The
American
College Freshman
Fall 2008
Demographics
|
Age on December 31, 2008
|
National Norms |
Monmouth College N=252 |
|
16 or younger |
0.0 | 0.0 |
|
17 |
1.8 | 0.8 |
|
18 |
69.9 | 63.9 |
|
19 |
25.8 | 35.3 |
|
20 |
1.6 | 0.0 |
|
21 to 24 |
0.7 | 0.0 |
|
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 |
2.4 | 2.5 |
|
Asian |
7.2 | 0.8 |
|
Black |
16.0 | 6.2 |
|
White |
71.0 | 89.3 |
|
Mexican American/Chicano |
1.8 | 2.9 |
|
Puerto Rican |
3.2 | 2.1 |
|
Other Latino |
4.8 | 0.8 |
|
Other |
4.9 | 0.4 |
Average grade in high school |
|
|
|
A or A+ |
18.6 | 12.0 |
|
A- |
22.4 | 19.6 |
|
B+ |
21.6 | 20.0 |
|
B |
21.4 | 26.8 |
|
B- |
8.8 | 9.6 |
|
C+ |
5.0 | 8.8 |
|
C |
2.1 | 3.2 |
|
D |
0.2 | 0.0 |
Year of high-school graduation |
|
|
|
2008 |
96.9 | 99.6 |
|
2007 |
2.0 | 0.4 |
|
2006 |
0.5 | 0.0 |
|
2005 or earlier |
0.5 | 0.0 |
|
High-school equivalency (GED test) |
0.1 | 0.0 |
|
Never completed high school |
0.0 | 0.0 |
Current religious preference |
|
|
|
Baptist |
9.0 | 4.5 |
|
Buddhist |
1.2 | 0.0 |
|
Church of Christ |
4.7 | 7.3 |
|
Eastern Orthodox |
0.7 | 0.8 |
|
Episcopalian |
1.9 | 1.2 |
|
Hindu |
0.8 | 0.4 |
|
Jewish |
3.4 | 0.4 |
|
Latter-day Saints (Mormon) |
0.1 | 0.4 |
|
Lutheran |
2.3 | 8.1 |
|
Methodist |
3.4 | 10.5 |
|
Muslim |
1.1 | 0.4 |
|
Presbyterian |
2.6 | 4.9 |
|
Quaker |
0.3 | 0.4 |
|
Roman Catholic |
26.2 | 25.5 |
|
Seventh-Day Adventist |
0.5 | 0.4 |
|
United Church of Christ |
1.0 | 1.2 |
|
Other Christian |
11.0 | 12.6 |
|
Other Religion |
3.4 | 4.0 |
|
None |
26.3 | 17.0 |
Miles from college to home |
|
|
|
5 or less |
5.5 | 3.6 |
|
6 to 10 |
6.8 | 0.8 |
|
11 to 50 |
23.7 | 16.5 |
|
51 to 100 |
14.5 | 19.3 |
|
101 to 500 |
27.0 | 57.8 |
|
501 or more |
22.4 | 2.0 |
|
Father's occupation |
|
|
|
Artist (including performer) |
2.0 | 0.4 |
|
Businessman |
28.0 | 22.6 |
|
Business (clerical) |
1.3 | 1.3 |
|
Member of clergy or religious worker |
0.6 | 0.4 |
|
College teacher |
1.1 | 0.0 |
|
Doctor |
3.2 | 2.1 |
|
Education (secondary) |
2.1 | 2.1 |
|
Education (elementary) |
0.7 | 1.3 |
|
Engineer |
6.7 | 6.8 |
|
Farmer or forester |
0.7 | 5.1 |
|
Health professional |
1.4 | 0.9 |
|
Homemaker (full-time) |
0.3 | 0.0 |
|
Lawyer |
3.2 | 1.3 |
|
Military (career) |
1.1 | 0.4 |
|
Nurse |
0.5 | 0.4 |
|
Research scientist |
0.8 | 0.9 |
|
Social, welfare, or recreation worker |
0.5 | 0.0 |
|
Worker, skilled |
6.7 | 5.5 |
|
Worker, semi-skilled |
2.3 | 3.0 |
|
Worker, unskilled |
2.6 | 5.5 |
|
unemployed |
3.7 | 2.1 |
|
Other |
30.4 | 37.9 |
|
Father's education (highest level) |
|
|
|
Grammar school or less |
4.5 | 3.8 |
|
Some high school |
4.5 | 5.3 |
|
High-school graduate |
29.2 | 20.6 |
|
Postsecondary other than college |
3.7 | 3.3 |
|
Some college |
19.8 | 14.1 |
|
College degree |
24.3 | 26.0 |
|
Some graduate school |
2.1 | 2.2 |
|
Graduate degree |
11.9 | 24.7 |
Mother's occupation |
|
|
|
Artist (including performer) |
1.2 | 3.0 |
|
Businesswoman |
15.1 | 16.0 |
|
Business (clerical) |
4.9 | 4.2 |
|
Member of clergy or religious worker |
0.8 | 0.2 |
|
College Teacher |
0.4 | 0.7 |
|
Doctor |
0.4 | 1.8 |
|
Education (secondary) |
3.3 | 4.5 |
|
Education (elementary) |
8.2 | 7.2 |
|
Engineer |
0.0 | 0.7 |
|
Farmer or forester |
0.4 | 0.2 |
|
Health professional |
4.9 | 3.4 |
|
Homemaker (full-time) |
4.9 | 8.3 |
|
Lawyer |
0.0 | 1.5 |
|
Military (career) |
0.0 | 0.2 |
|
Nurse |
11.8 | 7.7 |
|
Research scientist |
0.0 | 0.4 |
|
Social, welfare, or recreation worker |
1.6 | 1.9 |
|
Skilled worker |
0.8 | 1.4 |
|
Worker, semi-skilled |
1.6 | 1.5 |
|
Worker, unskilled |
2.0 | 1.2 |
| Unemployed | 4.5 | 6.6 |
|
Other |
33.1 | 27.4 |
|
Mother's education (highest level) |
|
|
|
Grammar school or less |
3.3 | 2.8 |
|
Some high school |
3.8 | 3.6 |
|
High school graduate |
18.0 | 22.6 |
|
Postsecondary other than college |
3.6 | 1.6 |
|
Some college |
15.6 | 23.0 |
|
College degree |
31.5 | 32.7 |
|
Some graduate school |
3.1 | 2.0 |
|
Graduate degree |
21.1 | 11.7 |
|
Students estimate chances are very good that they will: |
|
|
|
Change major field |
13.0 | 13.3 |
|
Change career choice |
13.5 | 13.7 |
|
Participate in student government |
7.6 | 4.4 |
|
Get a job to help pay college expenses |
49.5 | 43.7 |
|
Work full-time while attending college |
7.2 | 2.8 |
|
Join a social fraternity, sorority, or club |
8.4 | 26.9 |
|
Play varsity/intercollegiate athletics |
23.8 | 41.8 |
|
Make at least a B average |
65.0 | 50.2 |
|
Participate in student protests or demonstrations |
8.0 | 5.2 |
|
Transfer to another college before graduating |
6.5 | 3.6 |
|
Be satisfied with college |
56.6 | 54.6 |
|
Participate in volunteer or community service work |
29.3 | 21.3 |
|
Communicate regularly with your professors |
42.0 | 27.9 |
|
Socialize with someone of another racial/ethnic group |
67.2 | 52.4 |
|
Participate in student clubs/groups |
46.2 | 38.0 |
|
Have a roommate of different race/ethnicity |
31.2 | 18.5 |
|
Participate in a study abroad program |
37.0 | 13.3 |
|
Get tutoring help in specific courses |
32.8 | 16.1 |
|
Seek personal counseling |
9.3 | 2.8 |
|
College attended is student's: |
|
|
|
First choice |
57.9 | 68.4 |
|
Second choice |
27.2 | 25.6 |
|
Third choice |
9.8 | 3.2 |
|
Other |
5.1 | 2.8 |
|
Reasons noted as very important in selecting college attended |
|
|
|
My parents wanted me to come here |
13.8 | 16.1 |
|
My relatives wanted me to come here |
5.4 | 7.3 |
|
My teacher advised me |
8.7 | 4.5 |
|
College has a very good academic reputation |
66.7 | 55.9 |
|
College has a good reputation for its social activities |
37.3 | 42.4 |
|
Offered financial assistance |
54.2 | 54.3 |
|
The cost of attending this college |
34.2 | 36.2 |
|
High school counselor advised me |
12.8 | 8.2 |
|
Wanted to live near home |
19.7 | 23.1 |
|
The college's graduates gain admission to top graduate.professional schools |
39.2 | 26.6 |
|
This college's graduates get good jobs |
59.3 | 46.1 |
|
Size of college |
48.5 | 62.7 |
|
Rankings in national magazines |
18.1 | 10.7 |
|
Information from a website |
23.4 | 18.5 |
|
The athletic department recruited me |
13.8 | 27.8 |
|
A visit to campus |
51.5 | 65.1 |
Highest academic degree planned |
|
|
|
None |
1.3 | 1.1 |
|
Vocational certificate |
0.2 | 0.0 |
|
Associate (or equivalent) |
1.9 | 1.7 |
|
Bachelor's |
75.8 | 80.5 |
|
Master's |
15.9 | 12.6 |
|
Ph.D. or Ed.D. |
2.1 | 1.7 |
|
M.D., D.O., D.D.S., or D.V.M. |
0.7 | 0.0 |
|
LL.B. or J.D. |
0.4 | 0.0 |
|
B.D. or M.Div. |
0.2 | 0.6 |
|
Other |
1.4 | 1.7 |
Probable career occupation |
|
|
|
Accountant or actuary |
2.7 | 5.0 |
|
Actor or entertainer |
2.3 | 0.8 |
|
Architect or urban planner |
0.6 | 0.8 |
|
Artist |
8.1 | 1.3 |
|
Business (clerical) |
0.8 | 0.4 |
|
Business executive |
8.5 | 7.5 |
|
Business owner or proprietor |
4.0 | 2.9 |
|
Business salesperson or buyer |
1.1 | 0.0 |
|
Clergy (minister, priest) |
0.1 | 0.4 |
|
Clergy (other religious) |
0.0 | 0.4 |
|
Clinical psychologist |
1.4 | 0.8 |
|
College administrator/staff |
0.0 | 0.0 |
| College teacher | 0.7 | 0.0 |
|
Computer programmer or analyst |
1.2 | 1.7 |
|
Conservationist or forester |
0.3 | 0.0 |
|
Dentist |
0.7 | 1.3 |
|
Dietitian or home economist |
0.2 | 0.4 |
|
Engineer |
3.0 | 2.1 |
|
Farmer or rancher |
0.2 | 0.4 |
|
Foreign-service worker |
1.1 | 0.0 |
|
Homemaker (full-time) |
0.1 | 0.0 |
|
Interior decorator |
0.7 | 0.0 |
|
Lab technician or hygienist |
0.2 | 0.0 |
|
Law-enforcement officer |
1.2 | 2.5 |
|
Lawyer or judge |
3.8 | 1.7 |
|
Military service (career) |
0.4 | 0.4 |
|
Musician |
1.3 | 0.8 |
|
Nurse |
2.5 | 1.3 |
|
Optometrist |
0.2 | 0.4 |
|
Pharmacist |
1.3 | 0.4 |
|
Physician |
4.9 | 3.3 |
|
Policymaker/government |
1.1 | 0.4 |
|
School counselor |
0.2 | 0.4 |
|
School principal or superintendent |
0.0 | 0.8 |
|
Scientific researcher |
2.0 | 1.7 |
|
Social, welfare, or recreation worker |
0.8 | 0.0 |
| Therapist (physical, occupational, speech) | 2.0 | 4.2 |
|
Teacher or administrator (elementary) |
3.3 | 12.6 |
|
Teacher or administrator (secondary) |
3.2 | 10.5 |
|
Veterinarian |
1.8 | 1.7 |
|
Writer or journalist |
3.6 | 1.7 |
|
Skilled trades |
0.3 | 0.4 |
|
Laborer (unskilled) |
0.3 | 0.8 |
|
Semi-skilled worker |
0.2 | 0.0 |
| Unemployed | 1.2 | 1.7 |
| Other | 10.5 | 10.0 |
|
Undecided |
16.0 | 15.9 |
Estimated parental income |
|
|
|
Less than $10,000 |
4.1 | 3.9 |
|
$10,000 to $l4,999 |
2.9 | 2.1 |
|
$15,000 to $l9,999 |
2.6 | 1.3 |
|
$ 20,000 to $24,999 |
3.2 | 3.9 |
|
$ 25,000 to $29,999 |
3.3 | 3.4 |
|
$ 30,000 to $39,999 |
6.3 | 6.4 |
|
$ 40,000 to $49,999 |
7.3 | 7.7 |
|
$ 50,000 to $59,999 |
8.5 | 6.0 |
|
$ 60,000 to $74,999 |
10.7 | 17.2 |
|
$ 75,000 to $99,999 |
13.5 | 21.9 |
|
$100,000 to $l49,999 |
15.7 | 14.2 |
|
$150,000 to $l99,999 |
8.1 | 7.3 |
|
$200,000 to $249,999 |
4.4 | 1.3 |
|
$250,000 or more |
9.4 | 3.4 |
Concern about financing college |
|
|
|
None |
35.1 | 40.6 |
|
Some (but I will probably have enough funds) |
52.6 | 50.2 |
|
Major not sure I will have enough funds to complete college) |
12.3 | 9.2 |
|
During last year in high school, number of hours spent: |
|
|
|
Studying/homework |
|
|
|
None |
1.9 | 2.5 |
|
Less than 1 hour |
10.4 | 8.3 |
|
1 to 2 hours |
21.1 | 21.3 |
|
3 to 5 hours |
27.7 | 35.8 |
|
6 to 10 hours |
19.5 | 20.4 |
|
11 to 15 hours |
9.8 | 8.8 |
|
16 to 20 hours |
5.4 | 2.1 |
|
21 or more hours |
4.1 | 0.8 |
|
Socializing with friends |
||
|
None |
0.3 | 0.8 |
|
Less than 1 |
1.5 | 0.0 |
|
1 to 2 |
5.9 | 5.0 |
|
3 to 5 |
18.4 | 17.2 |
|
6 to 10 |
25.4 | 26.4 |
|
11 to 15 |
18.7 | 19.7 |
|
16 to 2 |
12.5 | 14.2 |
|
21 or more |
17.2 | 16.7 |
|
Talking with teachers outside of class |
|
|
|
None |
8.5 | 7.9 |
|
Less than 1 |
37.9 | 41.1 |
|
1 to 2 |
33.0 | 29.5 |
|
3 to 5 |
13.9 | 12.9 |
|
6 to 10 |
4.0 | 5.8 |
|
11 to 15 |
1.5 | 0.4 |
|
16 to 20 |
0.5 | 2.1 |
|
21 or more |
0.7 | 0.4 |
|
Exercise or sports |
||
|
None |
5.6 | 3.7 |
|
Less than 1 |
8.9 | 4.1 |
|
1 to 2 |
14.9 | 14.1 |
|
3 to 5 |
18.1 | 16.6 |
|
6 to 10 |
17.7 | 17.8 |
|
11 to 15 |
13.9 | 18.7 |
|
16 to 20 |
9.2 | 12.0 |
|
21 or more |
11.8 | 12.9 |
|
Partying |
||
|
None |
25.6 | 24.6 |
|
Less than 1 |
14.1 | 10.8 |
|
1 to 2 |
17.6 | 14.2 |
|
3 to 5 |
20.2 | 25.0 |
|
6 to 10 |
12.3 | 15.4 |
|
11 to 15 |
5.3 | 6.7 |
|
16 to 20 |
2.4 | 0.4 |
|
21 or more |
2.5 | 2.9 |
|
Working for pay |
|
|
|
None |
34.3 | 33.8 |
|
Less than 1 |
3.1 | 2.1 |
|
1 to 2 |
4.2 | 5.4 |
|
3 to 5 |
7.7 | 8.3 |
|
6 to 10 |
12.5 | 15.8 |
|
11 to 15 |
11.9 | 7.9 |
|
16 to 20 |
12.4 | 11.7 |
|
21 or more |
13.9 | 15.0 |
|
Volunteer work |
||
|
None |
28.6 | 35.0 |
|
Less than 1 |
20.0 | 24.2 |
|
1 to 2 |
24.4 | 23.8 |
|
3 to 5 |
12.6 | 10.0 |
|
6 to 10 |
6.0 | 3.3 |
|
11 to 15 |
2.6 | 2.1 |
|
16 to 20 |
1.4 | 0.4 |
|
21 or more |
2.3 | 1.3 |
|
Student clubs or groups |
||
|
None |
29.4 | 25.9 |
|
Less than 1 |
12.7 | 11.3 |
|
1 to 2 |
24.2 | 28.5 |
|
3 to 5 |
17.6 | 15.1 |
|
6 to 10 |
8.2 | 10.9 |
|
11 to 15 |
3.6 | 5.0 |
|
16 to 20 |
1.9 | 1.3 |
|
21 or more |
2.3 | 2.1 |
|
Watching tv |
||
|
None |
7.4 | 5.4 |
|
Less than 1 |
13.9 | 10.4 |
|
1 to 2 |
24.1 | 22.1 |
|
3 to 5 |
27.2 | 27.9 |
|
6 to 10 |
15.3 | 17.5 |
|
11 to 15 |
6.2 | 8.3 |
|
16 to 20 |
2.3 | 2.1 |
|
21 or more |
3.5 | 6.3 |
|
Household or childcare duties |
||
|
None |
20.9 | 18.7 |
|
Less than 1 |
18.9 | 23.7 |
|
1 to 2 hours |
29.3 | 28.2 |
|
3 to 5 |
18.5 | 14.1 |
|
6 to 10 |
7.0 | 7.9 |
|
11 to 15 |
2.5 | 3.7 |
|
16 to 20 |
1.1 | 0.8 |
|
21 or more |
1.8 | 2.9 |
|
Reading for pleasure |
||
|
None |
23.6 | 27.9 |
|
Less than 1 hour |
22.3 | 24.6 |
|
1 to 2 |
23.6 | 21.7 |
|
3 to 5 |
16.7 | 15.0 |
|
6 to 10 |
7.7 | 4.6 |
|
11 to 15 |
3.2 | 4.6 |
|
16 to 20 |
1.3 | 0.4 |
|
21 or more |
1.6 | 1.3 |
|
Playing video games |
||
|
None |
40.8 | 28.6 |
|
Less than 1 hour |
19.5 | 17.8 |
|
1 to 2 |
15.6 | 17.0 |
|
3 to 5 |
12.3 | 13.7 |
|
6 to 10 |
6.0 | 14.1 |
|
11 to 15 |
2.8 | 5.0 |
|
16 to 20 |
1.2 | 1.2 |
|
21 or more |
1.9 | 2.5 |
|
Online social networks (MySpace, Facebook, etc.) |
||
|
None |
9.2 | 10.0 |
|
Less than 1 hour |
16.8 | 11.2 |
|
1 to 2 |
26.6 | 31.1 |
|
3 to 5 |
25.0 | 22.4 |
|
6 to 10 |
11.6 | 12.0 |
|
11 to 15 |
5.0 | 6.6 |
|
16 to 20 |
2.5 | 3.7 |
|
21 or more |
3.3 | 2.9 |
|
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 2008. The figures were statistically adjusted to represent the total population of well over 1.5 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 2008," PUBLISHED BY AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES HIGHER EDUCATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE |
||