North Carolina State University
2011 First-Year Student Survey:
College Comparisons
Paying for College

This document reports college differences in how respondents say they plan to pay for college-related expenses, their experiences with the financial aid process, and what types of financial aid they are receiving. For information about the survey and analysis methods see "2011 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.

Sources to Cover Educational Expenses | Financial Aid | Satisfaction with Financial Aid Process

Q Sources to cover educational expense

Family resources (parents, relatives, spouce, etc.)	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	DUAP	PAMS
None	9.3%	8.6%	7.3%	13.2%	8.3%	10.1%	5.3%	8.3%	2.9%	9.2%	14.5%
Less than $1,000	11.6%	14.3%	12.2%	15.6%	9.7%	10.7%	10.1%	10.2%	7.2%	9.9%	12.8%
$1,000-$2,999	12.9%	12.2%	17.1%	12.3%	15.3%	13.2%	12.3%	18.5%	11.6%	12.4%	8.5%
$3,000-$5,999	13.1%	12.9%	18.3%	12.8%	13.9%	12.4%	14.5%	11.1%	11.6%	13.5%	14.5%
$6,000-$9,999	14.5%	15.9%	13.4%	12.3%	16.7%	13.8%	13.7%	13.9%	20.3%	14.9%	15.4%
$10,000 or more	38.5%	36.1%	31.7%	33.7%	36.1%	39.8%	44.1%	38.0%	46.4%	40.1%	34.2%
Total (N)	2,656	490	82	243	72	812	227	108	69	436	117

My own resources (savings from work, other income)	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	DUAP	PAMS
None	30.8%	29.0%	27.6%	29.8%	32.8%	32.7%	25.9%	39.8%	27.9%	30.3%	33.9%
Less than $1,000	41.6%	43.2%	46.1%	42.0%	31.3%	40.9%	43.1%	39.8%	50.0%	39.2%	45.5%
$1,000-$2,999	19.0%	18.3%	18.4%	18.5%	29.7%	17.9%	21.8%	16.5%	16.2%	21.1%	16.1%
$3,000-$5,999	5.4%	5.9%	3.9%	5.0%	4.7%	6.1%	6.0%	2.9%	4.4%	6.3%	.
$6,000-$9,999	1.3%	1.5%	1.3%	2.5%	1.6%	1.3%	0.5%	.	1.5%	1.0%	2.7%
$10,000 or more	1.7%	2.0%	2.6%	2.1%	.	1.2%	2.8%	1.0%	.	2.2%	1.8%
Total (N)	2,519	458	76	238	64	771	216	103	68	413	112

Aid that does not need to be repaid (grants, scholarships, military funding, etc.)	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	DUAP	PAMS
None	30.3%	27.7%	20.3%	27.9%	31.3%	30.0%	40.0%	32.4%	40.6%	32.6%	20.2%
Less than $1,000	8.2%	8.7%	2.5%	5.8%	6.0%	7.2%	7.9%	8.8%	5.8%	12.0%	10.9%
$1,000-$2,999	15.4%	15.0%	19.0%	14.6%	13.4%	15.9%	17.2%	8.8%	18.8%	15.9%	12.6%
$3,000-$5,999	12.0%	14.6%	8.9%	8.8%	10.4%	13.8%	7.4%	15.7%	8.7%	9.7%	15.1%
$6,000-$9,999	12.8%	13.1%	20.3%	14.6%	7.5%	12.3%	9.8%	13.7%	7.2%	12.5%	18.5%
$10,000 or more	21.2%	20.9%	29.1%	28.3%	31.3%	20.8%	17.7%	20.6%	18.8%	17.3%	22.7%
Total (N)	2,587	473	79	240	67	790	215	102	69	433	119

Aid that must be repaid (loans, etc.)	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	DUAP	PAMS
None	45.3%	44.0%	46.2%	38.2%	44.6%	47.0%	50.2%	37.9%	52.2%	44.2%	51.3%
Less than $1,000	3.8%	4.1%	1.3%	2.9%	1.5%	3.2%	3.8%	7.8%	3.0%	4.8%	4.4%
$1,000-$2,999	10.5%	12.0%	7.7%	9.5%	7.7%	9.8%	10.3%	10.7%	13.4%	11.9%	7.1%
$3,000-$5,999	25.3%	27.4%	25.6%	29.9%	32.3%	23.5%	23.0%	21.4%	19.4%	25.9%	23.9%
$6,000-$9,999	9.1%	6.6%	10.3%	12.0%	9.2%	9.4%	6.6%	12.6%	10.4%	8.8%	11.5%
$10,000 or more	6.1%	6.0%	9.0%	7.5%	4.6%	7.1%	6.1%	9.7%	1.5%	4.5%	1.8%
Total (N)	2,544	468	78	241	65	775	213	103	67	421	113

Other than above	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	DUAP	PAMS
None	92.5%	90.4%	96.6%	94.6%	84.0%	94.1%	95.1%	94.4%	86.8%	90.1%	94.4%
Less than $1,000	4.0%	4.2%	1.7%	3.0%	8.0%	4.0%	2.8%	4.2%	3.8%	4.9%	2.8%
$1,000-$2,999	1.6%	3.0%	.	1.2%	2.0%	0.8%	1.4%	.	3.8%	2.5%	1.4%
$3,000-$5,999	0.6%	1.2%	.	0.6%	.	0.3%	.	.	3.8%	0.4%	1.4%
$6,000-$9,999	0.5%	0.3%	.	.	2.0%	0.3%	0.7%	.	1.9%	1.1%	.
$10,000 or more	0.7%	0.9%	1.7%	0.6%	4.0%	0.3%	.	1.4%	.	1.1%	.
Total (N)	1,821	332	58	166	50	593	142	72	53	284	71

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Q Submission of FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

Self or parents/guardians submitted FAFSA	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	DUAP	PAMS
Yes	80.6%	84.5%	80.7%	87.2%	71.2%	82.5%	70.9%	77.5%	81.4%	76.1%	80.8%
No	14.4%	12.9%	12.0%	9.2%	17.8%	13.3%	20.4%	16.2%	12.9%	16.9%	16.7%
Don't know	5.0%	2.6%	7.2%	3.6%	11.0%	4.2%	8.7%	6.3%	5.7%	7.1%	2.5%
Total (N)	2,719	502	83	250	73	829	230	111	70	451	120

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Q Type(s) of financial aid receiving

		College/School
	NCSU	CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	DUAP	PAMS
Grants and scholarships	62.7%	63.3%	77.4%	64.3%	56.2%	64.0%	54.8%	59.6%	52.1%	61.2%	71.9%
Loans	48.4%	48.3%	48.8%	57.1%	47.9%	47.8%	44.3%	50.9%	45.1%	48.4%	41.3%
Other (VA benefits, ROTC, gifts from family other than parents, etc.)	13.0%	12.6%	7.1%	14.3%	15.1%	12.5%	15.2%	10.5%	11.3%	13.1%	18.2%
No financial aid at all	25.1%	25.1%	17.9%	20.2%	26.0%	24.3%	31.3%	28.1%	29.6%	25.7%	25.6%
Total (N)	2,748	509	84	252	73	835	230	114	71	459	121

Note: Respondents could select more than one type of aid.
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Q Satisfaction with financial aid process

Satisfaction with NC State financial aid process	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	Design	DUAP	PAMS
Mean Rating	3.11	3.05	3.30	3.11	3.19	3.12	3.15	3.19	2.93	3.10	3.21
4: Very satisfied	30.6%	27.4%	37.5%	30.6%	35.6%	30.2%	31.8%	33.3%	23.3%	30.7%	39.8%
3: Moderately satisfied	53.9%	55.3%	56.3%	54.2%	50.8%	53.8%	54.9%	55.6%	53.3%	53.3%	45.9%
2: Moderately dissatisfied	11.7%	12.1%	4.7%	10.6%	10.2%	13.5%	9.8%	7.8%	16.7%	11.6%	10.2%
1: Very dissatisfied	3.8%	5.1%	1.6%	4.6%	3.4%	2.5%	3.5%	3.3%	6.7%	4.4%	4.1%
Total (N)	2,228	430	64	216	59	676	173	90	60	362	98

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For more information on the 2011 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 2012

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