North Carolina State University
2009 First-Year Student Survey:
Gender and Racial/Ethnic Comparisons
Background Characteristics
This document reports gender and racial/ethnic 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
| High school area population | NCSU | Men | Women | Asian Amer |
Black / AfrAmer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rural area | 15.4% | 17.6% | 13.2% | 7.2% | 11.3% | 11.9% | 16.7% | 13.4% |
| Small town | 27.7% | 27.0% | 28.4% | 24.3% | 27.3% | 28.4% | 28.7% | 18.9% |
| Moderate size city | 29.1% | 25.9% | 32.3% | 27.6% | 31.6% | 29.4% | 28.5% | 32.7% |
| Large city | 13.0% | 13.7% | 12.3% | 21.1% | 16.5% | 11.0% | 11.8% | 18.0% |
| Urban area | 14.9% | 15.9% | 13.8% | 19.7% | 13.4% | 19.3% | 14.3% | 17.1% |
| Total (N) | 3,022 | 1,531 | 1,491 | 152 | 231 | 109 | 2,313 | 217 |
| Number in household | NCSU | Men | Women | Asian Amer |
Black / AfrAmer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One | 1.9% | 2.3% | 1.6% | 4.6% | 4.4% | 1.8% | 1.4% | 2.8% |
| Two | 7.5% | 7.8% | 7.1% | 7.2% | 14.8% | 4.6% | 6.8% | 8.5% |
| Three | 18.7% | 19.3% | 18.1% | 12.5% | 22.3% | 17.4% | 18.8% | 18.8% |
| Four | 42.5% | 42.5% | 42.6% | 43.4% | 28.4% | 36.7% | 44.3% | 41.3% |
| Five or more | 29.4% | 28.1% | 30.6% | 32.2% | 30.1% | 39.4% | 28.7% | 28.6% |
| Total (N) | 3,004 | 1,510 | 1,494 | 152 | 229 | 109 | 2,301 | 213 |
| Number of dependents in college | NCSU | Men | Women | Asian Amer |
Black / AfrAmer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Only self | 64.3% | 66.0% | 62.6% | 63.8% | 65.9% | 70.6% | 63.5% | 68.9% |
| Two | 29.9% | 28.4% | 31.5% | 28.9% | 29.3% | 24.8% | 30.9% | 23.6% |
| Three or more | 5.8% | 5.6% | 5.9% | 7.2% | 4.8% | 4.6% | 5.6% | 7.5% |
| Total (N) | 3,007 | 1,516 | 1,491 | 152 | 229 | 109 | 2,305 | 212 |
| Parent's income | NCSU | Men | Women | Asian Amer |
Black / AfrAmer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 or less | 9.7% | 9.5% | 9.9% | 15.2% | 30.8% | 19.2% | 6.3% | 13.9% |
| $30,001-$50,000 | 11.3% | 11.2% | 11.5% | 16.6% | 19.5% | 19.2% | 9.5% | 14.8% |
| $50,001-$75,000 | 18.0% | 17.3% | 18.8% | 16.6% | 18.6% | 17.2% | 18.2% | 17.2% |
| $75,001-$100,000 | 20.9% | 20.9% | 20.8% | 19.3% | 14.9% | 18.2% | 21.7% | 20.6% |
| $100,001-$150,000 | 22.0% | 23.0% | 21.0% | 12.4% | 9.5% | 18.2% | 24.4% | 18.2% |
| $150,001-$200,000 | 9.9% | 10.3% | 9.6% | 11.7% | 4.5% | 5.1% | 10.8% | 7.7% |
| More than $200,000 | 8.2% | 8.0% | 8.4% | 8.3% | 2.3% | 3.0% | 9.1% | 7.7% |
| Total (N) | 2,847 | 1,459 | 1,388 | 145 | 221 | 99 | 2,173 | 209 |
| Father Education | NCSU | Men | Women | Asian Amer |
Black / AfrAmer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than high school | 2.6% | 2.5% | 2.7% | 8.9% | 6.4% | 14.4% | 1.3% | 2.9% |
| High school graduate | 12.9% | 12.6% | 13.3% | 9.6% | 20.1% | 10.6% | 12.7% | 12.0% |
| Some college (no degree) | 12.9% | 13.2% | 12.7% | 13.0% | 22.4% | 17.3% | 11.8% | 13.5% |
| 2-year associate degree/certificate | 9.1% | 8.2% | 10.0% | 4.8% | 7.8% | 10.6% | 9.6% | 6.7% |
| 4-year baccalaureate degree | 35.2% | 36.0% | 34.4% | 27.4% | 27.9% | 24.0% | 36.9% | 35.1% |
| Some graduate/prof. coursework (no degree) | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.9% | 2.1% | 4.1% | 1.0% | 2.8% | 2.9% |
| Master's degree | 17.5% | 17.9% | 17.0% | 17.1% | 10.0% | 18.3% | 17.9% | 20.2% |
| Doctorate or other professional degree | 6.9% | 7.0% | 6.9% | 17.1% | 1.4% | 3.8% | 7.0% | 6.7% |
| Total (N) | 2,951 | 1,488 | 1,463 | 146 | 219 | 104 | 2,274 | 208 |
| Mother Education | NCSU | Men | Women | Asian Amer |
Black / AfrAmer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than high school | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.1% | 7.2% | 3.3% | 18.2% | 0.8% | 3.0% |
| High school graduate | 10.9% | 11.2% | 10.5% | 14.5% | 12.9% | 10.1% | 10.7% | 8.5% |
| Some college (no degree) | 14.4% | 14.5% | 14.2% | 10.1% | 19.5% | 22.2% | 13.8% | 14.1% |
| 2-year associate degree/certificate | 13.5% | 12.4% | 14.7% | 10.9% | 20.5% | 9.1% | 13.1% | 15.1% |
| 4-year baccalaureate degree | 37.1% | 37.4% | 36.8% | 31.2% | 29.0% | 22.2% | 38.8% | 38.7% |
| Some graduate/prof. coursework (no degree) | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 0.7% | 1.9% | . | 4.1% | 2.0% |
| Master's degree | 15.1% | 15.4% | 14.7% | 20.3% | 12.9% | 17.2% | 14.9% | 14.1% |
| Doctorate or other professional degree | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.6% | 5.1% | . | 1.0% | 3.8% | 4.5% |
| Total (N) | 2,849 | 1,417 | 1,432 | 138 | 210 | 99 | 2,203 | 199 |
| First generation students | NCSU | Men | Women | Asian Amer |
Black / AfrAmer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First generation college student | 6.4% | 6.3% | 6.4% | 14.3% | 11.1% | 19.4% | 4.8% | 6.2% |
| At least one parent some college/no degree | 19.9% | 19.6% | 20.1% | 15.6% | 31.9% | 26.9% | 18.7% | 19.4% |
| Not first generation | 73.8% | 74.1% | 73.4% | 70.1% | 57.1% | 53.7% | 76.5% | 74.4% |
| Total (N) | 2,999 | 1,509 | 1,490 | 147 | 226 | 108 | 2,307 | 211 |
| Member of GLB (gay, lesbian, bisexual) community | NCSU | Men | Women | Asian Amer |
Black / AfrAmer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | 96.9% | 96.8% | 97.1% | 95.4% | 96.1% | 95.4% | 97.2% | 96.8% |
| Prefer not to answer | 1.7% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 4.0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
| Yes | 1.4% | 1.3% | 1.5% | 0.7% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 1.1% | 1.8% |
| Total (N) | 3,008 | 1,516 | 1,492 | 151 | 229 | 109 | 2,302 | 217 |
| Member of transgender community | NCSU | Men | Women | Asian Amer |
Black / AfrAmer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | 98.5% | 98.0% | 98.9% | 96.7% | 99.1% | 100.0% | 98.7% | 95.8% |
| Prefer not to answer | 1.0% | 1.2% | 0.7% | 2.0% | . | . | 0.9% | 3.3% |
| Yes - female to male | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.3% | . | 0.4% | . | 0.2% | . |
| Yes - male to female | 0.3% | 0.6% | 0.1% | 1.3% | 0.4% | . | 0.2% | 0.9% |
| Total (N) | 3,008 | 1,522 | 1,486 | 153 | 230 | 109 | 2,302 | 214 |
| NCSU | Men | Women | Asian Amer |
Black / AfrAmer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| African Methodist Episcopal | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 6.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Assemblies of God | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.9% | 0.0% | 1.6% | 0.9% | 0.5% | 0.9% |
| Baha'i | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| Baptist | 22.8% | 23.0% | 22.5% | 11.8% | 38.2% | 9.1% | 23.2% | 16.1% |
| Buddhist | 0.8% | 0.5% | 1.0% | 4.1% | 0.0% | 1.8% | 0.5% | 1.7% |
| Catholic | 12.4% | 11.0% | 13.9% | 8.9% | 2.4% | 38.2% | 12.4% | 13.5% |
| Charismatic | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.9% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| Christian Science | 1.0% | 1.2% | 0.8% | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 2.6% |
| Disciples of Christ | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 0.6% | 2.4% | 0.0% | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| Episcopal | 2.0% | 1.6% | 2.5% | 1.2% | 1.6% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 0.9% |
| Great Commission | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Hindu | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.0% | 14.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3.5% |
| Inter/Nondenomination | 5.1% | 4.2% | 6.0% | 2.4% | 13.7% | 9.1% | 4.3% | 3.9% |
| Islam/Muslim | 1.1% | 1.3% | 0.8% | 6.5% | 2.0% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 3.9% |
| Jewish | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.9% | 1.1% | 0.4% |
| Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.9% |
| Lutheran | 2.6% | 2.2% | 3.0% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 2.9% | 3.5% |
| Mennonite | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Metropolitan Church | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Moravian | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.6% | 0.0% |
| Native American Religion | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.4% |
| Nazarene | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| Orthodoxy | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.0% | 1.2% | 0.0% | 0.6% | 1.3% |
| Pentecostal | 2.0% | 2.1% | 1.9% | 0.0% | 8.4% | 5.5% | 1.4% | 1.3% |
| Presbyterian (PCA) | 1.4% | 1.2% | 1.6% | 1.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 1.6% | 0.9% |
| Presbyterian (USA) | 5.6% | 5.1% | 6.1% | 5.3% | 1.2% | 0.9% | 6.5% | 3.5% |
| Protestant | 2.8% | 3.3% | 2.3% | 1.2% | 2.4% | 4.5% | 2.9% | 3.0% |
| Quaker | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| Salvation Army | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| Scientology | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.4% |
| Seventh Day Adventist | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| United Church of Christ / Congregational | 0.8% | 0.6% | 0.9% | 0.0% | 2.0% | 1.8% | 0.6% | 0.9% |
| Unitarian Universalist | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.9% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| United Methodist | 11.8% | 11.1% | 12.5% | 3.0% | 0.8% | 6.4% | 13.8% | 10.9% |
| Wiccan/Pagan/Druid | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Agnostic | 4.6% | 5.0% | 4.2% | 6.5% | 0.8% | 2.7% | 4.7% | 6.5% |
| Atheist | 2.7% | 3.9% | 1.6% | 2.4% | 1.2% | 2.7% | 2.8% | 3.9% |
| None | 6.4% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 8.3% | 3.6% | 7.3% | 6.5% | 6.1% |
| Prefer not to answer | 6.8% | 7.2% | 6.4% | 10.7% | 8.4% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 7.8% |
| Other | 2.4% | 2.7% | 2.0% | 4.7% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1.9% | 3.5% |
| Total (N) | 3,237 | 1,649 | 1,588 | 169 | 249 | 110 | 2,479 | 230 |
Back to Top Q Musical instrument(s)
| NCSU | Men | Women | Asian Amer |
Black / AfrAmer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Play musical instrument(s) | 33.1% | 37.6% | 28.5% | 36.4% | 33.6% | 31.5% | 33.0% | 32.0% |
| Total (N) | 3,018 | 1,525 | 1,493 | 154 | 232 | 108 | 2,305 | 219 |
| NCSU | Men | Women | Asian Amer |
Black / AfrAmer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recent participation in choral group | 18.8% | 13.9% | 23.9% | 11.1% | 34.2% | 16.8% | 17.7% | 20.8% |
| Total (N) | 3,008 | 1,517 | 1,491 | 153 | 231 | 107 | 2,301 | 216 |
| Have personal computer | NCSU | Men | Women | Asian Amer |
Black / AfrAmer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes, a laptop | 91.9% | 89.7% | 94.2% | 87.1% | 85.8% | 87.2% | 93.3% | 89.4% |
| Yes, a desktop | 1.2% | 1.7% | 0.7% | 3.2% | 1.3% | 4.6% | 0.9% | 0.9% |
| Yes, both laptop and desktop | 4.4% | 6.6% | 2.2% | 6.5% | 3.4% | 3.7% | 4.4% | 4.1% |
| No | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.7% | 1.3% | 1.7% | . | 0.4% | 1.8% |
| Don't know | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.1% | 1.9% | 7.7% | 4.6% | 0.9% | 3.7% |
| Total (N) | 3,030 | 1,538 | 1,492 | 155 | 233 | 109 | 2,316 | 217 |
| Access the internet via mobile handheld device | NCSU | Men | Women | Asian Amer |
Black / AfrAmer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| More than five times per day | 13.8% | 14.3% | 13.2% | 12.3% | 23.8% | 15.6% | 12.7% | 14.4% |
| Several times per day | 14.0% | 12.5% | 15.5% | 16.2% | 15.2% | 11.9% | 13.5% | 17.1% |
| Once per day | 4.8% | 4.6% | 5.1% | 5.2% | 3.9% | 4.6% | 4.9% | 5.1% |
| Several times per week | 5.4% | 5.8% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 0.9% | 5.5% | 7.4% |
| Several times per month | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.6% | 2.6% | 3.5% | 3.7% | 3.6% | 2.3% |
| Once a month or less | 4.9% | 5.6% | 4.2% | 3.9% | 6.1% | 2.8% | 5.0% | 4.2% |
| Never, plan doesn't provide this/I don't use | 48.7% | 47.9% | 49.4% | 50.0% | 38.5% | 49.5% | 50.0% | 43.5% |
| Never, don't have handheld mobile device | 5.0% | 6.1% | 3.9% | 4.5% | 3.9% | 11.0% | 4.8% | 6.0% |
| Total (N) | 3,021 | 1,526 | 1,495 | 154 | 231 | 109 | 2,311 | 216 |
| Check email via mobile handheld device | NCSU | Men | Women | Asian Amer |
Black / AfrAmer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| More than five times per day | 10.2% | 11.1% | 9.2% | 9.1% | 16.5% | 15.6% | 9.4% | 10.3% |
| Several times per day | 12.7% | 11.9% | 13.5% | 15.6% | 14.3% | 7.3% | 12.3% | 15.0% |
| Once per day | 7.9% | 7.0% | 8.8% | 5.8% | 6.5% | 8.3% | 8.0% | 8.9% |
| Several times per week | 5.4% | 4.8% | 5.9% | 3.9% | 4.8% | . | 5.5% | 7.9% |
| Several times per month | 2.3% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 3.9% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 2.3% |
| Once a month or less | 4.8% | 5.2% | 4.4% | 3.9% | 7.4% | 7.3% | 4.6% | 3.7% |
| Never, plan doesn't provide this/I don't use | 51.5% | 51.5% | 51.6% | 55.2% | 41.7% | 49.5% | 52.9% | 45.8% |
| Never, don't have handheld mobile device | 5.2% | 6.1% | 4.3% | 4.5% | 4.8% | 10.1% | 5.0% | 6.1% |
| Total (N) | 3,002 | 1,517 | 1,485 | 154 | 230 | 109 | 2,295 | 214 |
| Send/receive text messages via mobile handheld device | NCSU | Men | Women | Asian Amer |
Black / AfrAmer |
Hispanic |
White |
Other / Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| More than five times per day | 71.3% | 64.8% | 78.0% | 42.6% | 83.7% | 69.7% | 72.9% | 62.8% |
| Several times per day | 13.8% | 16.0% | 11.6% | 21.3% | 7.7% | 12.8% | 14.3% | 10.7% |
| Once per day | 1.0% | 1.4% | 0.6% | 1.9% | 0.4% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 2.8% |
| Several times per week | 4.0% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 11.0% | 2.6% | 1.8% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| Several times per month | 2.6% | 3.5% | 1.7% | 7.7% | 1.7% | 2.8% | 2.2% | 3.7% |
| Once a month or less | 1.2% | 1.8% | 0.5% | 3.9% | 0.9% | 1.8% | 0.9% | 2.3% |
| Never, plan doesn't provide this/I don't use | 4.0% | 5.3% | 2.6% | 7.1% | 2.1% | 4.6% | 3.5% | 8.8% |
| Never, don't have handheld mobile device | 2.1% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 4.5% | 0.9% | 5.5% | 1.8% | 3.3% |
| Total (N) | 3,027 | 1,533 | 1,494 | 155 | 233 | 109 | 2,315 | 215 |
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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