1998 First Year Student Survey:
Gender and Racial/Ethnic Comparisons
In Background Characteristics

(Report No. 4)

This report focuses on gender and racial/ethnic differences in the respondents' general background characteristics, including whether they expected to receive financial aid, information about their households, employment plans, and other personal information. Survey results for all respondents are provided in "1998 First Year Student Survey: All Respondents." For information about the survey and analysis methods, see 1998 First Year Student Survey: Introduction, Methods, and Student Demographic Profile."

Financial Aid | Parent/Guardian Income | Parent/Guardian Education Attainment | Household Dependents | Respondents' Home Community | Preparation for College | Religious Preference | Disabilities | Musical Instruments | Intended Work Community

Highlights

Gender Differences

There were relatively few noteworthy gender differences in the background characteristics of respondents to the First Year Student Survey. Women were more likely than men to come from low-income families, and to expect academic-based financial aid. More women than men reported being well prepared for college by their high school and on their own. Female respondents were also more likely than males to say they come from "moderate-size" cities. Finally, there were differences in the types of band and orchestral instruments played by male and female respondents.

Racial/Ethnic Differences

Racial/ethnic differences in the background characteristics of respondents were widespread. African American respondents� parents/guardians were less well educated, and had lower incomes than the parents/guardians of either white respondents or other minorities. African American respondents were more likely than whites or other minorities to expect financial aid, and in particular more likely to expect need-based and academic-based aid. African American respondents reported their parents supporting fewer dependents, and were more likely than either whites or other minorities to be the only dependent in their family currently enrolled in college.

Other minority respondents were much more likely than either African American or white respondents to come from more heavily populated areas. A majority of African American respondents were Baptist, while whites were somewhat more evenly distributed between being Baptist, Methodist and Catholic. Finally, white respondents were more likely than others to plan on seeking employment only in North Carolina after graduation.

Details

Financial Aid (Table 4-1)

Female respondents were more likely than males to say they expected all types of financial aid except athletic-based aid.

While more than half of both white respondents (54.4%) and other minority respondents (56.5%) said they expected to some sort of financial aid, fully 85 percent of African Americans expected aid. African American respondents were more than twice as likely as white respondents to say they expected need-based aid (60.6% and 28.0% respectively). Other minority respondents (35.9%) were also more likely than whites to say they expected need-based aid. African American respondents (38.0%) were also more likely than white respondents (29.0%) to say they expected academic-based aid.

Table 4-1: Financial Aid Received

Financial Aid (%)

All

Female

Male

Af. Am.

White

Other

Yes: Expect to Receive Financial Aid

57.8

59.7

56.4

85.0

54.4

56.5

Yes: Academic

29.7

32.7

27.6

38.0

29.0

25.3

Yes: Financial Need

32.0

33.6

30.9

60.6

28.0

35.9

Yes: Athletic

2.1

1.9

2.3

3.8

2.0

0.9

Yes: Other (dance, music, etc.)

1.2

1.7

0.8

2.3

1.0

1.4

Yes: Other

11.2

12.2

10.5

19.1

10.3

10.6

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Parent/Guardian Income (Table 4-2)

Female respondents were more likely than males to come from lower income families. Over 12 percent of female respondents (12.3%) said their parents�/guardians� combined 1997 income was $25,000 or less compared to 7.1 percent of male respondents.

Racial/ethnic differences were far more striking. African American students were almost six times more likely than white respondents to come from low-income families, and more than four times less likely to come from high-income families. Almost one-third of African American respondents (31.0%) reported their parents�/guardians� combined annual income as $25,000 or less, and just 5.4 percent said it was over $100,000. Other minorities reported slightly higher parent/guardian income, with 18.3 percent saying it was $25,000 or less, and 13.9 percent saying it was over $100,000. In comparison, just 5.7 percent of white respondents said their parents�/guardians� combined income was $25,000 or less, and 22.5 percent said it was over $100,000.

Table 4-2: Parents/Guardians 1997 Combined Income

Parents income (%)

All

Female

Male

Af. Am.

White

Other

$10,000 or less

1.8

2.4

1.4

7.1

1.0

3.3

$10,001-$15,000

1.8

2.6

1.3

7.4

1.0

3.3

$15,001-$20,000

2.3

2.8

2.0

7.4

1.4

5.6

$20,001-$25,000

3.2

4.5

2.4

9.1

2.3

6.1

$25,001-$30,000

3.8

3.8

3.8

10.4

2.7

6.7

$30,001-$35,000

4.4

3.4

5.0

5.4

4.1

5.6

$35,001-$40,000

6.7

7.2

6.4

7.7

6.2

11.1

$40,001-$50,000

9.1

9.0

9.2

9.8

8.9

10.6

$50,001-$60,000

12.6

11.3

13.4

8.4

13.1

12.8

$60,001-$75,000

16.3

15.8

16.6

13.1

17.3

8.9

$75,001-$100,000

17.9

15.9

19.2

8.8

19.5

12.2

$100,001-$150,000

13.0

12.5

13.4

4.7

14.6

6.7

$150,001-$200,000

3.5

4.2

3.1

0.7

3.8

5.0

$200,000 plus

3.5

4.5

2.9

0.0

4.1

2.2

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Parent/Guardian Educational Attainment (Tables 4-3 and 4-4)

Male and female respondents reported similar patterns of parent/guardian educational attainment. However, there were some striking racial/ethnic differences. The educational attainment of African American students� parents/guardians was much less than that reported by either whites or other minorities. Fathers/male guardians of African American respondents were more than twice as likely as those of white respondents to have a high school education or less (36.2% vs. 15.6%). Almost one-fourth of other minority respondents (23.1%) said their father/male guardian had a high school education or less. Both white and other minority respondents were almost twice as likely as African American respondents to say their father/male guardian had at least a college education (62.2%, 63.0%, and 32.2% respectively)

Racial/ethnic differences in mothers�/female guardians� educational attainment, while still significant, were not as widespread. Again, a majority of white respondents (54.7%) and 47.1 percent of other minority respondents said their mother/female guardian had at least a college degree, compared to one-third of African Americans (32.5%). Unlike the pattern for fathers/male guardians, however, African American respondents are less likely than other minorities to report that their mother/female guardian had less than a high school education (2.4% vs. 9.7%).

Table 4-3: Father/Male Guardian Educational Attainment

Father/Male Guardian Education (%)

All

Female

Male

Af. Am.

White

Other

Less than high school

2.7

2.5

2.9

6.3

2.2

3.9

High school grad

15.4

16.0

14.9

29.9

13.4

19.2

Some college/no degree

12.2

12.5

12.0

17.1

12.0

7.4

2-4 yr. associate degree

10.3

10.1

10.5

14.5

10.2

6.4

4-year baccalaureate degree

32.8

31.4

33.7

20.4

34.8

25.6

Some graduate or professional coursework/no degree

3.3

4.0

2.9

3.3

3.1

6.4

Masters degree

15.4

16.2

14.9

5.9

16.3

17.7

Doctorate or other professional degree

7.8

7.3

8.1

2.6

8.0

13.3


Table 4-4: Mother/Female Guardian Educational Attainment

Mother/Female Guardian Education (%)

All

Female

Male

Af. Am.

White

Other

Less than high school

1.8

1.8

1.8

2.4

1.1

9.7

High school grad

18.5

18.3

18.7

25.5

17.4

21.4

Some college/no degree

12.9

14.7

11.7

18.2

12.4

11.7

2-4 yr. associate degree

14.9

15.6

14.4

21.3

14.5

10.2

4-year baccalaureate degree

30.3

27.9

32.0

15.8

32.4

27.7

Some graduate or professional coursework/no degree

4.2

4.4

4.1

4.0

4.2

4.4

Masters degree

15.3

15.9

14.9

11.2

16.0

12.1

Doctorate or other professional degree

2.1

1.5

2.5

1.5

2.1

2.9

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Household Dependents (Tables 4-5 and 4-6)

Male and female respondents reported approximately the same numbers of dependents supported by their parents/guardians, and approximately the same number currently enrolled in college.

African American respondents were more likely than white or other minority respondents to come from families with few dependents. More than one-fourth of African American respondents (26.2%) said there were currently only one or two dependents, including themselves, being supported by their parents/guardians. Only 7.2 percent of other minority respondents, and 14.3 percent of white respondents reported this few dependents supported by their parents/guardians. Other minorities and white respondents, however, were less likely than African Americans to say they were the only dependent in their family currently enrolled in college (66.8%, 68.8%, and 74.1% respectively).

Table 4-5: Dependents in Respondent�s Household

Number of dependents (%)

All

Female

Male

Af. Am.

White

Other

One

4.4

4.0

4.8

7.8

4.0

4.8

Two

11.3

11.1

11.4

18.4

10.3

12.4

Three

23.2

23.8

22.8

26.8

22.7

23.9

Four

39.3

40.0

38.8

27.1

41.2

34.9

Five or more

21.8

21.1

22.3

19.9

21.9

23.9



Table 4-6: Household Dependents in College

Number of dep. in college (%)

All

Female

Male

Af. Am.

White

Other

Only self

69.2

68.9

69.5

74.1

68.8

66.8

2

27.2

26.9

27.3

19.9

28.0

28.3

3 or more

3.6

4.1

3.2

6.0

3.2

4.9

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Home Community (Table 4-7)

The size of communities from which respondents come varies somewhat by gender and race/ethnicity. Male respondents (21.6%) were more likely than females (14.0%) to describe their home community as rural. Female respondents (33.1%) were more likely than males (26.4%) to say they came from a moderate-sized city (the question defined a moderate-sized city as one with a population of 20,000-60,000). White respondents (19.7%) were more likely than either African American (14.6%) or other minority respondents (8.6%) to describe their home community as rural. Other minority respondents were the most likely to come from a large city (60,000-100,000) or urban area (over 100,000) (38.1%).

Table 4-7: Respondent�s Home Community

HS area population (%)

All

Female

Male

Af. Am.

White

Other

Rural area

18.5

14.0

21.6

14.6

19.7

8.6

Small town

26.8

28.6

25.4

28.7

26.6

25.2

Moderate city

29.2

33.1

26.4

32.2

28.9

28.1

Large city

12.8

12.8

12.8

13.7

12.4

17.1

Urban area

12.8

11.4

13.8

10.7

12.4

21.0

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Preparation for College (Tables 4-8 and 4-9)

There were both gender and racial/ethnic differences in how well prepared respondents thought they were for college. Women were more likely than men to say they were "well prepared" for college by their high school (40.9% vs 34.7%) and on their own (41.6% vs 33.0%). White and other minority respondents were more likely than African American respondents to say they were "well prepared" for college by their high school (37.2%, 46.5%, and 32.8% respectively), and on their own (37.6%, 36.3%, and 28.7%).

Table 4-8: Preparation for College by High School

HS prep for college (%)

All

Female

Male

Af. Am.

White

Other

Poorly prepared

11.3

9.5

12.5

12.5

11.4

7.4

Adequately prepared

51.4

49.6

52.7

54.8

51.4

46.0

Well prepared

37.3

40.9

34.7

32.8

37.2

46.5



Table 4-9: Preparation for College by Self

Self prep for college (%)

All

Female

Male

Af. Am.

White

Other

Poorly prepared

5.0

3.1

6.4

8.4

4.5

6.0

Adequately prepared

58.4

55.3

60.6

62.9

57.9

57.7

Well prepared

36.6

41.6

33.0

28.7

37.6

36.3

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Religious Preference (Table 4-10)

Male and female respondents reported similar patterns of religious preference. However, religious preference did noticeably vary by race/ethnicity. African American respondents were more likely than other racial/ethnic groups to say they were Baptist (54.5%) or an unspecified other religion (15.8%). Whites were more likely than others to be Methodist (16.7%). Whites and other minority respondents were more likely than African Americans to be Catholic (11.7% and 20.7% respectively) or Presbyterian (9.3% and 7.7%), and other minority respondents were more likely than either African American or white respondents to be Hindu (12.0%) or to express no religious preference (24.0%).

Table 4-10: Religious Preference

Religious preference (%)

All

Female

Male

Af. Am.

White

Other

Baptist

28.4

27.3

29.2

54.5

26.3

14.4

Catholic

11.3

12.8

10.3

2.2

11.7

20.7

Disciples of Christ

1.0

1.2

0.8

2.2

0.8

1.0

Episcopal

3.7

4.3

3.2

2.5

4.0

1.4

Hindu

0.8

0.4

1.1

0.0

0.0

12.0

Islamic

0.4

0.6

0.3

0.3

0.4

1.4

Jewish

0.8

0.7

0.9

0.3

0.9

0.5

Latter-Day Saints

0.6

0.4

0.7

0.0

0.7

0.0

Lutheran

4.3

4.6

4.0

0.3

5.0

1.0

Methodist

15.2

15.8

14.7

7.4

16.7

8.2

Moravian

0.5

0.4

0.6

0.0

0.6

0.0

Presbyterian

8.4

8.0

8.7

1.2

9.3

7.7

Unitarian

0.2

0.5

0.1

0.0

0.3

0.0

Other

8.9

8.7

9.0

15.8

8.1

7.7

No preference

15.5

14.4

16.3

13.3

15.1

24.0

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Disabilities (Table 4-11)

Too few respondents reported disabilities for meaningful analysis of gender or racial/ethnic differences.

Table 4-11: Disabilities

Disability (%)

All

Female

Male

Af. Am.

White

Other

Legally blind

0.4

0.4

0.4

0.0

0.4

0.9

Mobility impairment

0.1

0.2

0.1

0.0

0.1

0.0

Traumatic head injury

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.3

0.1

0.5

Hard of hearing/deaf

0.5

0.5

0.4

0.6

0.4

0.5

Learning disability/ADD

2.8

2.2

3.3

1.4

3.1

1.8

Psychological

0.5

0.7

0.3

0.3

0.5

0.5

Other

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.7

1.6

0.9

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Musical Instruments Played (Table 4-12)

Within the limited list of musical instruments respondents were asked about, there were widespread differences in those reported to be played by male and female respondents. Relatively more women than men said they played the following instruments: violin/viola (3.4% vs 1.6%), flute/piccolo (8.6% vs .6%), and clarinet/saxophone (10.8% vs 6.2%). Men were more likely than women to say they play french horn/trumpet/cornet (6.6% vs 3.4%), and trombone/baritone/euphonium/tuba (5.3% vs 1.0%). The only racial/ethnic difference in musical instruments respondents said they played was that African Americans were more likely than others to say they play clarinet/saxophone (16.5%).

Table 4-12: Musical Instruments

Musical Instrument (%)

All

Female

Male

Af. Am.

White

Other

Violin/Viola

2.3

3.4

1.6

3.8

2.0

4.1

Cello/Double Bass

0.9

0.8

1.0

1.4

0.9

0.5

Flute/Piccolo

3.9

8.6

0.6

4.1

4.0

2.8

Oboe/Bassoon

0.7

1.0

0.5

0.6

0.8

0.0

Clarinet/Saxophone

8.1

10.8

6.2

16.5

7.1

7.8

French Horn/Trumpet/Cornet

5.3

3.4

6.6

7.0

5.1

5.1

Trombone/Baritone/Euphonium/

Tuba

3.5

1.0

5.3

3.5

3.7

2.3

Tympani/Mallet/Percussion

3.6

3.1

4.1

3.8

3.8

1.8

Bagpipes

0.3

0.2

0.4

0.0

0.4

0.0

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Where Respondents Intend to Work After Graduation (Table 4-13)

While there were no gender differences between respondents in the general location where they said they plan to seek employment after graduation, there were slight racial/ethnic differences. One-fourth (24.4%) of white respondents said they plan on seeking employment only in North Carolina after graduation, compared to 16.7 percent of African American and 14.7 percent other minority respondents. African American respondents (36.7%) were more likely than white respondents (31.8%) to have said they plan on seeking employment anywhere in the USA.

Table 4-13: Intended Work Community

Location of future employment (%)

All

Female

Male

Af. Am.

White

Other

Anywhere

41.2

41.8

40.7

43.6

40.6

44.5

In North Carolina

22.9

22.4

23.3

16.7

24.4

14.7

Outside NC but in USA

32.4

32.2

32.6

36.7

31.8

34.1

Outside the USA

0.7

1.0

0.5

0.3

0.6

1.9

Will not seek employment

2.8

2.6

2.9

2.7

2.6

4.7

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For more information on the 1998 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: August, 1999

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