North Carolina State University
2006 First-Year Student Survey:
Gender and Racial/Ethnic Comparisons of
Educational Intent and Interests
This document reports gender and racial/ethnic differences in respondents' enrollment and general education plans. For information about the survey and analysis methods, see "2006 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.
First Semester Enrollment Status | Reasons for Less Than 15 Credit Hours | Time to Complete Degree | Intended Highest Level of Education | Goals and Objectives at NC State | Certainty of College Major | First Semester Employment Plans | Interest in Co-Curricular Activities
Q First Semester Enrollment Status| Enrollment status | NCSU | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 credit hours of classes or more | % | 88.1 | 89.9 | 86.6 | 85.8 | 88.5 | 86.6 |
| 12-14 credit hours of classes | % | 11.7 | 9.9 | 13.2 | 13.9 | 11.4 | 13.1 |
| Less than 12 credit hours of classes | % | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.3 |
| Total | N | 3626 | 1621 | 2006 | 296 | 2942 | 388 |
| NCSU | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Need to work | % | 18.1% | 20.2% | 16.7% | 11.9% | 17.8% | 25.0% |
| Courses unavailable | % | 10.2% | 14.1% | 7.8% | 9.5% | 10.1% | 11.5% |
| Want better grades | % | 52.3% | 53.4% | 51.7% | 40.5% | 54.4% | 48.1% |
| Advice of advisor | % | 9.3% | 11.0% | 8.2% | 14.3% | 9.5% | 3.8% |
| Did not need more courses | % | 7.2% | 3.7% | 9.3% | 2.4% | 8.9% | 0.0% |
| Participated in internship, co-op, practicum, etc. | % | 1.9% | 1.8% | 1.9% | 4.8% | 1.8% | 0.0% |
| Combination of courses | % | 17.4% | 17.8% | 17.1% | 9.5% | 18.6% | 15.4% |
| Family responsibilities | % | 1.6% | 2.5% | 1.1% | 2.4% | 1.5% | 1.9% |
| Other | % | 10.9% | 9.8% | 11.5% | 11.9% | 11.2% | 7.7% |
| Total | N | 432 | 163 | 269 | 42 | 338 | 52 |
Back to Top Q Number of Years Expected to Complete Degree
| Intended time to complete BA degree | NCSU | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 4 years | % | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 5.8 | 3.7 | 8.6 |
| 4 years | % | 76.4 | 83.3 | 70.8 | 75.4 | 76.8 | 73.6 |
| 4 1/2 years | % | 5.5 | 4.2 | 6.6 | 7.3 | 5.4 | 5.0 |
| 5 years | % | 11.3 | 6.0 | 15.5 | 8.8 | 11.7 | 10.1 |
| 5 1/2 years | % | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| 6 or more years | % | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Will not complete Bachelor's | % | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 2.4 |
| Total | N | 3820 | 1708 | 2112 | 329 | 3074 | 417 |
| Highest level of education planned | NCSU | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | % | 27.6 | 25.0 | 29.8 | 16.5 | 29.9 | 19.2 |
| Master's degree | % | 40.7 | 37.0 | 43.6 | 33.0 | 41.9 | 37.4 |
| Doctoral degree | % | 14.2 | 14.4 | 14.1 | 25.1 | 12.2 | 20.6 |
| Doctor of Veterinary Medicine | % | 4.5 | 7.6 | 1.9 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 3.8 |
| Medical degree | % | 8.6 | 11.3 | 6.4 | 11.7 | 7.4 | 15.1 |
| Law degree | % | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 9.2 | 3.8 | 3.8 |
| Divinity degree | % | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Do not intend to complete a degree | % | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Total | N | 3816 | 1706 | 2110 | 315 | 3084 | 417 |
| Goal/objective for attending NC State | NCSU | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA/certificate only | % | 8.4 | 5.9 | 10.4 | 6.1 | 8.7 | 8.3 |
| BA for school preparation | % | 54.3 | 61.2 | 48.9 | 59.5 | 52.8 | 61.8 |
| BA for career preparation | % | 32.0 | 29.1 | 34.3 | 28.2 | 33.7 | 22.2 |
| Improve for current profession | % | 2.6 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 3.5 |
| Courses for personal interest | % | 1.1 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 2.4 |
| Other | % | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 1.9 |
| Total | N | 3829 | 1702 | 2127 | 326 | 3079 | 424 |
| Certainty of college major | NCSU | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very certain | % | 28.0 | 28.6 | 27.5 | 31.7 | 27.8 | 26.7 |
| Certain | % | 42.8 | 40.7 | 44.4 | 43.2 | 42.9 | 41.5 |
| Uncertain | % | 23.9 | 23.9 | 23.9 | 20.8 | 23.9 | 26.2 |
| Very uncertain | % | 5.4 | 6.8 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 5.5 | 5.6 |
| Total | N | 3906 | 1743 | 2163 | 331 | 3148 | 427 |
| Semester employment | NCSU | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do not plan to work | % | 65.3 | 65.0 | 65.6 | 60.9 | 67.7 | 51.1 |
| Less than 20 hrs./wk. | % | 28.6 | 29.5 | 27.8 | 27.8 | 27.5 | 37.0 |
| 20 or more hrs./wk. | % | 6.1 | 5.5 | 6.7 | 11.4 | 4.8 | 11.9 |
| Total | N | 3717 | 1672 | 2045 | 299 | 3007 | 411 |
| Yes, interested in: | NCSU | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intramurals (basketball, flag football, golf, etc.) | % | 47.0% | 33.8% | 57.7% | 34.7% | 49.1% | 41.0% |
| Study Abroad/Student Exchange | % | 45.6% | 58.8% | 35.0% | 44.1% | 45.7% | 46.2% |
| Club Sports (cycling, baseball, martial arts, ultimate, etc.) | % | 44.1% | 33.6% | 52.5% | 30.2% | 45.5% | 44.5% |
| Fitness/Wellness (group fitness classes, yoga, pilates, etc.) | % | 39.0% | 58.6% | 23.3% | 38.4% | 39.1% | 38.7% |
| Indoor recreation (cardio room, weights, basketball, etc.) | % | 37.6% | 29.6% | 44.0% | 29.6% | 38.6% | 36.4% |
| Outdoor adventures (trips, equipment checkout, rock climbing workshops, etc.) | % | 33.2% | 27.7% | 37.7% | 14.5% | 35.8% | 28.9% |
| Volunteer Services | % | 27.1% | 42.1% | 15.0% | 34.4% | 25.3% | 34.7% |
| Co-op program | % | 26.2% | 16.6% | 33.9% | 24.2% | 26.6% | 24.9% |
| Social Fraternity/Sorority | % | 26.2% | 34.2% | 19.8% | 41.4% | 25.2% | 22.1% |
| Theater participation as audience | % | 16.6% | 23.0% | 11.5% | 11.5% | 17.3% | 15.6% |
| Student Government | % | 15.1% | 19.7% | 11.4% | 30.2% | 13.2% | 17.2% |
| Music minor, bands, choirs, orchestras, chamber music, bagpipes, drums | % | 14.5% | 15.1% | 14.0% | 19.6% | 14.1% | 13.1% |
| Student Leadership Development (workshops, conferences, etc.) | % | 13.1% | 17.1% | 9.9% | 21.5% | 11.8% | 16.8% |
| Attending art exhibitions, meeting artists, museum internships | % | 11.4% | 17.0% | 6.9% | 11.8% | 11.2% | 12.4% |
| Multicultural/diversity programs/activities | % | 11.1% | 16.6% | 6.7% | 46.8% | 5.0% | 28.7% |
| Student Media/Publications | % | 9.6% | 11.8% | 7.7% | 14.8% | 8.5% | 13.5% |
| Residence Hall Councils | % | 9.5% | 13.2% | 6.5% | 22.1% | 7.8% | 12.6% |
| Healthy lifestyles issues (stress management, sexuality, substance abuse, etc.) | % | 8.6% | 13.2% | 4.9% | 13.9% | 7.8% | 10.3% |
| Theater participation as artist | % | 7.8% | 9.6% | 6.3% | 13.0% | 7.1% | 8.6% |
| Crafts center programs/activities | % | 7.7% | 13.9% | 2.7% | 6.3% | 7.3% | 11.7% |
| Student Dance Companies | % | 6.9% | 14.1% | 1.0% | 15.4% | 6.0% | 6.3% |
| UAB programs/activities (cultural programs, concerts, etc.) | % | 6.5% | 10.3% | 3.4% | 11.5% | 4.8% | 14.7% |
| Pre-Law services/planning | % | 5.5% | 5.9% | 5.2% | 9.4% | 5.0% | 6.1% |
| Planning programs/services for children and families | % | 4.9% | 9.2% | 1.5% | 9.1% | 4.3% | 6.1% |
| Student Judicial Board | % | 3.5% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 7.3% | 3.1% | 3.0% |
| ROTC | % | 3.5% | 1.7% | 4.9% | 2.4% | 3.3% | 5.6% |
| Gender issues (gender communication, sexual assault, domestic violence, etc.) | % | 3.5% | 6.1% | 1.4% | 11.5% | 2.6% | 3.5% |
| Total | N | 3920 | 1748 | 2172 | 331 | 3160 | 429 |
Back to Top NC State Co-Curricular Programs/activities (Rank Order of Interest)
| NCSU | Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intramurals (basketball, flag football, golf, etc.) | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| Study Abroad/Student Exchange | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Club Sports (cycling, baseball, martial arts, ultimate, etc.) | 3 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 2 |
| Fitness/Wellness (group fitness classes, yoga, pilates, etc.) | 4 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Indoor recreation (cardio room, weights, basketball, etc.) | 5 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 5 |
| Outdoor adventures (trips, equipment checkout, rock climbing workshops, etc.) | 6 | 8 | 4 | 16 | 6 | 7 |
| Volunteer Services | 7 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| Social Fraternity/Sorority | 8 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 10 |
| Co-op program | 9 | 13 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Theater participation as audience | 10 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 10 | 13 |
| Student Government | 11 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 11 |
| Music minor, bands, choirs, orchestras, chamber music, bagpipes, drums | 12 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 16 |
| Student Leadership Development (workshops, conferences, etc.) | 13 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 |
| Attending art exhibitions, meeting artists, museum internships | 14 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 14 | 18 |
| Multicultural/diversity programs/activities | 15 | 14 | 16 | 1 | 22 | 8 |
| Student Media/Publications | 16 | 20 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Residence Hall Councils | 17 | 19 | 17 | 11 | 17 | 17 |
| Healthy lifestyles issues (stress management, sexuality, substance abuse, etc.) | 18 | 18 | 21 | 17 | 16 | 20 |
| Theater participation as artist | 19 | 22 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 21 |
| Crafts center programs/activities | 20 | 17 | 24 | 26 | 18 | 19 |
| Student Dance Companies | 21 | 16 | 27 | 14 | 20 | 22 |
| UAB programs/activities (cultural programs, concerts, etc.) | 22 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 14 |
| Pre-Law services/planning | 23 | 25 | 19 | 23 | 21 | 23 |
| Planning programs/services for children and families | 24 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 |
| Gender issues (gender communication, sexual assault, domestic violence, etc.) | 25 | 24 | 26 | 20 | 27 | 26 |
| Student Judicial Board | 25 | 26 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| ROTC | 25 | 27 | 20 | 27 | 25 | 25 |
| Women | Men | AfAm | White | Other | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % in Survey Population | % | 44.0 | 56.0 | 8.4 | 80.8 | 10.7 |
| Student government (N=592) | % | 58.3 | 41.7 | 16.9 | 70.6 | 12.5 |
| Student judicial board (N=136) | % | 40.4 | 59.6 | 17.6 | 72.8 | 9.6 |
| Residence hall council (N=372) | % | 61.8 | 38.2 | 19.6 | 65.9 | 14.5 |
| Student leadership program (N=515) | % | 58.1 | 41.9 | 13.8 | 72.2 | 14.0 |
| Co-op program (N=1,027) | % | 28.3 | 71.7 | 7.8 | 81.8 | 10.4 |
| Study abroad/student exchange (N=1,788) | % | 57.5 | 42.5 | 8.2 | 80.8 | 11.1 |
| Volunteer services (N=1,062) | % | 69.3 | 30.7 | 10.7 | 75.2 | 14.0 |
| ROTC (N=136) | % | 21.3 | 78.7 | 5.9 | 76.5 | 17.6 |
| Club sports (N=1,728) | % | 34.0 | 66.0 | 5.8 | 83.2 | 11.1 |
| Fitness (N=1,530) | % | 66.9 | 33.1 | 8.3 | 80.8 | 10.8 |
| Indoor recreation (N=1,473) | % | 35.2 | 64.8 | 6.7 | 82.8 | 10.6 |
| Intramurals (N=1,844) | % | 32.0 | 68.0 | 6.2 | 84.2 | 9.5 |
| Outdoor adventures (N=1,303) | % | 37.2 | 62.8 | 3.7 | 86.8 | 9.5 |
| Social fraternity/sorority (N=1,028) | % | 58.1 | 41.9 | 13.3 | 77.4 | 9.2 |
| Student Publications/Media (N=375) | % | 55.2 | 44.8 | 13.1 | 71.5 | 15.5 |
| UAB programs/activities (N=254) | % | 70.9 | 29.1 | 15.0 | 60.2 | 24.8 |
| Multicultural/diversity progs (N=436) | % | 66.5 | 33.5 | 35.6 | 36.2 | 28.2 |
| Gender issues (N=136) | % | 77.9 | 22.1 | 27.9 | 61.0 | 11.0 |
| Healthy-life issues (N=337) | % | 68.5 | 31.5 | 13.6 | 73.3 | 13.1 |
| Planning programs/services (N=192) | % | 83.3 | 16.7 | 15.6 | 70.8 | 13.5 |
| Crafts center programs/classes (N=301) | % | 80.7 | 19.3 | 7.0 | 76.4 | 16.6 |
| Musical interests (N=567) | % | 46.6 | 53.4 | 11.5 | 78.7 | 9.9 |
| Art exhibitions (N=447) | % | 66.4 | 33.6 | 8.7 | 79.4 | 11.9 |
| Theater as artist (N=304) | % | 55.3 | 44.7 | 14.1 | 73.7 | 12.2 |
| Theater as audience (N=652) | % | 61.7 | 38.3 | 5.8 | 83.9 | 10.3 |
| Student dance company (N=269) | % | 91.8 | 8.2 | 19.0 | 71.0 | 10.0 |
| Pre-Law services/planning (N=216) | % | 48.1 | 51.9 | 14.4 | 73.6 | 12.0 |
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: February, 2007
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