North Carolina State University
2012 Incoming Freshmen 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 "2012 Incoming Freshmen 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	DASA	Design	PAMS
None	9.2%	11.1%	16.0%	8.4%	6.6%	10.1%	5.6%	8.3%	7.9%	4.2%	11.3%
Less than $1,000	12.9%	12.6%	14.0%	16.8%	14.8%	13.6%	7.7%	7.3%	13.9%	14.6%	12.4%
$1,000-$2,999	12.3%	13.3%	14.0%	17.6%	11.5%	11.9%	9.2%	13.5%	11.7%	2.1%	15.5%
$3,000-$5,999	12.7%	12.3%	12.0%	13.7%	21.3%	11.5%	14.9%	11.5%	13.4%	6.3%	13.4%
$6,000-$9,999	13.0%	15.7%	10.0%	14.5%	13.1%	13.2%	11.3%	8.3%	12.2%	6.3%	15.5%
$10,000 or more	39.9%	35.0%	34.0%	29.0%	32.8%	39.7%	51.3%	51.0%	40.9%	66.7%	32.0%
Total (N)	2,155	414	50	131	61	645	195	96	418	48	97

My own resources (savings from work, other income)	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	DASA	Design	PAMS
None	29.3%	32.3%	31.3%	22.6%	30.0%	30.5%	24.9%	30.6%	29.0%	29.2%	25.0%
Less than $1,000	42.9%	40.9%	50.0%	41.9%	35.0%	43.8%	41.6%	49.4%	41.4%	45.8%	50.0%
$1,000-$2,999	19.6%	20.1%	10.4%	26.6%	25.0%	17.7%	22.7%	15.3%	19.5%	18.8%	19.8%
$3,000-$5,999	5.2%	4.9%	6.3%	5.6%	5.0%	4.5%	7.0%	1.2%	6.9%	2.1%	4.2%
$6,000-$9,999	1.7%	0.5%	2.1%	2.4%	3.3%	2.1%	2.2%	.	2.1%	.	1.0%
$10,000 or more	1.4%	1.3%	.	0.8%	1.7%	1.4%	1.6%	3.5%	1.0%	4.2%	.
Total (N)	2,045	384	48	124	60	626	185	85	389	48	96

Aid that does not need to be repaid (grants, scholarships, military funding, etc.)	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	DASA	Design	PAMS
None	27.6%	20.2%	18.4%	27.3%	18.3%	28.4%	35.8%	33.0%	31.9%	28.6%	22.6%
Less than $1,000	7.9%	9.0%	12.2%	3.9%	8.3%	6.7%	9.1%	9.1%	7.5%	10.2%	11.8%
$1,000-$2,999	17.5%	19.2%	24.5%	15.6%	16.7%	17.7%	18.2%	17.0%	14.5%	26.5%	17.2%
$3,000-$5,999	13.4%	15.3%	10.2%	18.8%	11.7%	12.8%	8.6%	15.9%	13.5%	16.3%	9.7%
$6,000-$9,999	9.5%	10.2%	6.1%	8.6%	20.0%	9.1%	8.6%	5.7%	9.5%	8.2%	12.9%
$10,000 or more	24.1%	26.1%	28.6%	25.8%	25.0%	25.3%	19.8%	19.3%	23.2%	10.2%	25.8%
Total (N)	2,086	391	49	128	60	640	187	88	401	49	93

Aid that must be repaid (loans, etc.)	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	DASA	Design	PAMS
None	46.3%	42.6%	35.4%	35.4%	41.4%	53.4%	45.1%	46.0%	43.3%	61.7%	45.2%
Less than $1,000	4.1%	4.1%	6.3%	3.9%	5.2%	2.7%	6.5%	3.4%	5.1%	.	6.5%
$1,000-$2,999	10.1%	10.3%	12.5%	8.7%	12.1%	9.0%	8.2%	11.5%	10.9%	12.8%	15.1%
$3,000-$5,999	22.8%	24.9%	29.2%	34.6%	22.4%	20.5%	21.2%	23.0%	23.7%	10.6%	16.1%
$6,000-$9,999	9.6%	9.5%	6.3%	9.4%	12.1%	9.5%	10.9%	9.2%	8.4%	10.6%	12.9%
$10,000 or more	7.1%	8.7%	10.4%	7.9%	6.9%	5.0%	8.2%	6.9%	8.7%	4.3%	4.3%
Total (N)	2,051	390	48	127	58	624	184	87	393	47	93

Other than above	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	DASA	Design	PAMS
None	94.2%	93.8%	88.4%	90.2%	88.6%	95.4%	92.1%	93.7%	95.5%	100.0%	95.7%
Less than $1,000	2.6%	2.6%	2.3%	2.2%	5.7%	2.5%	4.8%	1.6%	2.1%	.	2.9%
$1,000-$2,999	1.4%	1.1%	4.7%	2.2%	2.9%	1.3%	2.4%	.	1.2%	.	1.4%
$3,000-$5,999	0.5%	0.7%	.	1.1%	.	0.2%	0.8%	1.6%	0.8%	.	.
$6,000-$9,999	0.6%	0.7%	2.3%	4.3%	2.9%	0.2%	.	.	.	.	.
$10,000 or more	0.6%	1.1%	2.3%	.	.	0.4%	.	3.2%	0.4%	.	.
Total (N)	1,455	272	43	92	35	477	126	63	243	35	69

Back to Top

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

	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	DASA	Design	PAMS
Yes	82.6%	87.5%	86.0%	85.9%	86.7%	83.2%	75.8%	73.5%	80.3%	75.5%	84.8%
No	12.8%	9.2%	8.0%	11.9%	13.3%	12.1%	19.2%	22.4%	12.9%	18.4%	10.1%
Don't know	4.7%	3.3%	6.0%	2.2%	.	4.7%	5.1%	4.1%	6.8%	6.1%	5.1%
Total (N)	2,192	423	50	135	60	654	198	98	426	49	99

Back to Top

Q Type(s) of financial aid receiving

		College/School
	NCSU	CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	DASA	Design	PAMS
Grants and scholarships	64.8%	70.4%	84.0%	71.1%	75.8%	64.9%	52.0%	59.2%	59.3%	65.3%	70.7%
Loans	48.3%	52.0%	54.0%	58.5%	53.2%	44.9%	44.0%	44.9%	48.5%	40.8%	49.5%
Other (VA benefits, ROTC, gifts from family other than parents, etc.)	13.6%	15.1%	14.0%	19.3%	22.6%	12.8%	11.0%	14.3%	12.9%	12.2%	7.1%
No financial aid at all	22.6%	18.9%	8.0%	14.8%	12.9%	23.4%	29.5%	26.5%	27.6%	26.5%	16.2%
Total (N)	2,198	423	50	135	62	655	200	98	427	49	99

Note: Respondents could select more than one type of aid.
Back to Top

Q Satisfaction with financial aid process

	NCSU	College/School
		CALS	CED	CHASS	CNR	COE	COM	COT	DASA	Design	PAMS
Mean Rating	3.10	3.05	3.09	3.12	3.29	3.08	3.05	3.11	3.14	2.97	3.27
4: Very satisfied	29.3%	28.4%	28.9%	29.2%	40.4%	27.9%	27.3%	30.6%	30.6%	16.2%	40.0%
3: Moderately satisfied	55.3%	54.5%	53.3%	56.6%	50.0%	56.3%	54.7%	54.2%	55.9%	67.6%	49.4%
2: Moderately dissatisfied	11.2%	11.0%	15.6%	11.5%	7.7%	11.6%	13.7%	11.1%	9.9%	13.5%	8.2%
1: Very dissatisfied	4.2%	6.1%	2.2%	2.7%	1.9%	4.2%	4.3%	4.2%	3.6%	2.7%	2.4%
Total (N)	1,806	363	45	113	52	545	161	72	333	37	85

Back to Top

For more information on the 2012 Incoming Freshmen 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: October 2012

Return to 2012 Incoming Freshmen Survey Table of Contents Page

Return to OIRP Survey Page

Return to OIRP Home Page