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North Carolina State University
2005 First-Year Student Survey:
College Comparisons
of Background Characteristics

This document reports college 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 "2005 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 | Musical Interests | Preparation for College | Personal Computers | Intended Work Community

Q Financial Aid
  NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Expect Financial Aid % 63.6% 66.8% 76.3% 60.8% 72.7% 67.4% 57.5% 65.5% 61.0% 55.2% 69.9%
Total N 3579 563 93 449 77 1071 214 142 82 732 156

Type of Aid Expected: NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Academic % 32.9% 38.0% 55.9% 28.8% 38.7% 36.5% 34.7% 34.5% 34.1% 19.1% 45.6%
Financial need % 37.7% 41.4% 43.0% 37.3% 46.8% 38.7% 30.5% 36.6% 34.1% 35.0% 36.6%
Athletic based % 1.7% 0.4% 4.3% 1.3% 1.3% 1.5% 1.4% 0.7% 0.0% 3.8% 0.7%
Other - dance, music, etc. % 1.6% 1.8% 2.2% 2.5% 0.0% 1.3% 0.9% 1.4% 6.1% 1.1% 2.0%
Other aid than listed above % 14.8% 16.2% 11.8% 20.0% 19.5% 15.0% 15.9% 9.2% 6.1% 12.2% 14.1%
Note: Respondents could list more than one type of aid.
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Q Parent/guardian income
Parent's income NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
$10,000 or less % 2.5 2.4 . 2.3 2.8 2.9 2.1 3.3 . 2.6 3.6
$10,001-$15,000 % 1.5 1.0 1.3 3.0 . 0.9 0.5 0.8 . 2.3 2.9
$15,001-$20,000 % 1.8 2.2 1.3 2.5 . 1.5 0.5 0.8 1.4 2.8 0.7
$20,001-$25,000 % 2.1 3.6 2.6 1.5 4.2 2.2 0.5 . 1.4 1.6 2.9
$25,001-$30,000 % 2.3 1.6 5.3 1.5 2.8 2.2 2.6 0.8 4.3 2.9 2.2
$30,001-$35,000 % 3.0 2.4 10.5 3.5 2.8 2.9 2.6 1.7 1.4 3.1 2.9
$35,001-$40,000 % 4.9 6.0 5.3 3.8 1.4 4.9 4.2 7.5 4.3 5.4 3.6
$40,001-$50,000 % 7.2 8.9 3.9 7.3 4.2 7.7 4.2 7.5 4.3 7.2 5.1
$50,001-$60,000 % 10.0 9.5 11.8 10.5 14.1 10.7 9.4 8.3 11.4 8.3 11.6
$60,001-$75,000 % 10.9 7.8 13.2 11.3 18.3 11.3 7.3 15.0 12.9 10.9 13.8
$75,001-$100,000 % 19.4 18.3 22.4 20.3 15.5 23.0 22.9 19.2 21.4 13.7 15.9
$100,001-$150,000 % 19.3 19.7 18.4 16.5 14.1 19.1 22.4 15.8 15.7 22.3 17.4
$150,001-$200,000 % 7.1 8.7 1.3 8.8 7.0 5.0 7.8 7.5 12.9 7.5 7.2
$200,000 plus % 7.9 8.0 2.6 7.3 12.7 5.5 13.0 11.7 8.6 9.3 10.1
Total N 3160 503 76 399 71 978 192 120 70 613 138
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Q Parent/guardian educational attainment
Father Education NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Less than high school % 2.1 3.1 3.4 3.1 3.0 1.2 1.0 1.5 1.3 1.8 3.5
High school graduate % 13.8 16.6 18.4 10.9 17.9 14.9 12.2 8.3 5.3 14.1 9.8
Some college/no degree % 12.2 12.9 13.8 14.0 17.9 13.3 8.1 8.3 9.3 10.9 10.5
2-4 yr. associate degree % 10.1 10.7 8.0 11.6 7.5 9.8 9.6 10.6 10.7 9.1 12.6
4 year baccalaureate degree % 34.5 28.7 39.1 33.9 34.3 33.8 39.6 43.2 36.0 36.7 33.6
Some graduate or prof. coursework/no degree % 3.4 3.5 2.3 2.7 . 4.0 4.6 3.0 4.0 3.1 3.5
Master's degree % 15.5 14.2 11.5 15.7 11.9 16.0 15.7 21.2 18.7 15.3 14.7
Doctorate or other professional degree % 8.3 10.3 3.4 8.0 7.5 7.0 9.1 3.8 14.7 8.8 11.9
Total N 3294 513 87 413 67 1000 197 132 75 667 143

Mother Education NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Less than high school % 1.6 1.9 1.2 1.2 . 1.5 1.5 . 2.7 2.0 2.1
High school graduate % 12.0 13.4 19.8 10.4 11.4 12.5 11.6 7.7 4.0 11.9 12.7
Some college/no degree % 14.2 12.8 16.3 20.8 8.6 13.2 11.1 10.8 14.7 14.9 12.7
2-4 yr. associate degree % 15.4 19.0 14.0 14.9 20.0 14.9 18.2 16.9 5.3 13.8 12.7
4 year baccalaureate degree % 34.0 29.5 33.7 29.5 31.4 34.5 33.8 38.5 45.3 37.8 35.2
Some graduate or prof. coursework/no degree % 3.9 3.6 1.2 3.3 2.9 4.0 4.0 3.8 6.7 4.2 5.6
Master's degree % 15.1 14.8 12.8 16.5 24.3 15.8 15.7 19.2 13.3 13.1 9.9
Doctorate or other professional degree % 3.8 5.0 1.2 3.5 1.4 3.6 4.0 3.1 8.0 2.4 9.2
Total N 3317 522 86 424 70 1004 198 130 75 666 142
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First Generation Students
  NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
First generation college student % 7.0 10.7 9.6 5.4 8.0 6.1 4.7 2.1 1.2 8.2 7.1
At least one parent some college/no degree % 21.5 22.5 25.5 26.0 25.3 21.9 21.0 17.6 13.6 18.8 18.2
Not first generation % 71.5 66.8 64.9 68.7 66.7 72.0 74.3 80.3 85.2 73.0 74.7
Total N 3564 560 94 447 75 1067 214 142 81 730 154
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Q Household Dependents
Number of dependents NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
One % 4.1 4.3 3.3 5.4 4.0 3.6 4.7 4.3 5.0 3.9 4.5
Two % 11.6 12.5 9.8 10.6 13.3 11.2 9.9 12.1 7.5 13.0 11.0
Three % 22.0 19.8 28.3 22.1 22.7 23.4 20.8 20.0 21.3 22.1 20.8
Four % 38.1 39.7 31.5 35.6 33.3 39.3 39.6 36.4 45.0 36.7 39.6
Five or more % 24.2 23.8 27.2 26.4 26.7 22.6 25.0 27.1 21.3 24.3 24.0
Total N 3545 562 92 444 75 1062 212 140 80 724 154

Number of dependents in college NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Only self % 67.0 72.8 60.9 68.7 61.3 67.7 64.8 69.6 61.5 62.9 66.0
Two % 28.8 23.1 33.7 27.4 36.0 28.5 31.0 25.2 33.3 33.1 28.1
Three or more % 4.1 4.1 5.4 3.9 2.7 3.8 4.3 5.2 5.1 3.9 5.9
Total N 3494 555 92 438 75 1046 210 135 78 712 153
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Q Home community size

High school area population NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Rural area % 15.3 23.6 13.2 10.6 28.4 16.6 11.4 9.5 6.9 12.8 10.7
Small town % 26.7 26.0 36.3 24.9 18.9 27.8 28.2 23.4 20.8 27.1 26.8
Moderate city % 28.5 31.9 28.6 31.8 16.2 25.4 29.2 31.4 27.8 29.1 28.9
Large city % 14.8 8.9 12.1 17.6 14.9 14.7 15.8 16.1 22.2 16.1 18.1
Urban area % 14.7 9.6 9.9 15.1 21.6 15.5 15.3 19.7 22.2 15.0 15.4
Total N 3421 530 91 425 74 1039 202 137 72 702 149
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Q Religious preference
  NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Assemblies of God % 1.1% 0.5% 1.1% 0.2% 0.0% 1.2% 1.4% 1.4% 0.0% 1.8% 1.3%
Baha'i % 0.1% 0.0% 1.1% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.1% 0.6%
Baptist % 25.6% 31.1% 33.7% 23.9% 27.3% 22.9% 24.8% 25.2% 18.1% 27.3% 20.8%
Buddhist % 0.9% 0.9% 0.0% 0.7% 0.0% 0.9% 1.4% 0.0% 0.0% 1.3% 1.3%
Catholic % 12.4% 14.8% 14.7% 12.9% 13.0% 10.7% 13.3% 14.7% 9.6% 12.2% 11.9%
Disciples of Christ % 0.7% 0.9% 1.1% 0.4% 1.3% 0.6% 0.5% 2.8% 0.0% 0.7% 0.0%
Episcopal % 2.8% 2.4% 3.2% 3.3% 3.9% 2.3% 3.7% 3.5% 3.6% 2.8% 4.4%
Hindu % 1.0% 2.3% 1.1% 0.4% 0.0% 1.3% 0.0% 0.7% 0.0% 0.5% 1.9%
Jewish % 1.0% 0.5% 1.1% 1.8% 0.0% 0.7% 0.9% 3.5% 1.2% 1.3% 0.0%
Latter-Day Saints % 0.2% 0.2% 0.0% 0.4% 0.0% 0.2% 0.0% 0.0% 1.2% 0.1% 0.0%
Lutheran % 3.4% 1.9% 3.2% 3.3% 1.3% 4.2% 2.3% 7.7% 1.2% 3.1% 3.8%
Moravian % 0.6% 0.3% 3.2% 0.4% 0.0% 0.6% 0.5% 0.7% 1.2% 0.7% 0.6%
Muslim % 0.7% 0.9% 0.0% 0.2% 0.0% 0.9% 0.5% 0.7% 0.0% 0.7% 1.3%
Presbyterian (PCA) % 1.2% 1.4% 2.1% 0.2% 1.3% 1.6% 0.9% 1.4% 1.2% 1.3% 0.6%
Presbyterian (USA) % 6.6% 5.4% 4.2% 6.8% 9.1% 7.5% 7.3% 8.4% 6.0% 6.4% 3.8%
Unitarian % 0.3% 0.3% 0.0% 0.4% 0.0% 0.2% 0.0% 2.1% 0.0% 0.3% 0.6%
United Methodist % 14.0% 13.7% 14.7% 15.3% 16.9% 13.0% 17.4% 11.2% 14.5% 14.7% 10.7%
Non-denominational % 5.3% 3.8% 9.5% 7.2% 6.5% 4.8% 3.7% 5.6% 7.2% 6.0% 3.1%
No religious preference % 15.4% 12.7% 11.6% 16.4% 11.7% 18.4% 16.1% 10.5% 25.3% 12.3% 20.1%
Other religious preference % 8.2% 6.9% 3.2% 8.1% 14.3% 9.4% 6.0% 7.7% 13.3% 6.6% 13.2%
Total N 3660 576 95 457 77 1089 218 143 83 763 159
Note: Respondents were able to select multiple religious preferences.
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Q Musical interests
  NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Play musical instrument(s) % yes 36.0% 34.3% 34.4% 35.4% 26.0% 41.7% 26.4% 31.5% 43.4% 32.7% 40.8%
Total N 3626 574 93 452 77 1084 216 143 83 747 157

  NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Recent participation in choral group % yes 21.8% 25.5% 24.7% 28.5% 14.5% 17.3% 20.5% 24.5% 19.3% 21.4% 24.5%
Total N 3610 573 93 452 76 1077 215 143 83 743 155
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Q Preparation for college
HS preparation for college NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Well prepared % 44.9 43.3 48.9 45.2 31.2 45.0 48.4 39.9 63.4 43.1 51.6
Adequately prepared % 45.7 48.7 48.9 43.4 55.8 44.3 41.5 51.7 31.7 48.0 40.3
Poorly prepared % 9.4 8.0 2.1 11.4 13.0 10.7 10.1 8.4 4.9 8.8 8.2
Total N 3649 575 94 456 77 1088 217 143 82 758 159

Self preparation for college NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Well prepared % 39.7 39.7 43.6 41.4 31.2 42.0 45.6 33.6 52.4 32.7 45.3
Adequately prepared % 54.3 56.0 55.3 54.2 55.8 51.4 51.2 62.2 46.3 59.7 43.4
Poorly prepared % 6.0 4.3 1.1 4.4 13.0 6.6 3.2 4.2 1.2 7.7 11.3
Total N 3645 575 94 456 77 1086 217 143 82 756 159
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Q Have a personal computer
Have personal computer NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Yes, Laptop % 73.1 75.4 69.6 73.7 77.6 72.4 75.8 82.9 45.6 71.9 74.7
Yes, Desktop % 14.9 15.7 18.5 13.8 15.8 13.9 16.6 9.3 25.3 14.4 18.2
Yes, Laptop and Desktop % 6.1 3.3 1.1 4.8 1.3 11.4 2.8 3.6 3.8 4.7 3.9
No % 1.5 0.9 . 1.8 . 1.0 1.4 0.7 11.4 1.9 1.3
Do not know % 4.4 4.7 10.9 5.9 5.3 1.3 3.3 3.6 13.9 7.1 1.9
Total N 3508 553 92 441 76 1040 211 140 79 722 154
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Q Connect to NCSU Internet
Connect to NCSU Internet NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Yes % 93.2 93.1 92.5 90.4 86.9 96.0 93.5 94.0 88.6 92.1 92.6
No % 0.3 0.2 . 0.3 . 0.4 . . . 0.2 1.6
Do not know % 6.5 6.7 7.5 9.3 13.1 3.6 6.5 6.0 11.4 7.7 5.7
Total N 2632 421 67 335 61 779 168 116 44 519 122
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Q Location of future employment
Location of future employment NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Anywhere % 28.2 14.9 14.1 23.9 29.7 34.9 26.1 36.3 47.4 31.7 19.3
In North Carolina % 14.3 12.8 45.7 13.8 24.3 12.3 17.7 8.9 6.4 15.7 8.7
Outside NC but in USA % 22.6 12.4 20.7 20.0 27.0 25.6 25.1 32.6 21.8 25.2 22.0
Outside the USA % 0.7 0.7 2.2 0.7 1.4 0.6 1.5 0.7 . 0.7 .
Will not seek employment % 34.2 59.2 17.4 41.6 17.6 26.7 29.6 21.5 24.4 26.7 50.0
Total N 3488 556 92 435 74 1050 203 135 78 715 150

Location of future employment (Among those seeking employment, N=2,295) NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Anywhere % 42.8 36.6 17.1 40.9 36.1 47.5 37.1 46.2 62.7 43.3 38.7
In North Carolina % 21.7 31.3 55.3 23.6 29.5 16.8 25.2 11.3 8.5 21.4 17.3
Outside NC but in USA % 34.4 30.4 25.0 34.3 32.8 34.9 35.7 41.5 28.8 34.4 44.0
Outside the USA % 1.1 1.8 2.6 1.2 1.6 0.8 2.1 0.9 . 1.0 .
Total N 2295 227 76 254 61 770 143 106 59 524 75
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For more information on the 2005 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: February, 2007

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