North Carolina State University
2009-2010 Graduating Senior Survey:
College Comparisons of Student Goals and Intentions
This document reports survey data on college differences in respondents' assessment of student goals and intentions while attending NC State. Survey results for all respondents are provided in "2009-2010 Graduating Senior Survey: All Respondents." For information about the survey and analysis methods, see "2009-2010 Graduating Senior Survey: Introduction, Methods, and Student Demographic Profile."
Goals and Objectives | Post-Graduate Plans | Time to Graduate | Withdrawal/Transfer from NC State
Goals and Objectives
Q Primary Goal/Objective| NCSU | College/School | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALS | CED | CHASS | CNR | COE | COM | COT | PAMS | ||
| Bachelors degree/certificate only | 16.4% | 9.9% | 24.3% | 16.8% | 25.9% | 20.0% | 14.6% | 18.6% | 16.1% |
| Prep. for grad/prof school | 39.9% | 60.5% | 22.9% | 45.0% | 14.8% | 27.5% | 29.9% | 27.9% | 60.7% |
| Prep. for new career/profession | 41.5% | 27.4% | 51.4% | 35.4% | 55.6% | 50.4% | 54.5% | 51.2% | 23.2% |
| Improve for current profession | 1.2% | 1.5% | . | 1.3% | 2.5% | 1.1% | 0.7% | . | . |
| Courses for personal interest | 0.2% | . | 1.4% | 0.2% | . | 0.2% | . | . | . |
| Other | 0.9% | 0.6% | . | 1.3% | 1.2% | 0.9% | 0.4% | 2.3% | . |
| Total | 2,081 | 463 | 70 | 531 | 81 | 550 | 268 | 43 | 56 |
| NCSU | College/School | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALS | CED | CHASS | CNR | COE | COM | COT | PAMS | ||
| Fully accomplished | 72.3% | 66.9% | 82.9% | 71.2% | 74.1% | 75.0% | 75.3% | 76.7% | 69.6% |
| Partially accomplished | 27.1% | 32.5% | 17.1% | 28.2% | 25.9% | 24.0% | 24.0% | 23.3% | 30.4% |
| Not accomplished | 0.7% | 0.6% | . | 0.6% | . | 1.1% | 0.7% | . | . |
| Total | 2,084 | 462 | 70 | 535 | 81 | 551 | 267 | 43 | 56 |
Q Likelihood obtain degree at UNC campus (among those in off-campus degree programs)
| NCSU | College/School | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALS | CED | CHASS | CNR | COE | COM | COT | PAMS | ||
| Mean Rating | 2.43 | 2.33 | 2.06 | 2.62 | 2.28 | 2.36 | 2.51 | 2.08 | 2.50 |
| 4: Very likely | 23.7% | 18.7% | 17.6% | 30.3% | 19.4% | 22.7% | 20.9% | 23.1% | 33.3% |
| 3: Probably | 27.4% | 30.6% | 14.7% | 27.5% | 27.8% | 24.9% | 34.1% | 7.7% | 16.7% |
| 2: Probably not | 17.5% | 15.5% | 23.5% | 16.4% | 13.9% | 18.0% | 20.2% | 23.1% | 16.7% |
| 1: Not likely | 31.4% | 35.2% | 44.1% | 25.8% | 38.9% | 34.3% | 24.8% | 46.2% | 33.3% |
| Total | 938 | 219 | 34 | 244 | 36 | 233 | 129 | 13 | 24 |
Post-Graduate Plans
Q Plans Following Graduation| NCSU | College/School | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALS | CED | CHASS | CNR | COE | COM | COT | PAMS | ||
| Have accepted a full-time paid job related to field of study | 10.8% | 7.6% | 17.1% | 3.5% | 17.3% | 18.4% | 15.3% | 4.7% | 3.6% |
| Have accepted a full-time paid job not related to field of study | 1.6% | 1.3% | 1.4% | 1.5% | 3.7% | 1.6% | 1.5% | 2.3% | 3.6% |
| Have accepted a part-time paid job | 0.4% | . | . | 0.6% | . | 0.4% | 1.5% | . | . |
| Will continue in my current paid job | 3.5% | 4.3% | 1.4% | 3.2% | 8.6% | 3.6% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.8% |
| Currently seeking, or plan to seek, paid employment | 42.1% | 32.0% | 65.7% | 42.9% | 48.1% | 42.5% | 49.3% | 44.2% | 30.9% |
| Going to graduate/professional school full-time | 24.4% | 34.8% | 10.0% | 23.7% | 6.2% | 22.2% | 18.7% | 23.3% | 45.5% |
| Going to graduate/professional school part-time and working part-time | 3.6% | 5.8% | 1.4% | 5.6% | . | 2.2% | 1.1% | . | 3.6% |
| Will take more undergraduate courses | 0.7% | 0.9% | . | 0.7% | . | 0.7% | 0.4% | 2.3% | . |
| Neither seeking employment nor planning on attending school | 0.0% | 0.2% | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| Military service | 1.5% | 0.9% | . | 2.6% | 2.5% | 1.5% | 0.7% | 2.3% | 1.8% |
| Volunteer activity | 0.8% | 0.4% | . | 1.9% | 1.2% | 0.2% | 0.7% | . | . |
| Starting or raising a family | 0.3% | . | . | 0.4% | 3.7% | . | 0.4% | . | . |
| I don't know yet | 6.1% | 6.5% | 1.4% | 8.0% | 4.9% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 18.6% | 5.5% |
| Other | 4.0% | 5.4% | 1.4% | 5.4% | 3.7% | 2.2% | 4.5% | . | 3.6% |
| Total | 2,085 | 463 | 70 | 536 | 81 | 550 | 268 | 43 | 55 |
Time to Graduate
Q Taken longer than 4 years to graduate?| NCSU | College/School | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALS | CED | CHASS | CNR | COE | COM | COT | PAMS | ||
| Yes, has taken longer than 4 yrs to graduate | 48.6% | 42.4% | 40.0% | 46.2% | 70.4% | 63.8% | 29.9% | 44.2% | 42.9% |
| Total | 2,083 | 460 | 70 | 535 | 81 | 550 | 268 | 43 | 56 |
| Reasons: | NCSU | College/School | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALS | CED | CHASS | CNR | COE | COM | COT | PAMS | ||
| Wanted/advised lighter courseload | 25.1% | 20.5% | 10.7% | 24.7% | 31.6% | 28.5% | 20.0% | 21.1% | 41.7% |
| Could not get classes needed | 19.5% | 18.5% | 10.7% | 21.9% | 28.1% | 19.4% | 13.8% | 21.1% | 20.8% |
| Changed majors | 40.8% | 50.3% | 71.4% | 53.8% | 63.2% | 20.2% | 37.5% | 52.6% | 45.8% |
| Lost credits when transferred | 20.2% | 27.2% | 7.1% | 27.5% | 19.3% | 11.4% | 31.3% | 0.0% | 20.8% |
| Co-op/intern/practicum/teach/etc | 19.3% | 4.1% | 32.1% | 6.9% | 28.1% | 39.6% | 5.0% | 5.3% | 4.2% |
| Financial reasons | 12.2% | 12.8% | 10.7% | 17.4% | 14.0% | 8.0% | 15.0% | 0.0% | 12.5% |
| Part-time for personal reasons (e.g., medical, family, etc.) | 9.3% | 9.7% | 3.6% | 15.4% | 5.3% | 4.6% | 13.8% | 0.0% | 20.8% |
| Took semester or more off for personal reasons | 15.2% | 13.3% | 17.9% | 25.1% | 12.3% | 8.5% | 16.3% | 10.5% | 25.0% |
| Double major/minor | 23.5% | 27.2% | 7.1% | 19.8% | 24.6% | 24.2% | 25.0% | 31.6% | 25.0% |
| Study abroad | 4.9% | 3.6% | 0.0% | 5.7% | 5.3% | 5.7% | 5.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Hours spent working | 22.3% | 24.6% | 14.3% | 30.4% | 26.3% | 15.7% | 25.0% | 0.0% | 33.3% |
| Other reasons | 14.5% | 13.8% | 25.0% | 13.0% | 15.8% | 14.5% | 11.3% | 15.8% | 25.0% |
| Total | 1,013 | 195 | 28 | 247 | 57 | 351 | 80 | 19 | 24 |
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Withdrawal/Tranfer from NC State
Q Ever consider withdrawal/transfer from NC State| NCSU | College/School | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALS | CED | CHASS | CNR | COE | COM | COT | PAMS | ||
| No | 78.7% | 78.1% | 75.4% | 70.1% | 71.6% | 86.5% | 82.3% | 81.0% | 83.3% |
| Yes, not seriously | 10.0% | 12.6% | 8.7% | 13.2% | 11.1% | 6.0% | 7.9% | 7.1% | 11.1% |
| Yes, seriously | 9.1% | 7.6% | 15.9% | 12.7% | 14.8% | 5.6% | 8.6% | 11.9% | 3.7% |
| Yes, left & returned | 2.2% | 1.7% | . | 3.9% | 2.5% | 1.8% | 1.1% | . | 1.9% |
| Total | 2,079 | 462 | 69 | 536 | 81 | 549 | 266 | 42 | 54 |
Q Reasons for leaving or considering leaving NC State (among those who considered leaving/those who left and returned)
| NCSU | College/School | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALS | CED | CHASS | CNR | COE | COM | COT | PAMS | ||
| Curriculum/program reasons | 33.2% | 32.7% | 29.4% | 35.0% | 26.1% | 33.8% | 29.8% | 25.0% | 33.3% |
| Poor advising at NC State | 2.3% | 0.0% | 5.9% | 2.5% | 0.0% | 5.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 11.1% |
| Poor academic performance | 6.1% | 7.9% | 0.0% | 6.3% | 8.7% | 5.4% | 2.1% | 0.0% | 22.2% |
| Class environment at NC State | 6.5% | 3.0% | 5.9% | 6.9% | 0.0% | 14.9% | 4.3% | 0.0% | 11.1% |
| Campus life | 25.3% | 23.8% | 29.4% | 26.9% | 30.4% | 18.9% | 29.8% | 37.5% | 22.2% |
| Diversity issues | 2.9% | 3.0% | 0.0% | 3.8% | 8.7% | 1.4% | 2.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Financial reasons | 7.7% | 11.9% | 0.0% | 8.1% | 17.4% | 4.1% | 2.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Personal reasons | 25.1% | 28.7% | 35.3% | 22.5% | 17.4% | 21.6% | 27.7% | 25.0% | 44.4% |
| Location | 5.2% | 4.0% | 11.8% | 5.0% | 4.3% | 6.8% | 4.3% | 12.5% | 0.0% |
| Non-academic opportunity | 0.7% | 1.0% | 5.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Wanted to attend different school/NCSU not first choice | 4.1% | 6.9% | 0.0% | 3.8% | 8.7% | 0.0% | 6.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Miscellaneous/Other | 4.7% | 2.0% | 11.8% | 5.6% | 8.7% | 2.7% | 6.4% | 0.0% | 11.1% |
| Total | 443 | 101 | 17 | 160 | 23 | 74 | 47 | 8 | 9 |
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Q Reasons for staying or returning to NC State (among those who considered leaving/those who left and returned)
| NCSU | College/School | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALS | CED | CHASS | CNR | COE | COM | COT | PAMS | ||
| Program at NCSU | 28.7% | 27.7% | 41.2% | 30.6% | 17.4% | 31.1% | 21.3% | 37.5% | 22.2% |
| Financial reasons | 9.3% | 9.9% | 5.9% | 11.3% | 4.3% | 6.8% | 6.4% | 25.0% | 11.1% |
| Personal reasons | 39.5% | 44.6% | 23.5% | 40.0% | 34.8% | 39.2% | 34.0% | 50.0% | 44.4% |
| NCSU/city environment | 18.5% | 12.9% | 17.6% | 20.0% | 13.0% | 16.2% | 29.8% | 50.0% | 11.1% |
| Hassle (lose credit hrs,etc.) | 16.9% | 18.8% | 11.8% | 17.5% | 17.4% | 12.2% | 19.1% | 0.0% | 44.4% |
| Didn't get into 1st choice/no better option | 2.5% | 1.0% | 5.9% | 5.0% | 4.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Need degree for job/graduate school/success | 7.4% | 9.9% | 5.9% | 5.6% | 13.0% | 5.4% | 6.4% | 0.0% | 11.1% |
| Miscellaneous/Other | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Total | 443 | 101 | 17 | 160 | 23 | 74 | 47 | 8 | 9 |
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For more information on the 2009-2010 Graduating Senior 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: November, 2010 Return to 2009-2010 Graduating Senior Survey Table of Contents Page Return to OIRP Survey Page Return to OIRP Home Page