North Carolina State University
2009-2010 Graduating Senior Survey:
Gender and Racial/Ethnic Comparisons of
Student Goals and Intentions

This document reports survey data on gender and racial/ethnic 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 for attending NC State

	NCSU	Men	Women	Asian Amer	Black / Afr Amer	Hispanic	White	Other / Unknown
Bachelors degree/certificate only	16.4%	19.1%	13.5%	10.3%	14.2%	9.5%	17.2%	14.5%
Prep. for grad/prof school	39.9%	32.8%	47.7%	59.8%	44.8%	42.9%	38.0%	44.7%
Prep. for new career/profession	41.5%	45.5%	37.1%	27.1%	39.6%	47.6%	42.7%	34.2%
Improve for current profession	1.2%	1.4%	0.9%	2.8%	.	.	1.2%	1.3%
Courses for personal interest	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	.	.	.	0.2%	1.3%
Other	0.9%	1.1%	0.6%	.	1.5%	.	0.8%	3.9%
Total	2,081	1,086	995	107	134	42	1,722	76

Q Accomplishment of Goal/Objective

	NCSU	Men	Women	Asian Amer	Black / Afr Amer	Hispanic	White	Other / Unknown
Fully accomplished	72.3%	72.7%	71.8%	58.3%	61.2%	73.8%	74.5%	60.0%
Partially accomplished	27.1%	26.3%	27.9%	38.9%	38.8%	26.2%	24.9%	38.7%
Not accomplished	0.7%	1.0%	0.3%	2.8%	.	.	0.6%	1.3%
Total	2,084	1,087	997	108	134	42	1,725	75

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Q Likelihood obtain degree at UNC campus (among those in off-campus degree programs)

	NCSU	Men	Women	Asian Amer	Black / Afr Amer	Hispanic	White	Other / Unknown
Mean Rating	2.43	2.44	2.42	2.70	2.55	2.68	2.38	2.58
4: Very likely	23.7%	22.3%	25.2%	16.7%	29.9%	21.1%	23.6%	27.9%
3: Probably	27.4%	30.0%	24.5%	50.0%	26.9%	42.1%	24.9%	30.2%
2: Probably not	17.5%	17.6%	17.3%	19.7%	11.9%	21.1%	17.9%	14.0%
1: Not likely	31.4%	30.2%	32.9%	13.6%	31.3%	15.8%	33.6%	27.9%
Total	938	494	444	66	67	19	743	43

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Post-Graduate Plans

Q Plans Following Graduation

	NCSU	Men	Women	Asian Amer	Black / Afr Amer	Hispanic	White	Other / Unknown
Have accepted a full-time paid job related to field of study	10.8%	12.9%	8.6%	3.7%	9.7%	4.8%	11.8%	5.3%
Have accepted a full-time paid job not related to field of study	1.6%	2.1%	1.1%	1.9%	0.7%	.	1.7%	2.7%
Have accepted a part-time paid job	0.4%	0.5%	0.4%	0.9%	.	.	0.5%	.
Will continue in my current paid job	3.5%	4.3%	2.6%	1.9%	4.5%	7.1%	3.5%	2.7%
Currently seeking, or plan to seek, paid employment	42.1%	42.4%	41.6%	29.0%	39.6%	35.7%	42.9%	49.3%
Going to graduate/professional school full-time	24.4%	22.2%	26.8%	40.2%	28.4%	19.0%	23.6%	17.3%
Going to graduate/professional school part-time and working part-time	3.6%	2.8%	4.6%	3.7%	4.5%	9.5%	3.4%	5.3%
Will take more undergraduate courses	0.7%	0.6%	0.8%	.	1.5%	.	0.7%	.
Neither seeking employment nor planning on attending school	0.0%	0.1%	.	.	.	2.4%	.	.
Military service	1.5%	2.6%	0.4%	0.9%	0.7%	2.4%	1.6%	1.3%
Volunteer activity	0.8%	0.4%	1.2%	1.9%	1.5%	.	0.7%	.
Starting or raising a family	0.3%	0.3%	0.3%	.	.	.	0.3%	.
I don't know yet	6.1%	5.3%	7.0%	9.3%	5.2%	9.5%	5.8%	8.0%
Other	4.0%	3.6%	4.5%	6.5%	3.7%	9.5%	3.6%	8.0%
Total	2,085	1,086	999	107	134	42	1,727	75

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Time to Graduate

Q Taken more than 4 years to graduate

	NCSU	Men	Women	Asian Amer	Black / Afr Amer	Hispanic	White	Other / Unknown
Yes, have taken more than 4 yrs to graduate	48.6%	59.4%	36.9%	44.4%	51.1%	45.2%	48.8%	47.4%
Total	2,083	1,086	997	108	133	42	1,724	76

Q Reasons for taking more than 4 years to graduate

Reasons:	NCSU	Men	Women	Asian Amer	Black / Afr Amer	Hispanic	White	Other / Unknown
Wanted/advised lighter courseload	25.1%	26.4%	22.8%	20.8%	32.4%	36.8%	24.9%	13.9%
Could not get classes needed	19.5%	21.2%	16.6%	20.8%	17.6%	21.1%	20.1%	8.3%
Changed majors	40.8%	37.4%	46.7%	33.3%	39.7%	52.6%	41.4%	30.6%
Lost credits when transferred	20.2%	17.7%	24.7%	18.8%	5.9%	36.8%	20.0%	47.2%
Co-op/intern/practicum/teach/etc	19.3%	23.9%	11.4%	18.8%	13.2%	5.3%	20.7%	8.3%
Financial reasons	12.2%	11.9%	12.8%	18.8%	10.3%	21.1%	11.6%	16.7%
Part-time for personal reasons (e.g., medical, family, etc.)	9.3%	8.2%	11.1%	10.4%	7.4%	5.3%	9.3%	13.9%
Took semester or more off for personal reasons	15.2%	14.4%	16.6%	22.9%	16.2%	31.6%	14.3%	16.7%
Double major/minor	23.5%	21.2%	27.4%	27.1%	26.5%	36.8%	23.0%	16.7%
Study abroad	4.9%	4.3%	6.0%	8.3%	2.9%	0.0%	5.1%	2.8%
Hours spent working	22.3%	20.9%	24.7%	27.1%	17.6%	15.8%	22.4%	25.0%
Other reasons	14.5%	15.0%	13.6%	12.5%	13.2%	5.3%	15.1%	11.1%
Total	1,013	645	368	48	68	19	842	36

Note: Respondents could provide more than one reason.
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Withdrawal/Transfer from NCSU

Q Ever consider withdrawal/transfer from NCSU

	NCSU	Men	Women	Asian Amer	Black / Afr Amer	Hispanic	White	Other / Unknown
No	78.7%	81.4%	75.8%	78.5%	68.9%	65.1%	80.0%	75.0%
Yes, not seriously	10.0%	8.3%	11.8%	10.3%	12.9%	11.6%	9.4%	15.8%
Yes, seriously	9.1%	7.9%	10.5%	10.3%	15.9%	11.6%	8.5%	7.9%
Yes, left & returned	2.2%	2.4%	2.0%	0.9%	2.3%	11.6%	2.1%	1.3%
Total	2,079	1,084	995	107	132	43	1,721	76

Q Reasons for leaving or considering leaving NC State (among those who considered leaving/those who left and returned)

	NCSU	Men	Women	Asian Amer	Black / Afr Amer	Hispanic	White	Other / Unknown
Curriculum/program reasons	33.2%	32.2%	34.0%	34.8%	36.6%	13.3%	34.5%	15.8%
Poor advising at NC State	2.3%	3.0%	1.7%	4.3%	0.0%	0.0%	2.6%	0.0%
Poor academic performance	6.1%	7.4%	5.0%	13.0%	7.3%	6.7%	5.5%	5.3%
Class environment at NC State	6.5%	6.4%	6.6%	0.0%	17.1%	0.0%	6.1%	5.3%
Campus life	25.3%	20.8%	29.0%	17.4%	26.8%	26.7%	25.8%	21.1%
Diversity issues	2.9%	2.0%	3.7%	4.3%	9.8%	6.7%	2.0%	0.0%
Financial reasons	7.7%	7.9%	7.5%	0.0%	12.2%	6.7%	7.5%	10.5%
Personal reasons	25.1%	18.8%	30.3%	13.0%	29.3%	40.0%	24.6%	26.3%
Location	5.2%	5.4%	5.0%	8.7%	0.0%	6.7%	5.2%	10.5%
Non-academic opportunity	0.7%	1.0%	0.4%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.9%	0.0%
Wanted to attend different school/NCSU not first choice	4.1%	4.0%	4.1%	8.7%	7.3%	0.0%	3.5%	5.3%
Miscellaneous/Other	4.7%	4.5%	5.0%	13.0%	2.4%	0.0%	4.9%	0.0%
Total	443	202	241	23	41	15	345	19

Note: Respondents could provide more than one reason.
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Q Reasons for staying or returning to NC State (among those who considered leaving/those who left and returned)

	NCSU	Men	Women	Asian Amer	Black / Afr Amer	Hispanic	White	Other / Unknown
Program at NCSU	28.7%	28.2%	29.0%	26.1%	19.5%	13.3%	30.7%	26.3%
Financial reasons	9.3%	9.4%	9.1%	8.7%	4.9%	6.7%	9.6%	15.8%
Personal reasons	39.5%	36.1%	42.3%	30.4%	53.7%	73.3%	37.4%	31.6%
NCSU/city environment	18.5%	19.3%	17.8%	21.7%	4.9%	20.0%	20.3%	10.5%
Hassle (lose credit hrs,etc.)	16.9%	14.4%	19.1%	26.1%	29.3%	0.0%	15.9%	10.5%
Didn't get into 1st choice/no better option	2.5%	3.0%	2.1%	4.3%	2.4%	0.0%	2.3%	5.3%
Need degree for job/graduate school/success	7.4%	8.4%	6.6%	8.7%	2.4%	0.0%	8.1%	10.5%
Miscellaneous/Other	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Total	443	202	241	23	41	15	345	19

Note: Respondents could provide more than one reason.
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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

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