CIRP 2002
The American Freshmen Survey
of the Cooperative Institutional
Research Program
The American freshmen survey asks
students questions regarding:
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Biographic and demographic data
High school background
Career plans
Educational aspirations
Financial arrangements
High school activities
Current attitudes
Ethnicity/Race
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White/Caucasian: 82%
Asian American/Asian: 7%
Mexican/Puerto Rican/Other Latino: 7%
African American/Black: 3%
American Indian: 2%
Other: 4%
• Note: Percentages are rounded and will add up to more than 100%
Anticipated Living Arrangements
• 50% of respondents planned on living on
campus
• 32% planned on living at home or with
friends/relatives
• 17% planned on private living arrangement
• 2% planned other living arrangements such
as fraternities, sororities, or other campus
housing
Financial Consideration
• Financing a college education is a deciding
factor for many students. Some of these
deciding factors are:
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Parental Financial Support
Employment
Savings
Loans
Gift Aid/Financial Assistance
Other Resources
Own or Family Sources
• Overall 80% of students expected to receive
financial assistance from parents, family or
friends.
• 30% of students expected this assistance to
exceed $3,000 during their freshmen year.
• 67% of students expected to use savings,
income, or work study to finance college.
• 10% of students expected this assistance to
exceed $3,000 during their freshmen year
Gift Aid/Financial Assistance
• 78% expected to receive some gift aid
• 39% expected to receive gift aid in excess
of $3,000 during their freshmen year
• Gift Aid/Financial Assistance was the
reason given by 62% of students for
choosing the University of Nevada, Reno
Loans
• 19% of students expected to receive loans to
pay for college as opposed to 40% of
students nationally
• 6% of respondents expected to receive more
than $3,000 in loans during their freshmen
year as opposed to 21% nationally
Educational Goals
• 23% planned to obtain a bachelors degree
• 59% planned to obtain their bachelors
degree from the University of Nevada, Reno
• 76% planned to obtain some advanced
degree
• 37% planned to obtain their advanced
degree from the University of Nevada, Reno
Motivation for Attending College
Reasons listed as important
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To learn more about things that interest me 79%
To be able to make more money 75%
To be able to get a better job 71%
To get training for a specific career 71%
To gain a general education and appreciation of
ideas 66%
• To prepare myself for graduate or professional
school 57%
Reasons seen as very
important in selecting
University of Nevada, Reno
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Financial assistance 62%
Low tuition 41%
Good academic reputation 32%
Wanted to live near home 25%
Behaviors and Activities
Continued
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Used the internet for research or homework 79%
Communicated via email 63%
Drank wine or liquor 56%
Visited art gallery or museum 56%
Performed community service as part of a class
55%
• Drank beer 51%
Political and Social Attitudes
Student were most likely to agree that:
• The federal government should do more to
control the sale of handguns.
• Abortion should be legal.
• There is too much concern in the courts for
the rights of criminals.
• Same sex couples should have the right to
legal marital status.
Political and Social Attitudes
Student were most likely to disagree that:
• The death penalty should be abolished.
• People should not obey laws which violate
their personal values.
• Racial discrimination is no longer a
problem in America
• The activities of married women are best
confined to home and family.
Personal Objectives
Objectives rated most important by students
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Being very well off financially
Raising a family
Becoming an authority in my own field
Helping others who are in difficulty
Expected Personal Activities
Percentages of students who expect to:
• Work to supplement college expenses 55%
• Participate in student clubs or groups 37%
• Participate in volunteer or community
service 21%
• Work fulltime to pay for college 10%
• Join fraternity or sorority 8%
• Play varsity or intercollegiate sports 7%
Students’ Probable Career
Most frequently listed careers
• Medicine (nursing, pharmacist, physician)
13%
• Engineering 11%
• Business (clerical, owner/proprietor,
management, or sales/buying) 10%
• Education (elementary, secondary, or
administration) 8%
The End
Thank You