The American College Freshman - Demographics 2004

The American College Freshman
Fall 2006

Demographics

Age on December 31, 2006	National Norms (4 year private colleges)	Monmouth College N=217
16 or younger	0.0	0.0
17	0.9	1.7
18	66.7	60.6
19	29.7	36.1
20	1.3	1.4
21 to 24	0.4	0.9
25 to 29	0.1	0.0
30 to 39	0.0	0.0
40 to 54	0.0	0.0
55 or older	0.0	0.0
Racial and ethnic background
American Indian	2.2	1.4
Asian	4.4	6.1
Black	9.6	3.8
White	86.4	81.3
Mexican American/Chicano	2.4	3.8
Puerto Rican	1.6	0.5
Other Latino	3.2	0.5
Other	3.6	6.1
Average grade in high school
A or A+	20.8	18.7
A-	24.1	23.8
B+	21.6	20.6
B	20.0	24.3
B-	7.8	7.5
C+	4.2	2.3
C	1.5	2.3
D	0.1	0.5
Year of high-school graduation
2006	97.6	93.5
2005	1.6	4.6
2004	0.3	1.9
2003 or earlier	0.3	0.0
High-school equivalency (GED test)	0.2	0.0
Never completed high school	0.0	0.0
High school required community service for graduation
Yes
No
Current religious preference
Baptist	11.1	4.7
Buddhist	0.8	0.9
Eastern Orthodox	0.6	0.0
Episcopalian	1.9	1.4
Hindu	0.4	4.7
Islamic	0.7	0.0
Jewish	2.6	0.5
Latter-day Saints (Mormon)	0.2	0.0
Lutheran	4.3	9.8
Methodist	5.2	10.3
Presbyterian	3.5	5.6
Quaker	0.3	0.0
Roman Catholic	28.7	22.9
Seventh-Day Adventist	0.2	0.5
Unitarian/Universalist	1.3	0.5
United Church of Christ	1.3	0.5
Other Christian	15.5	14.5
Other	2.8	7.0
None	16.3	15.0
Residence planned during fall term
With parents or relatives
Other private home, apartment, or room
College dormitory
Fraternity or sorority house
Other campus student housing
Other
Miles from college to home
5 or less	4.9	2.8
6 to 10	5.5	1.9
11 to 50	22.5	20.8
51 to 100	17.2	17.1
101 to 500	31.6	48.6
501 or more	18.3	8.8
Father's occupation
Artist (including performer)	1.3	0.0
Businessman	29.6	23.2
Business (clerical)	1.2	2.9
Member of clergy or religious worker	1.7	0.0
College teacher	0.9	1.0
Doctor	3.2	1.9
Education (secondary)	2.8	3.4
Education (elementary)	0.9	1.0
Engineer	7.0	5.3
Farmer or forester	1.4	3.4
Health professional	1.3	1.4
Homemaker (full-time)	0.3	0.0
Lawyer	2.9	2.9
Military (career)	1.2	0.5
Nurse	0.5	1.4
Research scientist	0.6	0.0
Social, welfare, or recreation worker	0.6	0.5
Worker, skilled	7.5	11.1
Worker, semi-skilled	2.6	4.8
Worker, unskilled	2.7	2.4
unemployed	2.4	1.9
Other	27.4	30.9
Father's education (highest level)
Grammar school or less	2.9	3.2
Some high school	4.0	5.6
High-school graduate	21.1	29.2
Postsecondary other than college	3.8	5.6
Some college	14.0	17.6
College degree	28.1	22.7
Some graduate school	2.3	2.3
Graduate degree	23.8	13.9
Mother's occupation
Artist (including performer)	2.3	0.5
Businesswoman	16.0	14.3
Business (clerical)	4.7	5.7
Member of clergy or religious worker	0.5	0.0
College Teacher	0.7	1.9
Doctor	1.4	1.0
Education (secondary)	5.2	3.8
Education (elementary)	9.3	12.9
Engineer	0.5	0.0
Farmer or forester	0.2	0.5
Homemaker (full-time)	3.2	2.9
Lawyer	9.6	5.7
Military (career)	1.1	1.0
Nurse	0.2	0.0
Research scientist	8.9	10.0
Social, welfare, or recreation worker	0.3	0.5
Skilled worker	1.4	1.0
Worker, semi-skilled	1.5	2.4
Worker, unskilled	1.2	0.5
Other occupation	24.9	31.0
Unemployed	5.1	3.3
Mother's education (highest level)
Grammar school or less	2.5	3.7
Some high school	2.7	4.7
High school graduate	19.6	27.4
Postsecondary other than college	4.3	6.0
Some college	16.1	18.6
College degree	32.8	22.8
Some graduate school	3.0	4.2
Graduate degree	18.9	12.6
Status of parents
Living with each other
Divorced or living apart
One or both deceased
Students estimate chances are very good that they will:
Change major field
Change career choice
Participate in student government
Get a job to help pay college expenses
Work full-time while attending college
Join a social fraternity, sorority, or club
Play varsity/intercollegiate athletics
Make at least a B average
Participate in student protests or demonstrations
Transfer to another college before graduating
Be satisfied with college
Participate in volunteer or community service work
Communicate regularly with your professors
Socialize with someone of another racial/ethnic group
Participate in student clubs/groups
Strengthen religious beliefs/convictions
Participate in a study abroad program
Seek personal counseling
College attended is student's:
First choice
Second choice
Third choice
Other
Reasons noted as very important in selecting college attended
Relatives' wishes
Teachers' advice
College has a very good academic reputation
College has a good reputation for its social activities
Offered financial assistance
Wanted to live near home
Not offered aid by first choice
Religious affiliation/orientation of college
Size of college
Rankings in national magazines
Admitted through an Early Action or Early Decision Program
Highest academic degree planned
None	1.3	2.6
Vocational certificate	0.2	1.3
Associate (or equivalent)	1.7	0.7
Bachelor's	74.7	84.3
Master's	16.4	6.5
Ph.D. or Ed.D.	2.4	2.0
M.D., D.O., D.D.S., or D.V.M.	0.8	0.7
LL.B. or J.D.	0.6	0.7
B.D. or M.Div.	0.2	0.7
Other	1.7	0.7
Probable career occupation
Accountant or actuary	2.6	4.0
Actor or entertainer	1.9	0.0
Architect or urban planner	0.6	1.0
Artist	3.0	2.5
Business (clerical)	0.7	0.5
Business executive	8.4	6.9
Business owner or proprietor	3.6	3.0
Business salesperson or buyer	1.1	1.5
Clergy (minister, priest)	0.7	0.0
Clergy (other religious)	0.3	0.0
Clinical psychologist	1.7	1.5
College administrator/staff	0.1	0.0
Computer programmer or analyst	0.7	1.5
Conservationist or forester	1.1	2.0
Dentist	0.3	0.0
Dietitian or home economist	0.9	0.5
Engineer	0.2	0.0
Farmer or rancher	2.6	3.5
Foreign-service worker	0.2	0.0
Homemaker (full-time)	1.1	1.0
Interior decorator	0.4	0.5
Lab technician or hygienist	0.2	0.5
Law-enforcement officer	1.2	0.5
Lawyer or judge	4.1	3.0
Military service (career)	0.3	0.0
Musician	2.0	0.0
Nurse	4.0	4.0
Optometrist	0.2	0.5
Pharmacist	1.5	0.5
Physician	5.7	3.0
Policymaker/government	1.1	1.5
School counselor	0.4	0.0
School principal or superintendent	0.1	0.0
Scientific researcher	1.6	1.5
Social, welfare, or recreation worker	1.1	1.0
Teacher or administrator (elementary)	3.3	2.0
Teacher or administrator (secondary)	5.2	12.9
Teacher (college)	5.2	15.8
Therapist (physical, occupational, speech)	3.3	2.0
Veterinarian	1.0	2.0
Writer or journalist	3.5	0.5
Skilled trades	0.3	0.0
Laborer (unskilled)	0.3	0.0
Semi-skilled worker	0.3	0.0
Other occupation	9.2	8.4
Unemployed	1.1	0.5
Undecided	15.0	12.4
Estimated parental income
Less than $10,000	3.2	2.5
$10,000 to $l4,999	2.6	3.5
$15,000 to $l9,999	2.4	6.5
$ 20,000 to $24,999	3.2	5.0
$ 25,000 to $29,999	3.3	2.5
$ 30,000 to $39,999	6.5	6.5
$ 40,000 to $49,999	7.7	6.5
$ 50,000 to $59,999	9.2	8.0
$ 60,000 to $74,999	11.9	11.5
$ 75,000 to $99,999	14.3	18.5
$100,000 to $l49,999	16.2	16.5
$150,000 to $l99,999	7.4	8.0
$200,000 to $249,999	4.1	3.0
$250,000 or more	8.1	1.5
Other source
Concern about financing college
None
Some (but I will probably have enough funds)
Major not sure I will have enough funds to complete college)
During last year in high school, number of hours spent:
Studying/homework
None	2.0	0.5
Less than 1	11.2	9.4
1 to 2	22.0	16.0
3 to 5	29.0	29.7
6 to 10	19.8	25.0
11 to 15	9.0	8.0
16 to 20	4.2	8.0
21 or more	2.9	3.3
Socializing with friends
None	0.3	0.0
Less than 1	1.4	0.0
1 to 2	5.8	5.2
3 to 5	18.1	15.6
6 to 10	26.5	21.2
11 to 15	19.2	22.6
16 to 2	11.8	13.2
21 or more	16.9	22.2
Talking with teachers outside of class
None	8.8	6.6
Less than 1	39.4	39.8
1 to 2	33.4	30.3
3 to 5	13.0	17.5
6 to 10	3.4	5.2
11 to 15	1.1	0.0
16 to 20	0.4	0.0
21 or more	0.5	0.5
Exercise or sports
None	4.4	2.4
Less than 1	8.4	8.0
1 to 2	14.7	14.6
3 to 5	18.2	14.6
6 to 10	18.1	18.9
11 to 15	15.0	20.3
16 to 20	9.4	9.0
21 or more	11.8	12.3
Partying
None	27.6	27.8
Less than 1	14.4	14.6
1 to 2	17.3	17.5
3 to 5	19.3	18.9
6 to 10	11.8	11.3
11 to 15	5.0	5.2
16 to 20	2.3	2.8
21 or more	2.4	1.9
Working for pay
None	30.9	32.7
Less than 1	3.0	3.8
1 to 2	4.6	4.3
3 to 5	8.0	8.1
6 to 10	13.1	12.3
11 to 15	12.8	15.2
16 to 20	13.0	12.3
21 or more	14.5	11.4
Volunteer work
None	27.1	31.1
Less than 1	22.4	16.5
1 to 2	25.2	25.5
3 to 5	14.4	14.6
6 to 10	5.9	6.1
11 to 15	2.2	2.8
16 to 20	1.1	0.0
21 or more	1.8	3.3
Student clubs or groups
None	27.0	20.3
Less than 1	14.2	12.7
1 to 2	25.8	25.5
3 to 5	18.1	21.7
6 to 10	7.9	10.4
11 to 15	3.2	3.8
16 to 20	1.6	1.9
21 or more	2.0	3.8
Watching tv
None	6.5	9.0
Less than 1	14.7	15.1
1 to 2	24.6	18.9
3 to 5	27.9	27.8
6 to 10	15.5	18.9
11 to 15	5.7	4.2
16 to 20	2.3	2.8
21 or more	2.9	3.3
Household or childcare duties
None	20.8	29.2
Less than 1	20.2	18.9
1 to 2 hours	30.6	22.6
3 to 5	18.4	19.3
6 to 10	5.9	6.1
11 to 15	1.9	2.8
16 to 20	0.8	0.0
21 or more	1.3	0.9
Reading for pleasure
None	24.2	32.5
Less than 1 hour	24.4	24.1
1 to 2	24.4	17.0
3 to 5	15.9	13.7
6 to 10	6.6	7.5
11 to 15	2.4	2.4
16 to 20	1.0	2.4
21 or more	1.1	0.5
Playing video games
None	41.5	31.6
Less than 1 hour	20.1	23.6
1 to 2	15.8	18.9
3 to 5	11.5	12.3
6 to 10	5.8	8.5
11 to 15	2.5	2.8
16 to 20	1.2	0.5
21 or more	1.7	1.9
Prayer or meditation
None
Less than 1 hour
1 to 2
3 to 5
6 to 10
11 to 15
16 to 20
21 or more
Note: The statistics are based on survey responses of over 250,000 freshmen entering over 450 two-year and four-year institutions in the fall of 2006. The figures were statistically adjusted to represent the total population of approximately 1.7 million first-time, full-time freshmen. Because of rounding or multiple responses, figures may add to more than 100 percent. SOURCE: "THE AMERICAN FRESHMAN: NATIONAL NORMS FOR FALL 2006," PUBLISHED BY AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES HIGHER EDUCATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Racial and ethnic background

Average grade in high school

Year of high-school graduation

Current religious preference

Residence planned during fall term

Miles from college to home

Mother's occupation

Status of parents

Highest academic degree planned

Probable career occupation

Estimated parental income

Concern about financing college