 15.6% | 3.4% | 17.0% | 7.6% | 8.0% |
| Student Dance Company | 7.7% | 16.4% | 1.4% | 19.8% | 6.0% | 10.2% |
| Crafts center programs/classes | 7.6% | 14.7% | 2.4% | 5.0% | 7.8% | 9.3% |
| UAB programs/activities | 7.5% | 11.9% | 4.3% | 36.5% | 3.8% | 8.0% |
| Gender issues | 5.9% | 10.2% | 2.8% | 14.2% | 4.7% | 7.5% |
| Student Judicial Board | 5.5% | 6.3% | 5.0% | 10.8% | 4.8% | 6.2% |
| ROTC | 5.2% | 2.3% | 7.2% | 7.7% | 4.8% | 5.8% |
Q NC State Co-Curricular Programs/Activities (Rank Order of Interest)
| Program/Activity | All | Female | Male | AfAm | White | Other |
| Intramurals | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Fitness | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Outdoor adventures | 3 | 6 | 2 | 21 | 3 | 7 |
| Study Abroad/student exchange | 4 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| Volunteer Services | 5 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Social Fraternity/Sorority | 6 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Co-op program | 7 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 2 |
| Club Sports | 8 | 9 | 5 | 18 | 6 | 6 |
| Indoor recreation | 9 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 11 |
| Theater as audience | 10 | 7 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 9 |
| Student government | 11 | 8 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 12 |
| Informal recreation | 12 | 23 | 10 | 25 | 12 | 17 |
| Student leadership program | 13 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 14 | 10 |
| Attend art exhibits | 14 | 11 | 14 | 20 | 13 | 13 |
| Performing arts | 15 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 14 |
| Student publications/Media | 16 | 16 | 16 | 22 | 15 | 16 |
| Healthy-life issues | 17 | 15 | 18 | 14 | 17 | 14 |
| Musical interests | 18 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 18 |
| Residence hall council | 19 | 21 | 18 | 10 | 20 | 19 |
| Theater as artist | 20 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 22 |
| Planning programs/services | 21 | 18 | 24 | 15 | 22 | 23 |
| Student Dance Company | 22 | 17 | 27 | 11 | 23 | 20 |
| Crafts center programs/classes | 23 | 19 | 26 | 27 | 21 | 21 |
| UAB programs/activities | 24 | 24 | 23 | 6 | 27 | 23 |
| Gender issues | 25 | 25 | 25 | 19 | 26 | 25 |
| Student Judicial Board | 26 | 26 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 |
| ROTC | 27 | 27 | 20 | 26 | 24 | 27 |
Q NC State Co-Curricular Programs/Activities (Percent Expressing Interest, by Group)
| Program/activity | Female | Male | Af. Am. | White | Other |
| % in Survey Population | 42.2 | 57.8 | 10.3 | 82.5 | 7.2 |
| % Interested in School Related Group | |||||
| Intramurals (n=1644) | 31.3 | 68.7 | 8.2 | 84.5 | 7.3 |
| Fitness (n=1513) | 55.7 | 44.3 | 11.0 | 82.6 | 6.4 |
| Outdoor adventures (n=1196) | 38.7 | 61.3 | 3.4 | 90.6 | 5.9 |
| Study abroad/student exchange (n=1189) | 56.7 | 43.3 | 9.1 | 82.6 | 8.3 |
| Volunteer services (n=1153) | 63.1 | 36.9 | 14.4 | 77.5 | 8.2 |
| Social fraternity/sorority (n=1001) | 52.6 | 47.4 | 15.9 | 77.7 | 6.4 |
| Co-op program (n=997) | 32.0 | 68.0 | 9.2 | 80.7 | 10.0 |
| Club sports (n=983) | 33.4 | 66.6 | 5.4 | 87.3 | 7.3 |
| Indoor recreation (n=748) | 36.1 | 63.9 | 8.6 | 85.0 | 6.4 |
| Theater as audience (n=686) | 58.0 | 42.0 | 8.9 | 83.5 | 7.6 |
| Student government (n=671) | 53.4 | 46.6 | 20.3 | 72.9 | 6.9 |
| Informal recreation (n=533) | 29.8 | 70.2 | 5.1 | 89.5 | 5.4 |
| Student leadership program (n=501) | 53.1 | 46.9 | 18.6 | 71.7 | 9.8 |
| Art exhibitions (n=485) | 58.1 | 41.9 | 8.9 | 82.5 | 8.7 |
| Performing arts (n=425) | 63.5 | 36.5 | 12.7 | 79.8 | 7.5 |
| Student Publications/Media (n=413) | 55.4 | 44.6 | 9.7 | 82.8 | 7.5 |
| Healthy-life issues (n=405) | 62.5 | 37.5 | 14.1 | 78.0 | 7.9 |
| Musical interests (n=387) | 48.6 | 51.4 | 14.2 | 78.8 | 7.0 |
| Residence hall council (n=334) | 54.2 | 45.8 | 22.8 | 69.5 | 7.8 |
| Theater as artist (n=299) | 56.9 | 43.1 | 13.4 | 79.9 | 6.7 |
| Planning programs/services (n=269) | 77.0 | 23.0 | 20.4 | 72.9 | 6.7 |
| Student dance company (n=242) | 89.7 | 10.3 | 26.4 | 64.0 | 9.5 |
| Crafts center programs/classes (n=239) | 81.6 | 18.4 | 6.7 | 84.5 | 8.8 |
| UAB programs/activities (n=235) | 66.8 | 33.2 | 50.2 | 42.1 | 7.7 |
| Gender issues (n=185) | 73.0 | 27.0 | 24.9 | 65.9 | 9.2 |
| Student judicial board (n=174) | 47.7 | 52.3 | 20.1 | 71.8 | 8.0 |
| ROTC (n=162) | 19.1 | 80.9 | 15.4 | 76.5 | 8.0 |
For more information on the 2002
First-Year Student Survey contact:
Dr. Nancy Whelchel, Associate Director for Survey Research
Office of Institutional Planning and Research
Box 7002
NCSU
Phone: (919) 515-4184
Email: Nancy_Whelchel@ncsu.edu
Posted: April, 2003
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