North Carolina State University
2009 First-Year Student Survey:
College Comparisons
Background Characteristics

This document reports college differences in respondents' general background characteristics, such as home community and household size, parent/guardian education, and musical interests. For information about the survey and analysis methods see "2009 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.

Home Community | Household Characteristics | Parent/Guardian Income | Parent/Guardian Educational Attainment | First Generation Students
GLBT Community | Religious Preference | Musical Interests | Technical Capabilities

Q Home community size

High school area population	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
Rural area	15.4%	20.7%	14.3%	11.8%	21.2%	16.9%	13.0%	8.5%	8.3%	13.1%	10.7%
Small town	27.7%	27.6%	36.6%	32.9%	35.4%	27.1%	23.0%	27.1%	23.3%	23.6%	32.1%
Moderate size city	29.1%	30.1%	31.3%	27.3%	19.2%	26.8%	31.0%	35.6%	38.3%	29.5%	32.1%
Large city	13.0%	11.6%	8.0%	16.5%	7.1%	13.2%	15.3%	8.5%	18.3%	14.5%	9.3%
Urban area	14.9%	9.9%	9.8%	11.5%	17.2%	15.9%	17.6%	20.3%	11.7%	19.3%	15.7%
Total (N)	3,022	584	112	322	99	838	261	118	60	488	140

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Q Household size

Number in household	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
One	1.9%	1.0%	1.8%	2.2%	1.0%	1.7%	2.7%	2.5%	3.3%	2.1%	4.3%
Two	7.5%	6.7%	6.3%	8.1%	7.3%	8.1%	9.7%	10.2%	5.0%	6.4%	5.0%
Three	18.7%	20.7%	18.9%	14.6%	14.6%	18.2%	20.5%	13.6%	11.7%	20.7%	22.7%
Four	42.5%	42.9%	36.9%	41.9%	50.0%	43.8%	41.3%	42.4%	48.3%	39.8%	44.0%
Five or more	29.4%	28.7%	36.0%	33.2%	27.1%	28.2%	25.9%	31.4%	31.7%	31.1%	24.1%
Total (N)	3,004	585	111	322	96	829	259	118	60	483	141

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Q Number of parents'/guardians' dependents in college

Number of dependents in college	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
Only self	64.3%	68.2%	59.1%	64.3%	51.5%	65.3%	65.6%	56.4%	61.7%	62.0%	68.8%
Two	29.9%	26.6%	31.8%	29.5%	42.3%	28.8%	30.5%	35.9%	35.0%	32.4%	24.1%
Three or more	5.8%	5.2%	9.1%	6.2%	6.2%	5.9%	3.9%	7.7%	3.3%	5.5%	7.1%
Total (N)	3,007	582	110	322	97	832	259	117	60	487	141

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Q Parent/Guardian income

Parent/Guardian income	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
$30,000 or less	9.7%	9.8%	13.5%	10.9%	4.2%	8.8%	9.5%	8.2%	7.5%	10.8%	10.9%
$30,001-$50,000	11.3%	12.1%	13.5%	15.9%	9.5%	11.4%	7.4%	9.1%	1.9%	11.2%	10.1%
$50,001-$75,000	18.0%	22.3%	24.0%	16.2%	25.3%	16.7%	12.3%	19.1%	17.0%	15.8%	19.4%
$75,001-$100,000	20.9%	21.9%	24.0%	19.5%	23.2%	20.6%	16.5%	26.4%	18.9%	20.7%	21.7%
$100,001-$150,000	22.0%	16.9%	13.5%	21.9%	22.1%	24.8%	27.2%	22.7%	22.6%	22.4%	21.7%
$150,001-$200,000	9.9%	9.1%	7.7%	9.3%	11.6%	10.2%	12.3%	6.4%	20.8%	10.5%	6.2%
More than $200,000	8.2%	7.8%	3.8%	6.3%	4.2%	7.4%	14.8%	8.2%	11.3%	8.6%	10.1%
Total (N)	2,847	561	104	302	95	795	243	110	53	455	129

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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	2.6%	1.9%	3.6%	3.8%	3.1%	2.7%	2.3%	0.9%	.	2.9%	3.0%
High school graduate	12.9%	15.4%	21.6%	13.8%	16.3%	10.7%	12.8%	10.4%	3.4%	12.0%	14.2%
Some college (no degree)	12.9%	15.8%	11.7%	12.9%	17.3%	11.0%	13.2%	8.7%	5.1%	12.8%	17.9%
2-year associate degree/certificate	9.1%	10.5%	17.1%	9.4%	8.2%	8.5%	8.1%	7.0%	5.1%	8.6%	6.7%
4-year baccalaureate degree	35.2%	31.5%	27.9%	32.1%	32.7%	36.5%	38.4%	44.3%	44.1%	36.6%	35.1%
Some graduate/prof. coursework (no degree)	2.8%	2.5%	0.9%	2.8%	3.1%	3.5%	2.3%	2.6%	6.8%	2.7%	1.5%
Master's degree	17.5%	14.9%	10.8%	18.6%	17.3%	20.2%	17.4%	13.9%	23.7%	17.6%	14.9%
Doctorate or other professional degree	6.9%	7.5%	6.3%	6.6%	2.0%	6.9%	5.4%	12.2%	11.9%	6.7%	6.7%
Total (N)	2,951	571	111	318	98	811	258	115	59	476	134

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Mother Education	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
Less than high school	2.0%	1.3%	1.9%	1.9%	1.0%	2.0%	3.4%	.	.	3.3%	2.2%
High school graduate	10.9%	11.5%	19.4%	12.9%	13.5%	10.6%	8.9%	11.7%	3.4%	9.5%	7.4%
Some college (no degree)	14.4%	16.3%	14.8%	15.8%	15.6%	13.7%	11.9%	9.9%	11.9%	13.2%	18.5%
2-year associate degree/certificate	13.5%	15.6%	17.6%	14.5%	9.4%	11.4%	13.1%	18.9%	6.8%	12.3%	18.5%
4-year baccalaureate degree	37.1%	31.1%	30.6%	35.4%	37.5%	37.5%	45.3%	40.5%	45.8%	42.1%	31.1%
Some graduate/prof. coursework (no degree)	3.5%	3.9%	1.9%	2.6%	6.3%	3.1%	3.0%	3.6%	5.1%	3.7%	4.4%
Master's degree	15.1%	16.0%	11.1%	13.8%	15.6%	18.2%	9.7%	11.7%	20.3%	13.4%	14.1%
Doctorate or other professional degree	3.5%	4.3%	2.8%	3.2%	1.0%	3.6%	4.7%	3.6%	6.8%	2.4%	3.7%
Total (N)	2,849	557	108	311	96	782	236	111	59	454	135

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First generation students	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
First generation college student	6.4%	5.5%	11.6%	8.4%	5.1%	5.6%	6.5%	3.4%	1.7%	8.1%	5.1%
At least one parent some college/no degree	19.9%	25.4%	26.8%	22.1%	21.2%	18.3%	18.4%	17.9%	5.0%	15.1%	21.7%
Not first generation	73.8%	69.1%	61.6%	69.5%	73.7%	76.1%	75.1%	78.6%	93.3%	76.9%	73.2%
Total (N)	2,999	583	112	321	99	824	261	117	60	484	138

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Q Member of GLB (gay, lesbian, bisexual) community

Member of GLB (gay, lesbian, bisexual) community	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
No	96.9%	97.9%	100.0%	93.8%	100.0%	96.6%	98.1%	97.5%	96.6%	96.7%	95.0%
Prefer not to answer	1.7%	0.7%	.	2.5%	.	1.9%	0.8%	0.8%	3.4%	2.5%	4.3%
Yes	1.4%	1.4%	.	3.7%	.	1.4%	1.2%	1.7%	.	0.8%	0.7%
Total (N)	3,008	583	112	322	98	833	259	118	59	484	140

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Q Member of transgender community

Member of transgender community	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
No	98.5%	98.3%	98.2%	98.7%	100.0%	98.2%	98.1%	100.0%	95.0%	99.0%	98.6%
Prefer not to answer	1.0%	1.0%	1.8%	0.9%	.	1.0%	1.2%	.	5.0%	0.8%	0.7%
Yes - female to male	0.2%	0.2%	.	0.3%	.	0.4%	.	.	.	.	0.7%
Yes - male to female	0.3%	0.5%	.	.	.	0.5%	0.8%	.	.	0.2%	.
Total (N)	3,008	586	112	317	99	834	259	118	60	483	140

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Q Religious preference

		College/School
	NCSU	CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
African Methodist Episcopal	0.5%	0.2%	0.8%	1.2%	0.0%	0.4%	0.4%	0.0%	1.6%	0.4%	1.4%
Assemblies of God	0.6%	1.0%	0.8%	0.6%	0.0%	0.6%	0.4%	0.0%	0.0%	0.8%	0.7%
Baha'i	0.1%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	1.0%	0.0%	0.4%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Baptist	22.8%	26.3%	37.0%	19.7%	33.3%	20.2%	20.4%	23.8%	11.1%	21.3%	25.5%
Buddhist	0.8%	0.6%	0.0%	0.6%	1.0%	1.1%	0.7%	1.5%	3.2%	0.2%	0.7%
Catholic	12.4%	12.0%	8.4%	11.8%	11.4%	11.7%	15.8%	14.6%	23.8%	12.1%	11.7%
Charismatic	0.2%	0.2%	0.0%	0.3%	0.0%	0.2%	0.7%	0.0%	0.0%	0.2%	0.0%
Christian Science	1.0%	1.3%	1.7%	0.0%	0.0%	1.0%	1.1%	1.5%	0.0%	0.9%	1.4%
Disciples of Christ	0.6%	0.5%	0.0%	0.9%	1.0%	0.4%	0.4%	0.8%	1.6%	1.1%	0.7%
Episcopal	2.0%	2.1%	0.8%	2.6%	1.9%	1.8%	2.5%	4.6%	3.2%	1.5%	1.4%
Great Commission	0.1%	0.0%	0.0%	0.3%	0.0%	0.1%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.2%	0.0%
Hindu	1.1%	1.9%	0.8%	0.9%	0.0%	1.3%	1.4%	0.8%	0.0%	0.2%	0.0%
Inter/Nondenomination	5.1%	4.5%	3.4%	5.2%	2.9%	5.4%	3.6%	6.2%	11.1%	6.2%	3.4%
Islam/Muslim	1.1%	1.0%	1.7%	1.2%	0.0%	1.3%	0.7%	0.8%	1.6%	1.3%	0.0%
Jewish	0.9%	1.0%	0.8%	2.0%	1.9%	0.8%	1.1%	1.5%	0.0%	0.4%	0.0%
Latter-Day Saints (Mormon)	0.4%	0.2%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.6%	0.7%	0.8%	0.0%	0.4%	0.7%
Lutheran	2.6%	2.9%	5.0%	2.3%	1.9%	2.9%	2.2%	3.1%	1.6%	2.1%	0.7%
Mennonite	0.0%	0.2%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Metropolitan Church	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Moravian	0.4%	0.6%	0.0%	0.3%	1.0%	0.3%	0.4%	0.0%	1.6%	0.2%	1.4%
Native American Religion	0.1%	0.2%	0.0%	0.0%	1.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Nazarene	0.2%	0.0%	0.8%	0.0%	0.0%	0.4%	0.4%	0.0%	0.0%	0.4%	0.0%
Orthodoxy	0.6%	0.8%	1.7%	0.9%	0.0%	0.7%	0.0%	0.8%	1.6%	0.6%	0.0%
Pentecostal	2.0%	3.2%	6.7%	2.6%	1.0%	1.1%	0.7%	2.3%	1.6%	1.5%	2.1%
Presbyterian (PCA)	1.4%	2.6%	0.0%	0.6%	1.9%	1.4%	0.4%	0.0%	0.0%	1.7%	2.1%
Presbyterian (USA)	5.6%	5.3%	5.0%	5.5%	8.6%	5.4%	4.3%	4.6%	7.9%	6.8%	4.8%
Protestant	2.8%	2.7%	1.7%	3.5%	1.0%	2.8%	2.2%	1.5%	7.9%	3.4%	2.1%
Quaker	0.3%	0.8%	0.8%	0.0%	0.0%	0.2%	0.4%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Salvation Army	0.1%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%	0.0%	0.8%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Scientology	0.1%	0.3%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Seventh Day Adventist	0.3%	0.5%	0.8%	0.3%	0.0%	0.3%	0.4%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
United Church of Christ / Congregational	0.8%	1.1%	0.8%	0.6%	1.0%	0.8%	0.7%	1.5%	0.0%	0.2%	1.4%
Unitarian Universalist	0.3%	0.2%	0.0%	0.3%	0.0%	0.4%	0.4%	0.0%	0.0%	0.6%	0.7%
United Methodist	11.8%	12.5%	14.3%	9.8%	15.2%	11.3%	13.3%	14.6%	11.1%	11.1%	9.7%
Wiccan/Pagan/Druid	0.3%	0.0%	0.0%	0.9%	1.0%	0.3%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.2%	0.7%
Agnostic	4.6%	4.5%	0.0%	6.4%	3.8%	4.9%	4.3%	3.8%	7.9%	3.6%	6.2%
Atheist	2.7%	1.9%	1.7%	1.4%	0.0%	3.9%	2.9%	1.5%	0.0%	1.5%	11.7%
None	6.4%	4.7%	1.7%	6.6%	7.6%	8.8%	5.0%	2.3%	3.2%	7.0%	6.9%
Prefer not to answer	6.8%	6.3%	7.6%	8.1%	4.8%	7.2%	5.0%	4.6%	3.2%	7.7%	7.6%
Other	2.4%	2.1%	3.4%	3.5%	0.0%	2.1%	2.5%	1.5%	4.8%	2.5%	2.8%
Total (N)	3,237	623	119	346	105	897	279	130	63	530	145

Note: Respondents could select more than one category.
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Q Musical instrument(s)

		College/School
	NCSU	CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
Play musical instrument(s)	33.1%	33.2%	25.7%	33.7%	17.3%	44.9%	23.0%	17.8%	28.3%	26.6%	35.0%
Total (N)	3,018	581	113	323	98	829	261	118	60	492	143

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Q Choral group participation

		College/School
	NCSU	CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
Recent participation in choral group	18.8%	22.8%	29.2%	26.6%	14.7%	16.3%	9.6%	20.3%	14.8%	16.2%	20.9%
Total (N)	3,008	584	113	323	95	826	261	118	61	488	139

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Q Personal computer

Have personal computer	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
Yes, a laptop	91.9%	93.8%	91.0%	92.5%	95.9%	90.0%	95.8%	93.2%	83.6%	91.4%	88.7%
Yes, a desktop	1.2%	1.0%	.	1.9%	1.0%	0.4%	1.5%	1.7%	4.9%	1.8%	2.1%
Yes, both laptop and desktop	4.4%	2.7%	2.7%	3.1%	1.0%	8.7%	1.5%	3.4%	1.6%	2.9%	5.6%
No	0.6%	0.3%	1.8%	0.6%	.	0.1%	0.4%	.	8.2%	0.8%	1.4%
Don't know	1.8%	2.1%	4.5%	1.9%	2.0%	0.8%	0.8%	1.7%	1.6%	3.1%	2.1%
Total (N)	3,030	585	111	322	98	840	262	118	61	491	142

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Q Use of handheld mobile device

Access the internet via mobile handheld device	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
More than five times per day	13.8%	10.8%	15.2%	11.9%	18.4%	12.9%	15.8%	19.5%	13.1%	17.0%	12.1%
Several times per day	14.0%	14.8%	8.9%	13.8%	12.2%	12.8%	17.7%	22.9%	4.9%	13.9%	12.8%
Once per day	4.8%	3.9%	1.8%	4.4%	5.1%	5.1%	6.2%	5.1%	8.2%	5.1%	5.0%
Several times per week	5.4%	4.4%	8.0%	6.9%	5.1%	5.7%	4.6%	4.2%	4.9%	5.3%	5.0%
Several times per month	3.4%	3.9%	3.6%	3.8%	3.1%	3.5%	4.6%	1.7%	.	2.7%	4.3%
Once a month or less	4.9%	4.8%	6.3%	5.0%	3.1%	4.9%	7.3%	2.5%	3.3%	4.1%	6.4%
Never, plan doesn't provide this/I don't use	48.7%	52.7%	51.8%	48.8%	45.9%	49.9%	39.2%	42.4%	59.0%	46.2%	50.4%
Never, don't have handheld mobile device	5.0%	4.6%	4.5%	5.6%	7.1%	5.1%	4.6%	1.7%	6.6%	5.7%	4.3%
Total (N)	3,021	586	112	320	98	836	260	118	61	489	141

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Check email via mobile handheld device	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
More than five times per day	10.2%	7.9%	8.0%	8.2%	11.3%	10.7%	11.9%	17.1%	11.5%	10.7%	10.6%
Several times per day	12.7%	13.9%	11.6%	13.5%	13.4%	11.2%	14.6%	15.4%	3.3%	13.6%	9.2%
Once per day	7.9%	6.0%	4.5%	8.2%	9.3%	6.9%	11.2%	11.1%	8.2%	9.5%	7.8%
Several times per week	5.4%	5.3%	8.9%	6.0%	5.2%	4.2%	5.4%	6.8%	4.9%	6.2%	4.3%
Several times per month	2.3%	2.2%	3.6%	1.9%	2.1%	3.1%	2.7%	1.7%	1.6%	1.4%	1.4%
Once a month or less	4.8%	4.8%	5.4%	4.4%	6.2%	5.2%	5.4%	0.9%	3.3%	4.3%	7.1%
Never, plan doesn't provide this/I don't use	51.5%	54.7%	54.5%	52.2%	45.4%	53.0%	43.8%	45.3%	60.7%	48.8%	55.3%
Never, don't have handheld mobile device	5.2%	5.0%	3.6%	5.7%	7.2%	5.7%	5.0%	1.7%	6.6%	5.6%	4.3%
Total (N)	3,002	581	112	318	97	829	260	117	61	486	141

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Send/receive text messages via mobile handheld device	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	FYC	PAMS
More than five times per day	71.3%	71.1%	73.2%	73.5%	79.6%	64.2%	80.1%	82.2%	54.1%	77.3%	63.6%
Several times per day	13.8%	14.2%	12.5%	11.5%	12.2%	15.7%	13.0%	9.3%	19.7%	12.9%	15.0%
Once per day	1.0%	0.9%	.	0.9%	1.0%	1.2%	1.1%	.	1.6%	1.2%	1.4%
Several times per week	4.0%	4.6%	4.5%	4.7%	3.1%	4.8%	2.3%	4.2%	6.6%	1.4%	6.4%
Several times per month	2.6%	2.2%	2.7%	2.5%	1.0%	3.9%	0.4%	.	8.2%	2.2%	2.1%
Once a month or less	1.2%	1.2%	0.9%	1.2%	.	2.3%	0.4%	.	.	0.6%	0.7%
Never, plan doesn't provide this/I don't use	4.0%	3.1%	5.4%	2.8%	2.0%	5.7%	1.9%	2.5%	6.6%	2.9%	7.9%
Never, don't have handheld mobile device	2.1%	2.7%	0.9%	2.8%	1.0%	2.3%	0.8%	1.7%	3.3%	1.4%	2.9%
Total (N)	3,027	585	112	321	98	841	261	118	61	490	140

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For more information on the 2009 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: May, 2010

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