North Carolina State University
2008 First-Year Student Survey:
Frequency Distributions of Survey Item #5
(Factors Influencing Decision to Attend)

This document reports the frequency distributions by gender and race/ethnicity of survey item #5 of the Fall 2008 First-Year Student Survey. The exact wording of the survey item is as follows:

To what extent did each of the following factors influence your decision to attend NC State? Using the scale below, please enter the number closest to your opinion for each factor listed. (Scale: 5="very strong influence," 4="strong influence," 3="moderate influence," 2="weak influence," 1="very weak influence," 0="not applicable")

Note: "Not applicable" responses were excluded from the analyses.

Academic reputation	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	4.17	4.15	4.18	4.40	4.15	4.09
5: Very strong influence	39.2%	38.5%	39.9%	56.2%	37.6%	38.5%
4: Strong influence	41.8%	42.0%	41.7%	31.1%	43.8%	36.0%
3: Moderate influence	16.1%	16.2%	15.9%	10.4%	15.8%	22.2%
2: Weak influence	2.2%	2.4%	2.1%	1.4%	2.2%	2.9%
1: Very weak influence	0.6%	0.8%	0.4%	0.9%	0.6%	0.4%
Total (N)	4,138	1,908	2,230	347	3,310	481

Availability of program	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	3.86	3.87	3.85	3.86	3.86	3.84
5: Very strong influence	36.8%	37.5%	36.2%	39.1%	36.7%	35.8%
4: Strong influence	28.6%	29.3%	28.0%	25.5%	29.0%	28.2%
3: Moderate influence	22.7%	20.9%	24.2%	22.4%	22.5%	24.1%
2: Weak influence	7.7%	7.7%	7.7%	8.2%	7.5%	8.5%
1: Very weak influence	4.3%	4.6%	4.0%	4.8%	4.3%	3.5%
Total (N)	3,998	1,833	2,165	330	3,207	461

Level of support for my intended major	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	3.85	3.77	3.92	3.78	3.86	3.83
5: Very strong influence	37.8%	35.9%	39.5%	34.7%	38.6%	34.9%
4: Strong influence	27.3%	25.8%	28.6%	26.9%	26.7%	32.2%
3: Moderate influence	21.8%	23.5%	20.3%	25.4%	21.8%	19.4%
2: Weak influence	8.0%	9.0%	7.2%	6.9%	8.2%	7.9%
1: Very weak influence	5.0%	5.8%	4.4%	6.0%	4.8%	5.6%
Total (N)	3,922	1,793	2,129	334	3,144	444

Extracurricular opportunities	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	3.13	3.21	3.07	3.60	3.09	3.10
5: Very strong influence	15.0%	16.5%	13.7%	29.4%	13.4%	15.3%
4: Strong influence	24.3%	25.4%	23.4%	26.1%	24.5%	22.1%
3: Moderate influence	31.8%	31.7%	32.0%	27.4%	32.2%	32.4%
2: Weak influence	16.7%	15.2%	18.0%	9.6%	17.3%	17.8%
1: Very weak influence	12.2%	11.2%	13.0%	7.6%	12.6%	12.4%
Total (N)	3,585	1,690	1,895	303	2,871	411

Facilities and resources available	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	3.73	3.73	3.73	3.90	3.73	3.62
5: Very strong influence	26.9%	26.5%	27.2%	34.0%	26.4%	25.1%
4: Strong influence	34.6%	34.7%	34.4%	34.6%	34.9%	32.5%
3: Moderate influence	26.9%	27.5%	26.5%	22.0%	27.4%	27.3%
2: Weak influence	7.9%	7.5%	8.2%	6.0%	7.9%	9.3%
1: Very weak influence	3.7%	3.8%	3.7%	3.3%	3.5%	5.8%
Total (N)	4,047	1,862	2,185	332	3,253	462

Location	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	3.67	3.75	3.60	3.74	3.66	3.70
5: Very strong influence	27.3%	30.7%	24.4%	33.1%	26.3%	30.4%
4: Strong influence	31.3%	31.0%	31.6%	26.8%	32.2%	28.8%
3: Moderate influence	27.3%	25.2%	29.1%	28.0%	27.4%	26.4%
2: Weak influence	8.7%	8.3%	9.2%	4.9%	9.1%	8.9%
1: Very weak influence	5.3%	4.8%	5.7%	7.2%	5.0%	5.5%
Total (N)	4,096	1,900	2,196	347	3,276	473

Recommended	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	3.45	3.47	3.43	3.24	3.49	3.32
5: Very strong influence	25.7%	26.1%	25.3%	23.5%	26.4%	22.4%
4: Strong influence	25.7%	26.6%	25.0%	18.7%	26.5%	25.3%
3: Moderate influence	25.8%	25.0%	26.4%	28.7%	25.5%	25.3%
2: Weak influence	13.4%	13.1%	13.7%	16.1%	12.8%	16.1%
1: Very weak influence	9.4%	9.2%	9.6%	12.9%	8.9%	10.8%
Total (N)	3,782	1,752	2,030	310	3,038	434

Pack promise program	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	2.57	2.66	2.49	3.41	2.41	2.80
5: Very strong influence	12.6%	13.4%	12.0%	34.8%	8.8%	17.6%
4: Strong influence	10.1%	11.7%	8.8%	14.6%	8.9%	13.9%
3: Moderate influence	27.1%	27.5%	26.7%	22.7%	28.1%	24.3%
2: Weak influence	21.8%	22.1%	21.4%	12.4%	23.5%	19.1%
1: Very weak influence	28.5%	25.3%	31.1%	15.5%	30.8%	25.1%
Total (N)	2,188	1,003	1,185	233	1,688	267

Cost	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	3.27	3.22	3.32	3.24	3.23	3.59
5: Very strong influence	21.0%	19.9%	21.9%	24.8%	19.7%	27.1%
4: Strong influence	22.7%	22.2%	23.1%	17.0%	22.3%	29.8%
3: Moderate influence	30.5%	30.3%	30.7%	28.8%	31.5%	25.2%
2: Weak influence	14.3%	14.9%	13.7%	16.4%	14.6%	10.7%
1: Very weak influence	11.5%	12.7%	10.5%	13.0%	12.0%	7.2%
Total (N)	3,954	1,823	2,131	323	3,174	457

Campus visit prior to orientation	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	3.36	3.53	3.21	3.73	3.34	3.16
5: Very strong influence	18.2%	22.9%	14.2%	34.8%	17.0%	14.6%
4: Strong influence	29.5%	33.0%	26.5%	27.2%	30.1%	27.0%
3: Moderate influence	30.8%	25.8%	35.1%	20.6%	31.9%	30.6%
2: Weak influence	12.7%	10.8%	14.3%	11.1%	12.5%	15.2%
1: Very weak influence	8.8%	7.5%	9.8%	6.3%	8.5%	12.6%
Total (N)	3,469	1,605	1,864	287	2,826	356

Size	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	3.00	3.10	2.91	3.11	2.99	2.98
5: Very strong influence	12.4%	14.1%	10.9%	16.6%	11.8%	13.6%
4: Strong influence	22.1%	23.4%	20.9%	21.1%	22.5%	19.8%
3: Moderate influence	32.0%	32.7%	31.3%	32.0%	32.0%	32.1%
2: Weak influence	19.9%	17.9%	21.7%	16.9%	20.2%	20.5%
1: Very weak influence	13.6%	11.8%	15.2%	13.3%	13.6%	14.0%
Total (N)	3,924	1,823	2,101	331	3,144	449

Publications from NC State	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	2.31	2.35	2.28	2.66	2.27	2.34
5: Very strong influence	4.7%	4.8%	4.7%	12.5%	3.9%	4.2%
4: Strong influence	10.5%	10.9%	10.1%	13.8%	9.9%	12.2%
3: Moderate influence	26.8%	28.3%	25.4%	26.3%	26.4%	29.8%
2: Weak influence	27.3%	26.4%	28.1%	21.6%	28.7%	21.4%
1: Very weak influence	30.8%	29.7%	31.7%	25.9%	31.1%	32.4%
Total (N)	2,549	1,213	1,336	232	2,055	262

Scholarships/financial aid available	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	3.04	3.09	2.99	3.91	2.90	3.27
5: Very strong influence	22.7%	25.3%	20.3%	47.5%	18.9%	28.0%
4: Strong influence	15.1%	14.1%	15.9%	18.5%	14.4%	16.7%
3: Moderate influence	23.7%	23.1%	24.2%	18.5%	24.2%	24.9%
2: Weak influence	20.4%	19.1%	21.5%	8.4%	22.6%	15.5%
1: Very weak influence	18.2%	18.4%	18.1%	7.2%	20.0%	15.0%
Total (N)	3,518	1,640	1,878	335	2,769	414

Contact with a faculty or staff member	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	2.53	2.52	2.54	2.60	2.51	2.65
5: Very strong influence	9.6%	10.4%	8.8%	10.4%	9.2%	11.4%
4: Strong influence	13.6%	12.7%	14.4%	16.1%	13.4%	13.5%
3: Moderate influence	25.4%	24.6%	26.1%	24.2%	25.2%	27.8%
2: Weak influence	23.3%	23.1%	23.5%	21.8%	23.5%	22.8%
1: Very weak influence	28.1%	29.3%	27.1%	27.5%	28.7%	24.5%
Total (N)	2,208	1,010	1,198	211	1,760	237

Acceptance into First Year College	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	3.87	3.99	3.73	3.75	3.91	3.74
5: Very strong influence	35.5%	42.4%	28.1%	36.5%	35.8%	31.6%
4: Strong influence	30.9%	28.1%	33.8%	20.8%	33.1%	27.6%
3: Moderate influence	23.3%	20.5%	26.1%	29.2%	21.5%	28.9%
2: Weak influence	5.7%	4.3%	7.1%	8.3%	5.1%	6.6%
1: Very weak influence	4.7%	4.6%	4.8%	5.2%	4.5%	5.3%
Total (N)	722	370	352	96	550	76

Contact with a current student	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	3.23	3.32	3.15	3.11	3.25	3.17
5: Very strong influence	18.3%	21.7%	15.4%	15.3%	18.5%	19.0%
4: Strong influence	26.0%	26.3%	25.9%	25.7%	26.6%	22.6%
3: Moderate influence	28.7%	27.2%	29.9%	29.7%	28.4%	29.6%
2: Weak influence	14.3%	12.5%	15.9%	13.3%	14.4%	14.2%
1: Very weak influence	12.7%	12.4%	12.9%	16.1%	12.1%	14.5%
Total (N)	3,217	1,493	1,724	249	2,610	358

Letter from outside Admissions Office	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	2.16	2.17	2.15	2.55	2.11	2.14
5: Very strong influence	4.3%	4.3%	4.4%	9.7%	3.6%	4.5%
4: Strong influence	9.1%	9.6%	8.6%	12.5%	8.9%	7.4%
3: Moderate influence	23.1%	22.3%	23.8%	30.1%	22.0%	24.7%
2: Weak influence	25.1%	25.8%	24.5%	18.1%	26.1%	24.7%
1: Very weak influence	38.4%	38.0%	38.7%	29.6%	39.4%	38.7%
Total (N)	2,166	1,040	1,126	216	1,707	243

Attendance at a College Fair	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	2.34	2.38	2.32	2.81	2.28	2.45
5: Very strong influence	5.6%	6.1%	5.2%	13.0%	4.3%	8.7%
4: Strong influence	12.4%	13.6%	11.3%	18.0%	11.7%	12.6%
3: Moderate influence	25.6%	24.5%	26.7%	28.0%	25.3%	26.0%
2: Weak influence	23.6%	23.7%	23.6%	18.5%	24.6%	20.8%
1: Very weak influence	32.8%	32.2%	33.2%	22.5%	34.1%	32.0%
Total (N)	2,142	1,002	1,140	200	1,711	231

Number of hours transferred/credited	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	2.23	2.24	2.22	2.30	2.20	2.45
5: Very strong influence	5.8%	5.3%	6.2%	7.2%	5.3%	8.5%
4: Strong influence	8.4%	9.5%	7.5%	7.7%	7.9%	12.4%
3: Moderate influence	24.3%	24.4%	24.3%	28.9%	24.1%	23.5%
2: Weak influence	26.3%	26.1%	26.4%	20.6%	26.7%	27.0%
1: Very weak influence	35.2%	34.8%	35.6%	35.6%	36.1%	28.7%
Total (N)	2,613	1,215	1,398	194	2,112	307

Contact with a graduate	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	2.95	2.93	2.96	2.77	2.98	2.81
5: Very strong influence	17.4%	18.3%	16.7%	19.0%	17.4%	15.7%
4: Strong influence	19.3%	18.0%	20.4%	12.8%	20.1%	17.7%
3: Moderate influence	24.5%	23.7%	25.2%	21.2%	25.1%	22.0%
2: Weak influence	18.0%	18.4%	17.7%	19.6%	17.4%	21.3%
1: Very weak influence	20.8%	21.7%	20.0%	27.4%	19.9%	23.2%
Total (N)	2,520	1,133	1,387	179	2,087	254

Campus recreation programs	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	2.95	2.93	2.96	3.18	2.92	2.93
5: Very strong influence	11.4%	10.8%	12.0%	18.9%	10.7%	10.9%
4: Strong influence	20.9%	21.4%	20.5%	21.1%	21.2%	18.7%
3: Moderate influence	34.2%	33.4%	34.9%	32.6%	33.9%	37.5%
2: Weak influence	17.7%	18.5%	17.1%	13.7%	18.0%	18.7%
1: Very weak influence	15.7%	16.0%	15.5%	13.7%	16.2%	14.2%
Total (N)	3,452	1,604	1,848	285	2,772	395

Other	NCSU	Women	Men	AfAm	White	Other
Mean Rating	4.15	4.47	3.91	4.29	4.20	3.65
5: Very strong influence	61.4%	71.0%	54.1%	57.9%	63.9%	44.2%
4: Strong influence	13.6%	15.8%	11.9%	21.1%	12.7%	14.0%
3: Moderate influence	13.1%	7.1%	17.6%	15.8%	11.8%	20.9%
2: Weak influence	2.8%	1.1%	4.1%	2.6%	2.6%	4.7%
1: Very weak influence	9.1%	4.9%	12.3%	2.6%	9.0%	16.3%
Total (N)	427	183	244	38	346	43

Back to Means by Gender/Ethnicity for Factors Influencing Attendance Decision
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For more information on the 2008 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: March, 2009

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