2003 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 respondents' enrollment and general education plans. 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.
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 | Women | Men | Af.Am. | White | Other |
| 15 credit hours of classes or more | 87.1% | 87.5% | 86.9% | 82.3% | 87.6% | 87.9% |
| 12-14 credit hours of classes | 12.7% | 12.4% | 13.0% | 17.7% | 12.2% | 12.1% |
| Less than 12 credit hours of classes | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| Total (N) | 3,077 | 1,325 | 1,752 | 305 | 2,557 | 215 |
Q Reported Reasons for Less than 15 Credit Hours (Among Those Taking Less Than 15 cr. hrs., n = 396)
| Reason | All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other |
| Need to work | 16.7% | 13.3% | 19.1% | 11.1% | 17.7% | 15.4% |
| Courses unavailable | 23.0% | 24.7% | 21.7% | 13.0% | 25.3% | 15.4% |
| Want better grades | 42.4% | 43.4% | 41.7% | 37.0% | 44.0% | 34.6% |
| Advice of advisor | 10.4% | 13.3% | 8.3% | 18.5% | 9.2% | 7.7% |
| Did not need more courses | 4.5% | 3.6% | 5.2% | 1.9% | 4.4% | 11.5% |
| Other obligations | 1.0% | 0.6% | 1.3% | 1.9% | 0.6% | 3.8% |
| Combination of courses | 19.2% | 23.5% | 16.1% | 20.4% | 19.3% | 15.4% |
| Family responsibilities | 1.0% | 1.2% | 0.9% | 0.0% | 0.9% | 3.8% |
| Other | 14.9% | 15.7% | 14.3% | 16.7% | 14.9% | 11.5% |
| Total (N) | 396 | 166 | 230 | 54 | 316 | 26 |
Q Number of Years Expected to Complete Degree
| Amount of Time | All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other |
| Less than 4 years | 5.0% | 3.9% | 5.7% | 6.2% | 4.5% | 8.5% |
| 4 years | 76.1% | 80.8% | 72.6% | 71.0% | 76.7% | 76.9% |
| 4 1/2 years | 7.4% | 5.9% | 8.4% | 7.4% | 7.5% | 5.1% |
| 5 years | 9.3% | 7.3% | 10.8% | 11.8% | 9.2% | 7.3% |
| 5 1/2 years | 0.8% | 0.6% | 1.0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.4% |
| 6 or more years | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 2.1% | 0.7% | 0.9% |
| Will not complete Bachelor's | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.9% |
| Total (N) | 3,331 | 1,418 | 1,913 | 338 | 2,759 | 234 |
Q Intended Highest Level of Education
| Level of education | All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other |
| Certificate | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Bachelor's degree | 27.0% | 23.2% | 29.9% | 16.4% | 28.9% | 20.8% |
| Master's degree | 41.5% | 38.0% | 44.2% | 35.0% | 42.2% | 42.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 13.7% | 12.6% | 14.5% | 21.0% | 12.5% | 17.3% |
| Doctor of Veterinary Medicine | 5.2% | 10.0% | 1.7% | 4.3% | 5.5% | 3.5% |
| Medical degree | 7.1% | 10.4% | 4.7% | 14.3% | 5.9% | 11.3% |
| Law degree | 4.9% | 5.6% | 4.5% | 8.8% | 4.5% | 4.3% |
| Divinity degree | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Do not intend to complete a degree | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| Total (N) | 3,254 | 1,396 | 1,858 | 329 | 2,694 | 231 |
Q Goals and Objectives in Attending NC State
| Primary goal/objective | All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other |
| BA for school preparation | 53.6% | 61.0% | 48.2% | 62.3% | 52.5% | 55.0% |
| BA for career preparation | 33.5% | 30.3% | 35.8% | 28.2% | 34.0% | 35.1% |
| BA/certificate only | 9.3% | 6.3% | 11.5% | 6.5% | 10.0% | 5.6% |
| Improve for current profession | 1.6% | 0.8% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.4% | 3.0% |
| Courses for personal interest | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.8% | 0.9% |
| Other | 1.3% | 0.8% | 1.6% | 0.6% | 1.4% | 0.4% |
| Total (N) | 3,335 | 1,421 | 1,914 | 337 | 2,767 | 231 |
Q Certainty of College Major
| Level of Certainty | All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other |
| Very certain | 26.1% | 25.6% | 26.5% | 35.7% | 25.1% | 23.6% |
| Certain | 43.9% | 40.4% | 46.5% | 41.4% | 44.2% | 44.6% |
| Uncertain | 24.5% | 26.0% | 23.4% | 19.6% | 25.0% | 25.3% |
| Very uncertain | 5.5% | 8.0% | 3.7% | 3.3% | 5.7% | 6.4% |
| Total (N) | 3,328 | 1,415 | 1,913 | 336 | 2,759 | 233 |
Q First Semester Employment Plans
| Employment Status | All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other |
| 20 or more hrs./wk. | 5.9% | 5.5% | 6.1% | 7.8% | 5.1% | 12.3% |
| Less than 20 hrs./wk. | 30.4% | 30.8% | 30.1% | 34.4% | 30.0% | 30.3% |
| Do not plan to work | 63.7% | 63.6% | 63.8% | 57.8% | 65.0% | 57.5% |
| Total (N) | 3,192 | 1,375 | 1,817 | 320 | 2,644 | 228 |
Q NC State Co-Curricular Programs/Activities (Percent Expressing Interest)
| Program/Activity | All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other |
| Intramurals | 52.2% | 41.7% | 60.1% | 39.2% | 54.8% | 40.9% |
| Fitness | 47.8% | 60.6% | 38.4% | 51.6% | 47.8% | 43.4% |
| Outdoor adventures | 35.2% | 31.7% | 37.8% | 11.8% | 38.4% | 31.1% |
| Study Abroad/student exchange | 40.6% | 55.3% | 29.7% | 39.5% | 40.5% | 43.4% |
| Volunteer Services | 35.1% | 53.6% | 21.4% | 51.6% | 32.9% | 37.9% |
| Social Fraternity/Sorority | 28.4% | 36.7% | 22.2% | 46.6% | 26.7% | 21.7% |
| Co-op program | 33.3% | 21.0% | 42.4% | 33.3% | 32.8% | 38.3% |
| Club Sports | 34.0% | 26.9% | 39.3% | 16.8% | 36.1% | 34.0% |
| Indoor recreation | 24.0% | 19.6% | 27.2% | 20.4% | 24.4% | 23.8% |
| Theater as audience | 20.0% | 27.6% | 14.4% | 20.1% | 20.1% | 18.7% |
| Student government | 23.1% | 29.7% | 18.2% | 40.1% | 21.1% | 22.1% |
| Informal recreation | 16.8% | 11.3% | 21.0% | 7.4% | 17.8% | 19.6% |
| Student leadership program | 14.5% | 18.9% | 11.2% | 28.3% | 12.8% | 14.0% |
| Attend art exhibits | 13.4% | 19.4% | 9.1% | 14.2% | 13.1% | 16.6% |
| Performing arts | 11.6% | 17.6% | 7.2% | 14.5% | 11.0% | 14.5% |
| Student publications/Media | 10.8% | 13.3% | 9.0% | 12.7% | 10.5% | 11.5% |
| Healthy-life issues | 11.3% | 16.5% | 7.5% | 18.3% | 10.5% | 11.1% |
| Musical interests | 12.8% | 13.5% | 12.4% | 19.8% | 11.6% | 17.0% |
| Residence hall council | 10.6% | 13.8% | 8.2% | 23.0% | 9.0% | 10.6% |
| Theater as artist | 9.1% | 13.5% | 5.7% | 13.6% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| Planning programs/services | 7.1% | 13.4% | 2.4% | 12.7% | 6.2% | 8.9% |
| Student Dance Company | 7.1% | 15.3% | 1.1% | 14.7% | 6.1% | 8.9% |
| Crafts center programs/classes | 9.3% | 16.6% | 3.8% | 5.9% | 9.6% | 9.8% |
| UAB programs/activities | 6.7% | 10.5% | 3.9% | 33.9% | 3.4% | 7.2% |
| Gender issues | 4.7% | 8.6% | 1.9% | 14.7% | 3.5% | 4.7% |
| Student Judicial Board | 5.6% | 5.5% | 5.8% | 8.8% | 5.2% | 6.8% |
| ROTC | 5.0% | 2.8% | 6.7% | 6.8% | 4.7% | 6.8% |
Q NC State Co-Curricular Programs/Activities (Rank Order of Interest)
| Program/Activity | All | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other |
| Intramurals | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| Fitness | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Study Abroad/student exchange | 3 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Outdoor adventures | 4 | 6 | 5 | 20 | 4 | 6 |
| Volunteer Services | 5 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Club Sports | 6 | 9 | 3 | 14 | 5 | 5 |
| Co-op program | 7 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 3 |
| Social Fraternity/Sorority | 8 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 9 |
| Indoor recreation | 9 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Student government | 10 | 7 | 11 | 3 | 10 | 8 |
| Theater as audience | 11 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| Informal recreation | 12 | 22 | 10 | 22 | 12 | 10 |
| Student leadership program | 13 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 14 | 15 |
| Attend art exhibits | 14 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 13 |
| Musical interests | 15 | 19 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 12 |
| Performing arts | 16 | 14 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
| Healthy-life issues | 17 | 16 | 18 | 13 | 17 | 17 |
| Student publications/Media | 18 | 21 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 16 |
| Residence hall council | 19 | 18 | 17 | 9 | 19 | 18 |
| Crafts center programs/classes | 20 | 15 | 24 | 24 | 18 | 19 |
| Theater as artist | 21 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 20 | 21 |
| Planning programs/services | 22 | 20 | 25 | 19 | 21 | 20 |
| Student Dance Company | 23 | 17 | 27 | 15 | 22 | 20 |
| UAB programs/activities | 24 | 23 | 23 | 6 | 26 | 22 |
| Student Judicial Board | 25 | 25 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 23 |
| ROTC | 26 | 26 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 23 |
| Gender issues | 27 | 24 | 26 | 15 | 25 | 24 |
Q NC State Co-Curricular Programs/Activities (Percent Expressing Interest, by Group)
| Program/activity | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other |
| % in Survey Population | 42.6% | 57.4% | 10.1% | 82.9% | 7.0% |
| % Interested in School Related Group | |||||
| Intramurals (n=1749) | 34.0% | 66.0% | 7.6% | 86.9% | 5.5% |
| Fitness (n=1602) | 53.9% | 46.1% | 10.9% | 82.7% | 6.4% |
| Study abroad/student exchange (n=1360) | 58.0% | 42.0% | 9.9% | 82.6% | 7.5% |
| Outdoor adventures (n=1178) | 38.4% | 61.6% | 3.4% | 90.4% | 6.2% |
| Volunteer services (n=1176) | 65.0% | 35.0% | 14.9% | 77.6% | 7.6% |
| Club sports (n=1139) | 33.6% | 66.4% | 5.0% | 88.0% | 7.0% |
| Co-op program (n=1114) | 26.9% | 73.1% | 10.1% | 81.8% | 8.1% |
| Social fraternity/sorority (n=950) | 55.2% | 44.8% | 16.6% | 78.0% | 5.4% |
| Indoor recreation (n=802) | 34.9% | 65.1% | 8.6% | 84.4% | 7.0% |
| Student government (n=774) | 54.8% | 45.2% | 17.6% | 75.7% | 6.7% |
| Theater as audience (n=670) | 58.8% | 41.2% | 10.1% | 83.3% | 6.6% |
| Informal recreation (n=564) | 28.5% | 71.5% | 4.4% | 87.4% | 8.2% |
| Student leadership program (n=484) | 55.6% | 44.4% | 19.8% | 73.3% | 6.8% |
| Art exhibitions (n=450) | 61.3% | 38.7% | 10.7% | 80.7% | 8.7% |
| Musical interests (n=430) | 44.7% | 55.3% | 15.6% | 75.1% | 9.3% |
| Performing arts (n=389) | 64.5% | 35.5% | 12.6% | 78.7% | 8.7% |
| Healthy-life issues (n=379) | 62.0% | 38.0% | 16.4% | 76.8% | 6.9% |
| Student Publications/Media (n=362) | 52.2% | 47.8% | 11.9% | 80.7% | 7.5% |
| Residence hall council (n=354) | 55.6% | 44.4% | 22.0% | 70.9% | 7.1% |
| Crafts center programs/classes (n=310) | 76.5% | 23.5% | 6.5% | 86.1% | 7.4% |
| Theater as artist (n=303) | 63.7% | 36.3% | 15.2% | 78.5% | 6.3% |
| Student dance company (n=239) | 91.2% | 8.8% | 20.9% | 70.3% | 8.8% |
| Planning programs/services (n=237) | 80.6% | 19.4% | 18.1% | 73.0% | 8.9% |
| UAB programs/activities (n=225) | 66.7% | 33.3% | 51.1% | 41.3% | 7.6% |
| Student judicial board (n=189) | 41.3% | 58.7% | 15.9% | 75.7% | 8.5% |
| ROTC (n=168) | 23.8% | 76.2% | 13.7% | 76.8% | 9.5% |
| Gender issues (n=159) | 77.4% | 22.6% | 31.4% | 61.6% | 6.9% |
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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