2003 First-Year Student Survey
Data Tables:
Gender and Racial/Ethnic Comparisons
in Background Characteristics
This document reports gender and racial/ethnic differences in respondents' general background characteristics, such as financial aid, parent/guardian education, employment plans, and other personal information. For information about the survey and analysis methods see "2003 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.
Financial Aid | Parent/Guardian Income | Parent/Guardian Educational Attainment | First Generation Students | Household Dependents | Respondents' Home Community | Religious Preference | Disabilities | Musical Instruments | Preparation for College | Personal Computers | Intended Work Community
Q Financial Aid Received
| All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
| Yes: Expect to receive Financial Aid | 65.4% | 66.1% | 64.9% | 88.7% | 62.2% | 69.4% |
| Yes: Academic | 34.0% | 36.8% | 31.9% | 47.6% | 32.6% | 31.5% |
| Yes: Financial need | 40.2% | 42.7% | 38.3% | 71.9% | 35.4% | 50.0% |
| Yes: Athletic based | 2.4% | 3.0% | 2.0% | 3.3% | 2.3% | 2.6% |
| Yes: Dance, music, etc. | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.4% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.9% |
| Yes: Other aid than listed above | 14.5% | 13.7% | 15.1% | 21.5% | 13.7% | 14.7% |
Q Parent(s)/Guardian(s) 2001 Combined Income
| All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
| $10,000 or less | 2.2% | 2.3% | 2.2% | 7.0% | 1.5% | 4.3% |
| $10,001-$15,000 | 1.7% | 2.2% | 1.3% | 7.7% | 0.8% | 2.9% |
| $15,001-$20,000 | 2.1% | 2.5% | 1.9% | 9.8% | 1.1% | 3.8% |
| $20,001-$25,000 | 2.8% | 3.4% | 2.3% | 7.0% | 2.0% | 5.3% |
| $25,001-$30,000 | 2.1% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 5.9% | 1.6% | 3.3% |
| $30,001-$35,000 | 3.2% | 3.8% | 2.7% | 7.0% | 2.6% | 4.3% |
| $35,001-$40,000 | 4.7% | 5.9% | 3.9% | 9.1% | 3.9% | 7.2% |
| $40,001-$50,000 | 6.8% | 6.4% | 7.1% | 8.4% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| $50,001-$60,000 | 9.7% | 8.8% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 9.6% | 12.0% |
| $60,001-$75,000 | 14.1% | 14.6% | 13.7% | 9.1% | 14.7% | 14.4% |
| $75,001-$100,000 | 19.0% | 18.0% | 19.8% | 9.8% | 20.6% | 13.9% |
| $100,001-$150,000 | 18.2% | 16.6% | 19.3% | 6.3% | 20.3% | 10.0% |
| $150,001-$200,000 | 7.0% | 7.3% | 6.8% | 2.4% | 7.8% | 4.8% |
| $200,000 plus | 6.4% | 6.5% | 6.3% | 2.4% | 7.0% | 4.3% |
| Total (N) | 2,904 | 1,193 | 1,711 | 287 | 2,408 | 209 |
Q Father/Male Guardian Educational Attainment
| All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
| Less than high school | 2.3% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 5.3% | 1.7% | 6.0% |
| High school graduate | 14.1% | 13.5% | 14.5% | 25.7% | 12.7% | 14.7% |
| Some college/no degree | 11.1% | 10.9% | 11.2% | 16.8% | 10.3% | 12.8% |
| 2-4 yr. associate degree | 9.7% | 11.5% | 8.4% | 11.5% | 9.9% | 5.5% |
| 4 year baccalaureate degree | 34.9% | 35.6% | 34.4% | 23.7% | 37.0% | 25.7% |
| Some graduate or prof. coursework/no degree | 2.8% | 2.9% | 2.8% | 3.0% | 2.7% | 3.7% |
| Master's degree | 16.5% | 15.9% | 16.9% | 7.6% | 17.2% | 19.7% |
| Doctorate or other professional degree | 8.7% | 7.4% | 9.5% | 6.6% | 8.6% | 11.9% |
| Total (N) | 3,144 | 1,330 | 1,814 | 304 | 2,622 | 218 |
Q Mother/Female Guardian Educational Attainment
| All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
| Less than high school | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 1.6% | 0.8% | 7.5% |
| High school graduate | 14.0% | 14.0% | 13.9% | 19.4% | 12.7% | 21.1% |
| Some college/no degree | 13.2% | 13.5% | 12.9% | 18.4% | 12.9% | 8.5% |
| 2-4 yr. associate degree | 14.3% | 14.9% | 13.8% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 4 year baccalaureate degree | 35.9% | 36.1% | 35.7% | 24.7% | 37.7% | 29.6% |
| Some graduate or prof. coursework/no degree | 2.9% | 3.1% | 2.8% | 3.9% | 2.9% | 1.4% |
| Master's degree | 15.7% | 15.1% | 16.1% | 10.2% | 16.3% | 16.0% |
| Doctorate or other professional degree | 2.8% | 2.2% | 3.3% | 2.6% | 2.8% | 3.3% |
| Total (N) | 3,121 | 1,342 | 1,779 | 304 | 2,604 | 213 |
Q First Generation Students
| All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
| Father/male guardian: No College | 16.4% | 15.9% | 16.8% | 30.9% | 14.3% | 20.6% |
| Mother/female guardian: No College | 15.3% | 15.2% | 15.4% | 21.1% | 13.6% | 28.6% |
| First generation student | 7.5% | 7.0% | 7.9% | 12.6% | 6.2% | 15.1% |
Q Dependents in Respondent�s Household
| All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
| One | 3.9% | 3.0% | 4.6% | 6.0% | 3.6% | 4.3% |
| Two | 11.4% | 11.3% | 11.6% | 18.1% | 10.4% | 14.7% |
| Three | 22.0% | 22.0% | 21.9% | 29.3% | 21.0% | 23.4% |
| Four | 39.6% | 40.4% | 38.9% | 27.2% | 41.4% | 35.5% |
| Five or more | 23.1% | 23.3% | 23.0% | 19.3% | 23.7% | 22.1% |
| Total (N) | 3,286 | 1,403 | 1,883 | 331 | 2,724 | 231 |
Q Household Dependents in College
| All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
| Only self | 67.4% | 67.3% | 67.5% | 71.1% | 66.9% | 68.1% |
| Two | 28.6% | 28.7% | 28.5% | 24.0% | 29.4% | 25.8% |
| Three or more | 3.9% | 3.9% | 4.0% | 4.9% | 3.7% | 6.1% |
| Total (N) | 3,242 | 1,395 | 1,847 | 329 | 2,684 | 229 |
Q Respondent�s Home Community
| All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
| Rural area | 16.4% | 13.1% | 18.8% | 12.8% | 17.5% | 8.3% |
| Small town | 26.5% | 29.0% | 24.7% | 26.8% | 26.8% | 22.6% |
| Moderate city | 28.2% | 29.9% | 27.0% | 32.7% | 27.4% | 30.9% |
| Large city | 13.6% | 13.7% | 13.5% | 16.1% | 12.7% | 20.0% |
| Urban area | 15.3% | 14.3% | 16.0% | 11.6% | 15.5% | 18.3% |
| Total (N) | 3,300 | 1,409 | 1,891 | 336 | 2,734 | 230 |
Q Religious Preference
| All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
| Assemblies of God | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 1.6% | 0.4% | 2.3% |
| Baha'i | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Baptist | 26.4% | 28.2% | 25.1% | 50.3% | 24.7% | 12.8% |
| Buddhist | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 5.0% |
| Catholic | 13.7% | 14.7% | 12.8% | 2.6% | 14.2% | 22.4% |
| Disciples of Christ | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.1% | 1.9% | 0.9% | 0.0% |
| Episcopal | 3.4% | 3.6% | 3.3% | 2.9% | 3.7% | 0.5% |
| Hindu | 0.8% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 11.9% |
| Jewish | 0.7% | 1.1% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.8% | 0.9% |
| Latter-Day Saints | 0.4% | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.9% |
| Lutheran | 2.8% | 2.9% | 2.8% | 0.0% | 3.4% | 0.5% |
| Moravian | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.8% | 0.0% |
| Muslim | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 1.9% | 0.5% | 0.9% |
| Presbyterian (PCA) | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.1% | 0.0% | 1.1% | 0.5% |
| Presbyterian (USA) | 6.7% | 7.0% | 6.5% | 0.6% | 7.7% | 3.2% |
| Unitarian | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| United Methodist | 14.4% | 15.6% | 13.4% | 3.2% | 16.5% | 4.6% |
| Non-denominational | 2.6% | 2.9% | 2.3% | 6.2% | 2.2% | 1.8% |
| No preference | 15.3% | 11.3% | 18.2% | 12.0% | 14.9% | 24.7% |
| Other | 8.2% | 7.6% | 8.6% | 16.6% | 7.2% | 7.3% |
| Total (N) | 3,090 | 1,323 | 1,767 | 308 | 2,563 | 2,19 |
| All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
| None | 92.8% | 95.0% | 91.2% | 95.6% | 92.3% | 95.3% |
| Yes: Learning disability/ADD | 3.9% | 2.5% | 4.9% | 1.5% | 4.4% | 1.7% |
| Yes: Psychological | 0.5% | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| Yes: Hard of hearing/deaf | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 0.0% | 0.6% | 0.9% |
| Yes: Legally blind | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.9% |
| Yes: Traumatic head injury | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.6% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| Yes: Mobility impairment | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.4% | 0.9% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| Yes: Other | 1.8% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 2.1% | 1.8% | 0.9% |
| Total (N) | 3,348 | 1,426 | 1,922 | 339 | 2,774 | 235 |
Q Musical Instruments
| All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
| Yes: Clarinet/Saxophone | 9.1% | 9.6% | 8.8% | 14.7% | 8.3% | 11.1% |
| Yes: French Horn/Trumpet/Cornet | 6.5% | 4.6% | 7.9% | 5.3% | 6.7% | 5.5% |
| Yes: Tympani/Mallet/Percussion | 4.2% | 2.5% | 5.5% | 4.7% | 4.2% | 4.3% |
| Yes: Flute/Piccolo | 4.5% | 9.5% | 0.8% | 5.3% | 4.4% | 4.3% |
| Yes: Trombone/Baritone/Euphonium/Tuba | 4.0% | 1.1% | 6.2% | 3.2% | 4.1% | 3.4% |
| Yes: Violin/Viola | 3.3% | 4.8% | 2.2% | 4.4% | 2.7% | 9.8% |
| Yes: Cello/Double Bass | 1.0% | 0.7% | 1.2% | 0.3% | 1.0% | 1.7% |
| Yes: Bagpipes | 0.8% | 0.2% | 1.2% | 0.3% | 0.8% | 1.3% |
| Yes: Oboe/Bassoon | 0.6% | 0.9% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 0.9% |
| Total (N) | 1,140 | 484 | 656 | 131 | 910 | 99 |
Q Preparation for College by High School
| All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
| 3:Well prepared | 45.9% | 46.4% | 45.5% | 38.2% | 46.3% | 51.5% |
| 2:Adequately prepared | 46.5% | 47.2% | 46.0% | 53.0% | 46.2% | 41.3% |
| 1:Poorly prepared | 7.6 | 6.5% | 8.5% | 8.9% | 7.5% | 7.2% |
| Total (N) | 3,342 | 1,425 | 1,917 | 338 | 2,769 | 235 |
| All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
| 3:Well prepared | 45.0% | 47.2% | 43.4% | 35.0% | 46.2% | 46.0% |
| 2:Adequately prepared | 50.7% | 49.7% | 51.5% | 57.3% | 50.3% | 46.8% |
| 1:Poorly prepared | 4.2% | 3.1% | 5.1% | 7.7% | 3.5% | 7.2% |
| Total (N) | 3,338 | 1,422 | 1,916 | 337 | 2,766 | 235 |
Q Extent and Types of Personal Computers
| All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
| No | 1.9% | 2.0% | 1.8% | 6.1% | 1.1% | 5.8% |
| Yes: Desktop | 39.8% | 33.5% | 44.6% | 33.3% | 41.2% | 32.3% |
| Yes: Laptop | 50.2% | 55.0% | 46.6% | 37.6% | 51.6% | 52.0% |
| Do not know | 8.1% | 9.5% | 7.0% | 22.9% | 6.1% | 9.9% |
| Total (N) | 3,170 | 1,372 | 1,798 | 327 | 2,620 | 223 |
| All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
| No | 1.0% | 0.6% | 1.2% | 0.0% | 0.9% | 3.5% |
| Yes | 93.5% | 91.2% | 95.2% | 85.6% | 94.8% | 87.3% |
| Do not know | 5.5% | 8.1% | 3.5% | 14.4% | 4.3% | 9.2% |
| Total (N) | 2,616 | 1,094 | 1,522 | 209 | 2,234 | 173 |
| All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
| In North Carolina | 13.8% | 13.5% | 14.0% | 11.6% | 14.7% | 6.0% |
| Outside NC but in USA | 24.3% | 20.8% | 26.8% | 25.7% | 24.0% | 25.9% |
| Outside the USA | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 1.3% |
| Anywhere | 29.8% | 27.1% | 31.8% | 25.4% | 29.5% | 39.2% |
| Will not seek employment | 31.6% | 38.1% | 26.8% | 37.0% | 31.3% | 27.6% |
| Total (N) | 3,289 | 1,407 | 1,882 | 335 | 2,722 | 232 |
For more information on the 2003
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: January, 2004
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