Study Details
• The following charts comprise findings related to the study conducted by
Hardwick~Day.
• 916 high school students participated in a 20-minute telephone survey on various
topics regarding the college consideration process. 613 juniors and 303
sophomores were interviewed.
– Participant names were obtained from Student Marketing Group, a student listing
service. Selection criteria specified the students be college-bound and dictated a
50/50 gender split.
• An additional 200 Lutheran juniors were interviewed from lists obtained from ELCA
and LCMS. The number of Lutheran students interviewed were proportionate to
region of the country and Synod.
– ELCA names were obtained from registrations for the 2003 youth gathering of
40,000 ELCA youths
– LCMS names were obtained from church membership lists
• Interviews were conducted during November 2003.
– Students were interviewed in the fall of their junior year of high school, with a
smaller number of interviews conducted with sophomores as a means to gauge
the timing of the college consideration and selection process.
1
Regional Definitions
West:
• California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado
Midwest:
• North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois,
Indiana, Ohio
Southwest:
• New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Northeast:
• Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New
York, New Jersey
Southeast:
• Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Florida, Georgia, Alabama
2
Participant Profile
3
Participant Social Profile
Sophs
Jrs
Luths
W
MW
SW
NE
SE
Female
Male
Neither parent college grad
One parent college grad
Both parents college grads
Church member
57%
43%
42%
29%
28%
64%
55%
45%
40%
24%
35%
67%
50%
50%
33%
23%
45%
95%
55%
45%
47%
17%
37%
58%
52%
48%
38%
29%
33%
71%
61%
39%
46%
32%
22%
65%
57%
43%
35%
27%
38%
68%
54%
46%
39%
20%
41%
71%
Catholic
Lutheran
Christian
Baptist
None
Live with:
Both parents
Single parent
28%
5%
12%
10%
16%
27%
5%
9%
10%
20%
100%
-
20%
6%
16%
1%
31%
26%
8%
5%
6%
20%
30%
2%
9%
22%
17%
42%
3%
7%
5%
19%
18%
1%
11%
22%
12%
78%
14%
80%
11%
86%
9%
81%
9%
80%
12%
70%
17%
86%
11%
82%
10%
$60,000
$63,000
$65,000
$57K
$59K
$56K
$67K
$68K
74%
11%
6%
3%
73%
10%
6%
4%
93%
2%
1%
2%
54%
14%
4%
15%
88%
3%
3%
2%
52%
34%
6%
1%
87%
4%
3%
2%
71%
5%
15%
2%
22%
39%
26%
13%
23%
41%
23%
13%
21%
40%
26%
13%
27%
37%
19%
17%
24%
40%
27%
10%
21%
41%
24%
14%
21%
47%
20%
12%
22%
38%
26%
14%
40%
33%
14%
13%
303
40%
32%
17%
11%
613
47%
23%
22%
8%
231
45%
30%
10%
13%
115
42%
29%
20%
9%
153
35%
31%
12%
21%
100
35%
38%
19%
7%
118
40%
33%
18%
8%
136
Median household income
Caucasian
Hispanic
African American
Asian
Political views:
Liberal
Moderate
Conservative
Don’t know
Live In:
Small town
Suburb
Rural area or farm
Large urban city
n=
4
Participant School Profile
Sophs
Jrs
Luths
W
MW
SW
NE
SE
Public high school
Private religious
92%
7%
88%
9%
92%
5%
87%
8%
85%
14%
96%
2%
84%
14%
90%
5%
High school size
Below 600
600-899
900-1499
1500-2099
2100 or more
17%
11%
19%
22%
22%
18%
11%
20%
21%
19%
28%
9%
15%
21%
19%
14%
4%
23%
27%
22%
25%
16%
22%
12%
15%
20%
8%
8%
19%
28%
14%
16%
25%
20%
18%
17%
7%
18%
27%
18%
Classes have taken:
Advanced placement
International baccalaureate
College (while in high school)
41%
4%
16%
48%
5%
27%
52%
3%
27%
46%
6%
35%
45%
6%
24%
48%
3%
22%
49%
5%
28%
52%
7%
25%
Cumulative GPA
Below 3.0
3.0 - 3.249
3.25 - 3.749
3.75 or higher
No system/ don’t know
10%
16%
21%
24%
29%
10%
15%
25%
23%
26%
11%
12%
31%
31%
15%
18%
18%
24%
25%
14%
9%
18%
34%
27%
13%
4%
9%
16%
13%
58%
3%
12%
21%
15%
48%
16%
16%
24%
32%
13%
Graduate school plans
58%
56%
58%
57%
47%
54%
62%
61%
Student works
Avg. hours/wk
23%
16.8
42%
16.5
45%
15.3
35%
15.4
54%
16.4
27%
18.4
46%
16.5
38%
17.2
303
613
231
115
153
100
118
136
n=
5
How Lutherans Differ From the Total Junior Sample
•
Lutheran families are more highly-educated, with 45% of households having
both parents as college graduates (vs. 35% of total juniors).
•
Lutherans are more likely to be church members. Much of this difference is due
to the sampling method.
•
Lutherans are more likely to be Caucasian.
•
Lutherans are less likely to live in suburban areas, and slightly more likely to live
in small towns or rural areas.
•
Subsequently, Lutherans are more likely to attend smaller high schools,
especially with under 600 total enrollment.
•
Lutherans tend to have higher grade-point averages, but some of the difference
is because a lower percentage of Lutherans say they do not have a GPA
system. This could also be impacted by where they live.
6
The College Selection Process
7
At This Point, Most Students Have Not
Made a Definite College Decision
• Two in five sophomores do not have
a clear idea of the type of college or
university they’d like to attend.
– By the junior year, this has reduced
to less than one in three.
• One in ten sophomores and one in
seven juniors already know which
college or university they want to
attend.
– Of these, two-thirds of sophomores
and half of juniors name a large
public institution.
– One in five in each age group
name a private college or
university.
– The remainder mention two-year
colleges or other unknown
institutions.
– One junior already plans to go to a
Lutheran college.
• Lutheran juniors respond similarly to
the junior group as a whole on this
question.
100%
30%
80%
29%
40%
60%
Thought
about it, but
no clear
idea yet
Some idea
of colleges
interested in
57%
40%
56%
49%
Decided
which
college to
attend
20%
11%
13%
15%
Sophomores
Juniors
Lutheran
juniors
0%
Q. 3 Which of the following best describes how much thought you’ve
already given to what college or university you might attend?
If students haven’t given it any thought (6% of juniors), or have
decided not to attend college (2%), they were not included in
the study.
8
Students Expect to Participate in Many Activities in College
• Students were asked to list
extracurricular activities in which they
plan to participate.
• Over half listed athletics, especially
intercollegiate athletics.
Fraternity/ sorority
– Sophomore males are especially
likely to think they will participate in
intercollegiate sports; by the junior
year the males’ percentage drops
somewhat to be similar to females’.
Academic club
• Just less than one in ten plan to be
involved in choir, and this percentage
is not different for Lutherans.
• Other activities not shown are
mentioned by less than 5%.
– Religious studies or youth ministry
are mentioned by 2% of sophomores
and 4% of juniors and Lutherans.
18%
Intramural
athletics
– This percentage of intercollegiate
participation is unrealistically high if
they attend a public institution.
• Academic clubs or band/orchestra
appeal to a similar number, at about
one in six.
41%
35%
37%
Intercollegiate
athletics
28%
30%
22%
25%
22%
13%
15%
16%
13%
18%
18%
9%
9%
8%
6%
6%
7%
3%
5%
5%
15%
12%
13%
Band or orchestra
Choir
Drama or theater
Community
service
Don't know
0%
20%
Sophomores
Juniors
Lutheran
juniors
40%
60%
80%
100%
Q. 9 While at college, what are some of the extracurricular
activities in which you plan to participate?
9
There Are Many Regional Differences in Expected
Participation in College Activities
• For juniors living in the West, sports are less important, and band,
choir, dance and clubs are more important.
• For Midwestern juniors, only sports stand out as more important.
• Southwestern juniors are less likely to be interested in sports and list
the fewest activities of all groups.
• Of all groups, Northeastern juniors are most interested in sports, and
they are also more interested in drama or theater and community
service.
• At 23%, Southeastern juniors are twice as likely as other groups to be
interested in academic clubs; they are also more interested in
community service.
• Students with higher GPAs are interested in slightly more activities.
10
Sophomores and Juniors Agree on How They Would
Like Colleges to Help Them Grow As a Person
• Students were asked to rate the
importance of different skills.
• Two in three rate “the ability to think
independently” as “very important”-the highest of all skills rated.
• Acceptance of different people and
improving self-confidence are also
very important to a majority.
– Lutherans are less likely to place
great importance on developing
teamwork skills through
participation in music or sports,
or to have the ability to adapt to
different settings.
• Developing spirituality and growing
faith are very important to about three
in ten overall, especially Lutherans.
– However, there is a very
different pattern between the
two items: females are nearly
twice as likely as males to find
developing their own spirituality
as important, but a roughly equal
number of males and females
wish to grow their faith through
worship and service.
67%
65%
62%
55%
54%
50%
53%
50%
46%
40%
34%
35%
38%
35%
24%
34%
42%
33%
Sophomores
30%
30%
Juniors
34%
26%
Lutheran
28%
35%
juniors
27%
28%
22%
Ability to think independently
Acceptance of people who are
different from you
Improving self-confidence and
initiative
Developing leadership skills through
extracurricular activities
Developing teamwork skills through
music or sports participation
Ability to adapt to different settings
Developing your own spirituality
Growing your faith thru worship and
service
Helping others thru community
service
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Q. 5 In addition to academics, some colleges also strive to provide
opportunities for you to grow as a person. Please tell me how important
each of the following skills is to you. (Rating a “5” on a five-point scale,
where 1=not at all important” and 5= “very important” to you).
11
Messages May Need to Be Adapted for
Regional Differences
• For juniors living in the West, acceptance of people who are different from them
is a highly important skill.
• For Midwestern juniors, none of the skills is more important.
• At 41%, Southwestern juniors are far more likely than other groups to be
interested in growing their faith through worship and service.
• Of all groups, Northeastern juniors are least interested in developing their
spirituality or growing their faith through worship and service.
• Southeastern juniors give many of the skills higher importance ratings than
residents of other regions.
• The only skills ratings that fail to vary between junior regional groups are those
for the ability to think independently and developing teamwork skills.
• It is more important to Catholics than Lutherans to improve their self-confidence,
develop teamwork skills, and to participate in community service projects.
• It is more important to Lutherans than Catholics to growth their faith through
worship and service.
12
Sophomores Are More Likely to Say They’d
Like a Lot of Extracurricular Options
• Students were asked if they
had to make a choice, which
would they choose, having a
lot of extracurricular options
or a higher likelihood that
they’d have a chance to
participate.
• Sophomores are looking for
lots of options, while juniors
are fairly evenly split.
55%
54%
52%
45%
47%
45%
• Lutheran juniors are
somewhat more likely to lean
toward having a chance to
participate.
• Other groups more interested
in having a chance to
participate include lower
income juniors, Midwest
residents, and those whose
parents are college
graduates.
Sophomores
Juniors
Lots of options
Lutheran juniors
Chance to participate
Q. 8 If you had to make a choice, which is more important to you ?
13
Junior Females Are Most Likely to Be
Interested in Good Faculty Advising
There are
no gender
differences
among
Lutherans
• Students were asked if they had to
make a choice, which would they
choose, having a lot of majors from
which to choose, or good faculty
advising to help them choose a
major that is right for them from a
smaller list of options.
• While sophomores are fairly evenly
divided, juniors tend to lean toward
good faculty advising.
62%
53%
46%
58%
57%
49% 50%
43%
37%
– However, the good faculty advising
is more important to junior females
than males, by a wide margin.
40%
– Interestingly, this gender difference
did not appear among sophomores
or Lutheran juniors.
• Good faculty advising is also more
important to Lutheran juniors than
having a lot of majors.
Sophomores
Juniors
Junior males
• Other groups more interested in
good advising include lower income
juniors and Southwestern residents.
Lots of majors
Junior
females
Lutheran
juniors
Good faculty advising
Q. 8 If you had to make a choice, which is more important to you ?
14
Most Appealing College Characteristics to Juniors?
Close to Home, Located in a Large City and Publicly-Funded
• Students were asked if learning these
characteristics about a college would make
them more or less interested in the college,
or have no impact.
• For close to home, a large city and a state
school, a higher percentage of juniors are
more interested than less interested
because of the statement.
– About two in five juniors live in a large city
or its suburb, and somewhat less than this
say an urban location would make them
more interested.
– Female juniors are more interested in a
college in a large city, and less interested
in a school close to home.
– Interestingly, “state school” is similarly
appealing to males and females, but more
appealing to higher income juniors.
• “Private/independent,” “over 20,000
students on campus,” or “less than 4,000
students on campus” have a generally
neutral effect.
• Located in “a rural area” or “another state,”
and “religious affiliation,” had a slightly
higher likelihood to cause students to be
less interested, at about three in ten.
Located close to home
44%
Located in a large city
32%
It is a state school
31%
37%
51%
19%
16%
10%
58%
It is a private or independent
school
18%
59%
23%
Over 20,000 students on campus
19%
56%
25%
Less than 4,000 students on
campus
20%
52%
26%
Located in a rural area
18%
53%
28%
Located in another state
24%
It has a religious affiliation
20%
0%
More interested
20%
46%
29%
48%
40%
No difference
31%
60%
80%
100%
Less interested
Q. 6 If you learned the following characteristics about a college,
would it make you more or less interested in considering that
college, or would it make no difference in your consideration?
15
There Are Differences by Region and
Religious Affiliation
• Northeastern juniors are more likely to say that a private school, one located in
another state, or a state school would make no difference in their consideration.
Accordingly, fewer in this region than in others indicate these attributes would make
them more interested in a college.
• Midwestern and Southwestern juniors are also more likely than Northeastern
juniors to say a “religious affiliation” would make them more interested.
• Lutheran juniors (35%) are more likely than Catholics (20%) and those with no
religious preference (7%) to say a “religious affiliation” would make them more
interested.
– This is more appealing to Lutheran females (41%) than males (28%).
16
Many Students Rely on Others’ Experience
for College Advice
• Students were asked if they are considering
any colleges because someone they know
attended or is planning to attend that
college.
• Over two in five sophomores and random
juniors, and half of Lutheran juniors are
considering a college because someone
they know attended that college.
– This is significantly lower among students
whose parents did not graduate from college
(32%).
– This is more prevalent for all religious
groups monitored, and significantly less for
those with no religious affiliation (31%).
– However, influencers are primarily family
members and friends, and rarely specifically
people from church (detail on next slide).
• Another one-quarter of students are
considering a college because someone
they know is planning to attend that college.
– This is especially true for lower income
sophomores (36%), but not juniors, where
there is no difference by income.
51%
43%
43%
27%
Sophomores
Attended that college
24%
Juniors
28%
Lutheran juniors
Is planning to attend that college
Q. 30 Are you considering any colleges because someone
you know… ?
17
Friends and Relatives Lead the List of People Who Will Have
Some Influence Because they Attended or Will Attend a College
• Students who are considering
colleges because someone
they know attended or is
planning to attend that college
were asked to name that
person.
27%
25%
Friends/
boyfriend/
girlfriend
35%
15%
14%
14%
Brothers or
sisters
• Friends, including boyfriends
and girlfriends, top the list.
• Family members follow,
including siblings, parents, and
other relatives (primarily
cousins and aunts or uncles).
• Family friends receive some
mentions (2%-3%).
• Very few students mention a
high school teacher.
• Less than 1% of any group
mention a youth group leader
or someone else from church.
– Friends from church could be
included among friends or
friends of the family, however.
5%
Other relatives
10%
6%
6%
4%
6%
Parents
2%
3%
3%
Friend of the
family
High school
teacher
Sophomores
Juniors
Lutheran
juniors
1%
1%
0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
Q. 31 And, who is that person? (based to total)
50%
18
Competitive Evaluation
19
Flagship Public Universities Lead the Area Colleges or
Universities Considered to Be the Best by Juniors
• Students were asked which college or university
in their area they consider to be the best.
• Three in five juniors mention a public university,
primarily a flagship doctoral university (46%).
UCLA, UC-Berkeley, UT-Austin, U of Maryland,
Ohio State and UNC-Chapel Hill receive the
most mentions.
– Males are more likely to mention a flagship
public university (51% vs. 42% of females).
• Of private institutions, the top doctoral
universities receive 14% of mentions. Harvard,
USC, Stanford and NYU are among those
mentioned most often.
• One in ten juniors mentions another private
college, either masters level or baccalaureate.
No college has more than one mention.
– Although the numbers are small, students who
had an extended learning experience are
significantly more likely to mention a liberal arts
college (5% vs. 2%).
• Although no juniors in the random population
mention a Lutheran college, 3% of Lutheran
juniors mention a Lutheran college as best in
their area.
A "flagship"
public
university
46%
Other state
universities
(masters or
doctoral)
15%
"Elite" private
universities
(doctoral)
14%
Private colleges
or universities
(masters)
6%
Private colleges
(baccalaureate)
3%
Don't know
9%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
Q.10 In your area, what college or university do you
consider to be the best?
50%
20
There Are Vast Regional Differences in Which Area Colleges
or Universities Juniors Consider to Be the Best
• Students were asked which
college or university in their
area they consider to be the
best.
• The most obvious regional
difference is in the Northeast,
where private colleges are
mentioned more often than
public universities.
– About half of the elite private
institutions are located in the
Northeast region.
– Many of the liberal arts
colleges are also located in
the Northeast region.
• Midwestern juniors are
somewhat more likely to name
a public institution, many of
which are Big Ten schools.
65%
West
Midwest
15%
74%
Southwest
9% 9% 7%
65%
Northeast
8% 10% 13%
36%
Southeast
28%
19%
69%
0%
Public universities
20%
7% 11%
40%
"Elite" privates
13%
11% 9% 8%
60%
Other privates
Q.10 In your area, what college or university do you
consider to be the best?
80%
100%
Don't know
21
Public Universities Lead the Area Colleges or Universities
Considered “Safety Schools” by Juniors
• Students were asked which college
or university in their area they think
of first when they hear “safety
school.”
• State universities slightly edge out
flagship public universities in this
category.
– Males are more likely than
females to mention flagship
public universities.
• Although “four-year” college was
specified, it is not surprising that
many (18%) students mention a
community college or technical
school.
– The Northeast residents, who
regard colleges so differently than
the other juniors, are more likely
to mention a two-year college as
a safety school (25%).
• Private institutions are much less
likely to be mentioned; very few
think of an elite private university in
these terms.
23%
A "flagship" public university
Other state universities (masters or
doctoral)
27%
Private colleges or universities
(masters)
5%
4%
Private colleges (baccalaureate)
"Elite" private universities (doctoral)
1%
18%
Two-year colleges
20%
Don't know
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
Q.11 When you think of “safety school,” which four-year
college or university in your area comes to mind first?
50%
22
Flagship Public Universities Lead the Area Colleges or
Universities Considered “Party Schools” by Juniors
• Students were asked which
college or university in their
area they think of when they
hear “party school.”
• Flagship public universities
lead this category.
– Midwest residents (50%)
are most likely to mention
flagship public
universities.
• All other state universities
together make a distant
second place.
– Southeast residents (38%)
are most likely to mention
a university in this
category.
• Private institutions and twoyear colleges are much less
likely to be mentioned.
40%
A "flagship" public university
Other state universities (masters or
doctoral)
25%
3%
"Elite" private universities (doctoral)
Private colleges or universities
(masters)
2%
Private colleges (baccalaureate)
2%
4%
Two-year colleges
23%
Don't know
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Q.12 Which college or university in your area do you think of
when you hear “party school?”
23
The Dominance of Public Universities Are Shown by the
Proportion of Mentions as the “Best Liberal Arts College”
• Students were asked what they think of
as the best liberal arts college in their
area.
• Over half could not think of any.
• Flagship public universities once again
lead this category.
– Southwest (19%) and Southeast (20%)
residents are most likely to mention
flagship public universities, while few
(5%) in the Northeast make this claim.
14%
A "flagship" public university
Other state universities (masters or
doctoral)
10%
Other private colleges or universities
(masters)
6%
Liberal arts colleges
5%
"Elite" private universities (doctoral)
4%
• Other state universities are mentioned
more than private colleges.
– Less than 1% mention one of the few
public liberal arts colleges, however.
• One in twenty mention a private liberal
arts college. Similar percentages
mention a masters-level or elite doctoral
private college or university.
• Midwest and Northeast students (7%
each) are more likely than other regional
groups to name a liberal arts college.
– Lutherans, juniors with higher GPAs
and those who had an extended
campus experience are also more likely
to name a private liberal arts college.
54%
None/Don't know
0%
20%
40%
60%
80% 100%
Q.What do you think of as the best liberal arts college
in your area?
24
Awareness of Lutheran Colleges is Much Higher Among
Lutheran Juniors than Random Sophomores and Juniors
• Students were asked to
name the Lutheran colleges
of which they are aware.
• Nine in ten in the random
population cannot think of
any (saying “none” or “I
don’t know”).
• One in twenty (5%) in the
random population correctly
name a Lutheran college.
• Over half (57%) of Lutheran
juniors are able to name at
least one Lutheran college;
on average, those who
know of any list two.
• Luther, Pacific Lutheran and
Texas Lutheran are the only
Lutheran colleges
mentioned by at least 1% of
students, randomly.
77%
78%
None
26%
14%
13%
13%
Don't know
4%
5%
Named at least
one Lutheran
college
Luther
57%
0%
1%
6%
Pacific Lutheran
1%
1%
3%
Texas Lutheran
1%
1%
2%
0%
Sophomores
Juniors
Lutheran
juniors
20%
40%
60%
Q.14 What Lutheran colleges are you aware of?
80%
100%
25
Lutheran Colleges Throughout the Country
Are Mentioned by Lutheran Juniors
• Students were asked to
name the Lutheran colleges
of which they are aware.
• Over half of Lutheran juniors
named at least one Lutheran
college.
• There are no differences in
awareness levels by Synod,
GPA, income, or gender.
• Among Lutheran juniors, St.
Olaf and Luther have the
highest awareness, along
with Wittenberg, California
Lutheran, Gustavus Adolphus
and Valparaiso.
• Many other Lutheran colleges
are mentioned by 3% each.
• All colleges displayed at right
are mentioned by more than
five Lutheran students.
St. Olaf
6%
Luther
6%
Wittenberg
5%
California Lutheran
5%
Gustavus Adolphus
5%
Valparaiso
5%
Augustana-SF
3%
Augustana-RI
3%
Carthage
3%
Concordia-California
3%
Concordia-Wisconsin
3%
Concordia-River Forest
3%
Concordia-Seward
3%
Concordia-Moorhead
3%
Newberry
3%
Pacific Lutheran
3%
Wartburg
3%
0%
5%
10%
15%
Q.14 What Lutheran colleges are you aware of? (Total Lutheran juniors)
20%
26
ELCA Juniors Are Aware Of a Variety of Lutheran Colleges
St. Olaf
• Students were asked to
name the Lutheran
colleges of which they
are aware.
• Among ELCA juniors,
St. Olaf, Luther and
Wittenberg have the
highest awareness,
followed by Gustavus
Adolphus, California
Lutheran, Valparaiso
and Augustana-Sioux
Falls.
• Many other colleges
are mentioned by 4% of
ELCA juniors.
• All colleges displayed at
right are mentioned by
five or more ELCA
juniors.
10%
Luther
9%
Wittenberg
9%
Gustavus Adolphus
7%
California Lutheran
6%
Valparaiso
6%
Augustana-SF
6%
Augustana-RI
4%
Carthage
4%
Concordia-Moorhead
4%
Newberry
4%
Pacific Lutheran
4%
Thiel
4%
Wartburg
4%
0%
5%
10%
15%
Q.14 What Lutheran colleges are you aware of? (ELCA juniors)
20%
27
LCMS Juniors Are Primarily Aware of
Concordia System Schools
• Students were asked to
name the Lutheran
colleges of which they
are aware.
• Among LCMS juniors,
five Concordia
institutions are
mentioned by three or
more students.
• Concordia-River Forest,
Concordia-Seward and
Concordia-Irvine are
mentioned by 10%.
• California Lutheran is
the only non-Concordia
system university to
receive this level of
recognition, and is
noted by both ELCA
and LCMS students at
similar levels.
Concordia
UniversityRiver Forest, IL
10%
Concordia
UniversitySeward, NE
10%
Concordia
UniversityIrvine, CA
10%
Concordia
University
Wisconsin
4%
Concordia
CollegeBronxville, NY
4%
California
Lutheran
University
4%
0%
5%
10%
15%
Q.14 What Lutheran colleges are you aware of?
20%
28
The Vast Majority Agree with Statements
Positively Showcasing Small, Private Colleges
• Students were asked if they agreed
or disagreed with these statements.
• The groups are similar in their
agreement that living on campus
enriches the college experience, it
is easy to make friends at a small
college and large universities can
be overwhelming.
• Sophomores and Lutheran juniors
seem more optimistic about the
availability of scholarships and
affordability of private colleges.
• Large universities (68% juniors) are
less likely than small colleges (80%)
to be thought of as places where it
is easy to make friends.
• Students tend to agree large
universities provide more
opportunities to participate outside
of class (63% juniors vs. 54% for
small colleges).
– Males are especially skewed
toward large universities in terms
of opportunities outside of class.
86%
87%
89%
Living on campus enriches the
college experience
77%
80%
83%
It's easy to make friends at a small
college
75%
75%
81%
Large universities can be
overwhelming
Small colleges provide substantial
scholarships/ make affordable
71%
63%
73%
It's easy to make friends at a large
university
69%
68%
73%
65%
63%
65%
Large universities give more
opportunities to participate
Sophomores
Juniors
50%
54%
53%
Small colleges give more
opportunities to participate
0%
20%
40%
60%
Lutheran
juniors
80%
100%
Q. 7 Please tell me if you agree or disagree with the following
statements about colleges or universities. (agree summary)
29
There Are Differences in Beliefs by
Region and Religious Affiliation
• Although still a majority, Western juniors are least likely to agree that it is easy to
make friends at a small college.
• Southwestern juniors are least likely to agree living on campus enriches the college
experience, but are most likely to agree that small colleges provide substantial
scholarships to make them affordable.
• Northeastern juniors are least likely to agree large universities can be
overwhelming.
• Lutheran juniors are more likely than Catholics and those with no religious
preference to agree that small colleges provide substantial scholarships to make
them affordable.
• Lower-income students, those from the smallest high schools, and juniors whose
parents did not graduate from college are also more likely to agree that
scholarships can make small colleges affordable.
30
Several Characteristics Juniors Rate as Very Important In
College Consideration Are Done Best by Private Colleges
Finishing college in four years
53%
Students were read a list of
characteristics and asked to rate
their importance in their
consideration of colleges.
Faculty really get to know you,
interested in academic development
52%
•
There are no differences by group.
Courses taught by actual professors,
not teaching assistants
49%
•
About half of juniors rate finishing in
four years, faculty that get to know
you, courses taught by actual
professors, a program with a good
placement record for jobs and
graduate school, and attending with
students who are motivated to do
well as very important.
Program with good job, grad school
placement record
48%
•
– The characteristic, “faculty that
really get to know you” is more
important to females and lower
income students.
– Lower income students also put
more importance on the school’s
job placement record.
•
“An emphasis on values and ethics
in campus life” is very important to
one in four, and is also more
important to females than males.
Attending with motivated students
45%
Developing career skills like writing
or critical thinking
32%
Attending with students who are
involved, not just spectators
26%
Emphasis on values and ethics in
campus life
24%
Campus where music has major
presence
19%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Q.32 I’m going to read you a list of characteristics about a campus or
college in general. For each one, tell me how important it is in
your consideration of colleges. (Rating a “5” on a five point scale,
where 1=not at all important” and 5= “very important” to you).
31
There Are Many Differences Across Groups in
the Importance of Characteristics
• Juniors whose parents did not graduate from college place higher importance on
finishing in four years, faculty that get to know them, attending with students who
are motivated to do well, and a good placement record for jobs and grad school.
• Minority students also place greater importance on the first three noted above, as
well as having courses taught by actual professors, developing career skills, and
an emphasis on values and ethics.
• Finishing college in four years is more important to students with lower GPAs and
to Catholics.
• Western juniors place more importance on several characteristics, including faculty
that get to know them, developing career skills, attending with involved students,
an emphasis on values and ethics, and a campus where music has a presence.
• Northeastern juniors are less likely to believe it is important to attend with students
who are motivated.
• Southeastern juniors place greater importance on a program with a good
placement record for jobs and grad school.
32
For the Most Part, Juniors See No Difference in
Where These College Attributes Will Be Found
• Students were asked where they thought they’d
be most likely to experience each characteristic,
at a smaller private college, a larger public
university, or if there is no difference.
• Juniors recognize small private colleges for
faculty that really get to know you and courses
taught by actual professors.
• For all of the remaining characteristics, the
majority see no difference between private
colleges and large public universities.
– This is especially true for the most important
characteristic, finishing in four years.
– Even so, more juniors think private colleges than
public universities are likely to provide:
• an emphasis on values and ethics in
campus life
• attending with students who are motivated
to do well
• attending with students who are involved,
not just spectators
• developing career skills like writing or critical
thinking.
– And more juniors think public universities than
private colleges are likely to provide a:
• program with a good placement record
• campus where music has a major presence
Faculty really get to know you,
5%
interested in academic development
Courses taught by actual professors,
not teaching assistants
Emphasis on values and ethics in
campus life
29%
18%
65%
45%
15%
55%
Attending with motivated students 12%
62%
Attending with students who are
involved, not just spectators
17%
29%
26%
57%
Developing career skills like writing or
12%
critical thinking
Finishing college in four years
36%
25%
67%
16%
20%
69%
13%
Program with good job, grad school
placement record
29%
54%
16%
Campus where music has major
presence
28%
57%
14%
0%
Public university
20%
40%
No difference
60%
80%
100%
Private college
Q.33 Are you more likely to experience that at a larger public university,
a smaller private college, or do you think there is no difference? 33
Students with Higher GPAs, College Graduate Parents, and
Caucasians Give More Credit to Private Colleges
• Juniors with higher GPAs, from families where both parents graduated from
college, higher income, and Caucasians generally cite private colleges in higher
percentages for faculty that get to know them, courses taught by actual
professors, and an emphasis on values and ethics.
– Caucasians are also more likely to cite private colleges as a place for attending
with students who are motivated to do well, and involved students.
• Lutheran juniors are more likely to indicate private colleges as having an
emphasis on values and ethics and a higher likelihood of finishing in four years.
• Southwestern juniors differ from other regions by often attributing the private
college characteristics--faculty that get to know them, courses taught by actual
professors, and an emphasis on values and ethics--to public universities.
• Northeastern juniors are more likely to say there is no difference between
private colleges and public universities on most attributes.
34
Some Juniors Are Aware of Recent Funding Cuts at Public
Universities, But Fewer See a Negative Impact
100%
• Students were asked about public
funding for public education.
– There are no differences by group.
• One in four juniors say state
university funding was recently cut in
their state.
– This is especially true in the West
(45%) and Southeast (30%).
• Half to two-thirds of students are
unable to answer this question,
primarily in the Midwest, Southwest
and Northeast.
• Over half of students who think there
have been funding cuts think the cuts
negatively impact quality of public
education.
– Students living in the West are
twice as likely as the next highest
region to see a negative impact.
– Juniors whose parents are both
college graduates are more likely to
say there have been recent funding
cuts, but the quality of education
has not suffered.
80%
60%
40%
25%
16%
20%
0%
State university funding was
recently cut
Cuts have weakened quality
of public education
Q. 16 In your state, has state funding for public universities been cut recently?
Q. 17 Do you think these cuts have weakened the quality of education at
public universities?
35
Many Juniors Are Aware of Recent Tuition Hikes
at Public Universities
• Students were asked if there
have recently been large
tuition hikes at state schools.
• Less than half of juniors say
there has been large tuition
hikes in their state.
– Midwest juniors are most
likely to agree, at 52%,
compared to 39% in the
Northeast.
Don't
know
36%
Yes
45%
• Students from larger high
schools are most likely to
agree, while many from
schools with less than 600 are
unable to answer the
question.
– Lower-income juniors are
also less knowledgeable,
with 40% unable to answer
the question (compared to
28% of higher-income
juniors).
No
19%
Q. 18 Have state schools had large tuition hikes recently?
36
Search Process/Communication
37
Juniors Have Had Much More Access to
College-Initiated Interactions
• Students were read a list of
information sources and asked
which ones they had used so far
to gather information about
colleges.
• With the exception of phone calls,
college-initiated sources are more
common for juniors than
sophomores.
• Four in five juniors, and three in
five sophomores have used
college brochures and viewbooks,
the most prominent source of
information.
• Lutheran juniors are more likely
than other groups to have
received a letter from a college.
• Lutherans are as likely as other
juniors to have a college visit their
school, to have attended college
fairs and to have received email
from colleges.
– Email was primarily information,
such as an e-newsletter.
58%
College
brochures/
viewbooks
80%
83%
36%
Letters from
colleges
64%
79%
47%
College
visited my
school
61%
60%
19%
Attended a
college fair
46%
49%
Sophomores
Juniors
25%
Email from
colleges
40%
38%
Lutheran
juniors
7%
9%
14%
Phone calls
from colleges
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Q.19A Please tell me what communication sources you have used
so far to gather information about colleges. Have you used…
38
Self-Initiated Interactions Indicate that Sophomores
Are Hungry for College Information
• Students were read a list of
information sources and asked
which they had used so far to
gather information about colleges.
• The gap in usage between
sophomores and juniors is much
smaller on the items that are either
self-initiated or open to everyone.
Visited a specific college's
website
• About three in five students have
talked to someone; high school
counselors (23%), friends (19%),
parents (16%), and teachers (8%)
lead the list.
Visited college information
websites
• More than two in five juniors have
visited a college campus and one in
three rely on college rankings.
• Church is a prominent source for
Lutheran juniors (39%).
Comparatively few juniors of other
religions noted this source:
Catholics (10%), other Christians
(27%).
– However, only 3 Lutheran juniors
(1%) voluntarily mention speaking
to a pastor, and 1% spoke to a
youth group leader about college.
55%
62%
69%
Talked to someone
55%
66%
69%
42%
55%
56%
37%
37%
40%
Advertising (magazines,
billboards)
36%
42%
49%
Visited a college campus
Sophomores
27%
34%
34%
College rankings
Juniors
Lutheran
juniors
14%
16%
Church
39%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Q.19A Please tell me what communication sources you have used
so far to gather information about colleges. Have you used…
100%
39
Most Useful Sources for College Information?
Word-of-Mouth and College Marketing Materials Top the List
• Students were asked which one of
the information sources they had
used so far they found to be most
useful.
• The most common response for all
groups is talking to someone; high
school counselors (6%), friends
(4%), and current students at a
college (3%) lead the list.
– 1% of Lutheran juniors mention
talking to a youth group leader as
most useful.
• The importance of college-generated
marketing materials is seen in the
next two items: college websites and
brochures/ viewbooks.
• High school visits and college fairs
are also high on juniors’ list of useful
sources, followed by general
websites, campus visits and letters
from colleges.
• All other sources are mentioned by
less than 3% of juniors. Only 1%-3%
of students say none of the sources
has been useful.
29%
23%
28%
Talked to someone
20%
17%
14%
Visited a specific college's website
9%
11%
10%
College brochures/ viewbooks
5%
College visited my school
10%
9%
4%
Attended a college fair
Sophomores
10%
11%
Juniors
10%
9%
9%
Visited college information websites
Lutheran
juniors
6%
7%
7%
Visited a college campus
3%
6%
6%
Letters from colleges
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
Q.20 Which one of the sources you’ve used so far did
you find most useful?
50%
40
Sophomores and Juniors Have Similar Preferences
for College Communication Methods
• Students were asked which of four
different methods of communication
with prospective students they most
prefer.
• Sophomores and juniors have
remarkably similar responses.
• Mail from the admissions office is
the most popular method, especially
among those with higher GPAs.
• One in four prefer calls from
admissions counselors and emails
from different entities at a college.
– Students whose parents did not
graduate from college are more
likely to prefer calls from
admissions counselors over
other methods.
• Fewer students prefer calls from
current college students.
39%
Mail from the
admissions
office
35%
36%
24%
Calls from
admissions
counselors
28%
26%
Sophomores
Email from
staff,
professors or
students
26%
Juniors
24%
23%
Lutheran
juniors
11%
Calls from
current
students
12%
14%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Q.28 I’m going to read you four methods colleges use to communicate
with prospective students. Think about how you prefer to be
contacted. Which of these do you most prefer?
100%
41
Most Students Expect an Answer to an
Email Query in One Week or Less
100%
• Students were asked
how quickly they would
expect an answer to an
email question.
• Nearly half of juniors and
40% of sophomores
expect a reply in less
than one week.
– Nearly one in five
juniors expects a
response within one
day.
• Another one-quarter of
students expect a reply
in one week, for a total
of two-thirds of
sophomores and threefourths of juniors who
expect a reply in one
week or less.
12%
75%
20%
10%
8%
17%
15%
Don't know
Two weeks
or more
26%
30%
28%
One week
50%
30%
25%
31%
29%
11%
17%
15%
Juniors
Lutheran
juniors
Two to six
days
One day or
less
0%
Sophomores
Q. 27 If you asked a college a question electronically, how quickly
would you expect a response?
42
One in Three Students Has Attended Some Form of
Extended Learning Experience on a College Campus
100%
• Students were asked if they ever
attended a camp or other extended
learning experience on a college
campus.
80%
• One in three students say they have
attended such an experience.
– There are no differences by income
or region of the country.
– Junior males (and Lutheran males)
are less likely than females to have
participated; this was not the case
for the sophomores.
– Students with higher GPAs, those
with at least one parent who is a
college graduate, and Caucasians
are also more likely to have
participated in an extended campus
experience.
– Christians (other than Catholics or
Lutherans) are more likely than
students with no religious affiliation
to have participated on a campus.
60%
40%
34%
31%
32%
Juniors
Lutheran juniors
20%
0%
Sophomores
Q. 29 Have you ever attended a camp or other extended learning
experience on a college campus?
43
Financial Strategies
44
The Majority of Students Have Multiple Strategies
to Help Pay for College
• Students were read a list of
strategies they might use to pay for
college. On average, students will
use five or six of the eleven choices
given.
• The vast majority plan to use work
earnings, both from college and
high school.
• More than two of three will use
students’ and parents’ savings.
– Families where both parents are
college graduates are more likely to
have parental savings.
• Juniors are more likely to mention
applying for financial aid, indicating
they perhaps have a more evolved
plan.
– This is especially true of lowerincome students, rising from 64% of
sophomores to 83% of juniors who
say they will apply.
• Three in five hope to use college
classes taken in high school to
reduce some college requirements.
81%
Work during college
86%
87%
74%
Work during high school
72%
77%
70%
Parents saving or
investing
70%
75%
66%
Student saving or
investing gift money
71%
Sophomores
77%
Juniors
60%
Apply for financial aid
76%
70%
Lutheran
juniors
58%
Take college courses in
high school
61%
62%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80% 100%
Q.36 Have you already, or will you do any of the following to pay for college?
45
For Some Juniors, the College Plan Seems to Be Evolving
Toward Including Trade-offs—
Going to a Less Expensive College than They’d Prefer
• Students were read a list of strategies
they might use to pay for college.
Several items are mentioned by less
than half.
• As with financial aid, more juniors than
sophomores say their parents plan to
take out loans.
• More juniors than sophomores
mention choosing a less expensive
college, either to get the basics, then
transfer or for their entire college
career.
– Both of these options are especially
true of lower-income students, as
well as those whose parents did not
graduate from college.
– Lutheran juniors, however, are less
inclined than the random population
to say they will choose a less
expensive option, then transfer.
• One in three students will use an
inheritance, and one in six mention
their parents worked with a financial
advisor to specifically plan for college.
41%
Parents will take
out loans
48%
52%
34%
Use an
inheritance
34%
30%
Go to a less
expensive
college first,
then transfer
28%
35%
Sophomores
27%
Juniors
Choose a less
expensive
college than
prefer
17%
Lutheran
juniors
24%
23%
Parents worked
with a financial
advisor to plan
for college
14%
17%
15%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Q.36 Have you already, or will you do any of the following to pay for college?
(continued)
46
A Minority of Students Have Discussed How They
Will Pay for College with Their Parents
• Students were asked if they had
talked specifically to their
parents about how they will pay
for college.
• Two in five juniors have talked to
their parents specifically about
how they will pay for college.
– This is especially true of juniors
with higher GPAs (44% vs.
34% of lower GPAs).
– There are no differences
between sophomores and
juniors on this question.
• Few (7% of juniors) say their
parents have set a spending
limit.
– There is a marked increase
since the sophomore year in
limit-setting, from 3% to 7%.
– Among juniors, Southwest and
Northeast residents are most
likely to have spending limits
imposed.
100%
80%
60%
40%
39%
20%
7%
0%
Talked specifically with
parents
Parents have set a spending
limit
Q. 35 Have you and your parents talked specifically about how you will
pay for college?
Q. 40 Have your parents set a limit on how much they’ll pay?
47
Although Tuition Will Impact the College Choice Set for Half,
Fewer Juniors Have Already Eliminated Colleges on Price
100%
• Students were asked if the total
tuition will have any impact on
the set of colleges to which they
choose to apply, and if they have
already eliminated any colleges
because of price.
• Half of juniors indicate that the
total published tuition will impact
their college application choices.
– This is somewhat (but not
significantly) higher than
sophomores (43%).
– Interestingly, juniors who have
had an extended campus
learning experience are more
likely to indicate the tuition will
NOT have an impact (57%) on
their decision.
• One in five juniors (and 12% of
sophomores) say they have
already eliminated colleges
because of the tuition price.
80%
60%
50%
40%
20%
20%
0%
Total tuition will impact
college choices
Eliminated any colleges
because of price
Q. 41 As you consider colleges, will the total tuition as stated by the
college in their materials--that is, their published price, have any
impact in determining the colleges to which you apply?
Q. 42 Have you eliminated any colleges primarily because of price?
48
Juniors Have a Slightly More Developed Idea of How
Much They Will Consider Paying for College
•
•
•
•
•
30%
Students were asked if they
would consider a college at
different total tuition levels.
Sophomores are more likely to
say that price won’t have an
impact (or they don’t know),
therefore there are fewer
responses at different price
levels.
For juniors, the first big drop in
interest occurs between $15,000
and $20,000 per year.
25%
17%
Sophomores
10%
6%
57%
38%
30%
Juniors
10%
It is interesting that 5%-6% of all
three groups stayed in at the
highest level specified, $30,000
a year.
Although about half of each
group says price won’t have an
impact on their college selection,
one must interpret this
percentage with caution; price
may not be an issue for some
because they are only
considering lower-priced public
universities.
$10,000
20%
$15,000
5%
50%
42%
$20,000
$25,000
34%
Lutheran
juniors
23%
$30,000
11%
5%
Price does not
impact decision
47%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Q.43 Would you consider a college if their total tuition price per year,
including tuition and room and board, is…? Q. 41 Will the total tuition
price have any impact in determining the colleges to which you apply? 49
The Majority of Students Expect to Pay at Least Half
of their College Costs Themselves
• Students were asked how much of their college
costs they expect will be paid by their parents.
There are no differences by age group.
None
5%
• Nearly half (46%) of juniors say their parents will
pay “all” or “most” of their college costs.
– One in ten say “all,” and this percentage is higher
among the higher income group (13% vs. 4% of
the lower-income group).
• One in four juniors expects to split the costs
equally with their parents.
Don't
know
2%
All
10%
Some
24%
• Another one in four juniors expects their parents
to pay some, but less than half of their expenses.
Most
36%
• One in twenty expects their parents to pay
nothing at all.
– At 8%, junior males are twice as likely as females
(3%) to fall in this group.
• Among lower-income juniors, 43% expect to pay
all or most of their college expenses without their
parents help (parents will pay “some” or “none”),
compared to 21% of higher-income juniors.
Half
23%
Q.37 How much of your college costs do you
think will be paid by your parents?
50
For Half of Juniors, the Primary Responsibility for
Paying College Costs Falls to the Parents
• Students were asked who will be primarily
responsible for paying for the cost of their
college education. There are no differences by
age group.
• Half (51%) of juniors say their parents will be
primarily responsible.
– Among lower-income juniors, only 35% expect
their parents to have primary responsibility,
compared to 59% of higher-income juniors.
All
others
4%
Student
22%
– Juniors for whom both parents are college
graduates are more likely to indicate their
parents will have primary responsibility (63%).
Parents
51%
• One in four juniors expects to split the costs
equally with their parents.
– This percentage is higher among minority
students (30%).
• One in five juniors say they will be primarily
responsible themselves.
– Among lower-income juniors, 32% expect to
have primary responsibility, compared to 15%
of higher-income juniors.
Parents
and
student
equally
23%
Q.38 Who will be primarily responsible for paying
for the cost of your college education?
51
Although Parents and Students Will Pay for Many of the
College Costs, There Are Often Other Contributors
• Students were asked who will be
primarily responsible for paying for the
cost of their college education, and who
else will contribute.
• Three of four students expect their
parents to contribute to their college
costs.
– This is especially true of higher-income
students (85% vs. 59% of lower-income
students) and those students from
households where both parents are
college graduates (88%).
77%
Parents
77%
74%
53%
Student
54%
66%
22%
Grandparents
19%
• Lutheran juniors (66%) are the highest of
all religious groups to say they will be
contributing themselves.
– Lutheran parents and “other family
members” taken together are less likely
to contribute, and therefore the student
makes up the difference.
• One in five students expect their
grandparents to contribute to their
college costs, while one in six named
another family member.
• A small percentage also named
individuals who are not family members.
19%
Sophomores
17%
Other family
members
Juniors
16%
10%
Lutheran
juniors
5%
Non-family
members
6%
7%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Q.38 Who will be primarily responsible for paying for the cost of
your college education? Q.39 Who else will contribute?
100%
52
Recap:
Changes Between Sophomore and Junior Year
• There is a significant increase in the percentage who have taken advanced placement and college
courses from the sophomore to the junior year.
• Juniors are nearly twice as likely as sophomores to work. Among those who work, the hours are the
same, about sixteen hours per week.
• There is a shift in thought about college; with 10% fewer juniors saying they have no clear idea yet
of the type of college they’d like to attend.
• Sophomore males have unrealistically high expectations for participation in intercollegiate sports in
college; this drops by the junior year.
– Similarly, sophomores prefer many extracurricular options in college, while juniors begin to believe
having a chance to participate is more important.
• By the junior year, females may begin to develop a preference for private colleges. They are
significantly more likely than males to favor good faculty advising to lots of major options.
• Juniors are less likely to agree that small colleges provide substantial scholarships that make them
affordable. Although junior males are lowest on this characteristic, it is not significant.
• When seeking college information, juniors have significantly more experience with college-initiated
interactions and marketing, but the gap is much smaller when it comes to self-initiated interactions,
indicating that sophomores are actively seeking available information.
• From the sophomore to junior year there is a increase in the number of students who indicate they
have talked to their parents about how to pay for college, and especially additional consideration of
financial aid. It is during the junior year that the strategy of choosing a less expensive college
emerges.
• Although the number remains low, twice as many juniors as sophomores have spending limits
imposed by their parents and/or have eliminated colleges because of price.
53
Recap:
How Lutherans Differ From the Total Junior Sample
• Lutheran families are more highly-educated, church members, and Caucasian. Lutheran juniors
are more likely to live in small towns or rural areas, attend smaller high schools and have higher
GPAs.
• Lutherans are more likely to place importance on growing their faith through worship and
service, and less likely to believe adapting to different settings and learning leadership skills
through music or sports participation is very important.
• Lutherans are more likely to agree with small college attributes: they are more interested in a
chance to participate in extracurricular activities and good faculty advising than having a lot of
options in extracurricular activities or majors.
– However, more than in the random population, there is a segment (especially higher-GPA
Lutherans) who say an enrollment of under 4,000 makes them LESS interested in a college.
• Lutherans are more likely to say a religious affiliation makes them more interested in a college
(35% vs. 20% of the random population).
• Lutherans are more likely to consider a college because someone they know has attended that
college; especially friends, or boyfriend/girlfriend.
• Lutheran juniors are more likely to indicate private colleges have an emphasis on values and
ethics and a higher likelihood of finishing in four years.
• Lutheran juniors are less inclined than the random population to say they will choose a
less expensive option, then transfer.
• Lutheran juniors, as compared to any other religious group, indicate the highest level of student
contribution to college costs.
54
Recap:
Regional Differences
• The largest demographic differences between regions are in ethnicity and income.
• For juniors living in the West, sports are less important, and band, choir, dance and clubs are more
important. Acceptance of people who are different from them is a highly important skill. Western
juniors place more importance on several characteristics, including faculty that get to know them,
developing career skills, attending with involved students, an emphasis on values and ethics, and a
campus where music has a presence. Western juniors are more likely to say state university
funding was recently cut in their state; they are highest of all regions to claim a negative impact of
the cuts.
• For Midwestern juniors, only sports stand out as more important. Midwestern juniors are one group
that is more likely to say a “religious affiliation” would make them more interested. They are
somewhat more likely than other regions to indicate a public university as best in the state.
Midwestern juniors are most likely to agree there has been large tuition hikes in their state. They
are also most likely of any group to work in high school, at 54%.
• Southwestern juniors are less likely to be interested in sports and list the fewest activities of all
groups, however, they are far more likely than other groups to be interested in growing their faith
through worship and service, and to say a “religious affiliation” would make them more interested in
a college. Southwestern juniors are least likely to agree living on campus enriches the college
experience, but are most likely to agree that small colleges provide substantial scholarships to make
them affordable. Southwestern juniors differ from other regions by often attributing the private
college characteristics--faculty that get to know them, courses taught by actual professors, and an
emphasis on values and ethics--to public universities. Southwest residents are more likely to have
spending limits imposed on them.
55
Recap:
Regional Differences (Continued)
• Of all groups, Northeastern juniors are most interested in sports, and they are also more
interested in drama or theater and community service. They are least interested in developing
their spirituality or growing their faith through worship and service. Northeastern juniors are more
likely to say that a private school, one located in another state, or a state school would make no
difference in their consideration. Accordingly, they are lower than most other regions in saying
these attributes would make them more interested in a college. They are the only region to
mention a private college or university more often than a public as best in their state. They are
least likely to agree large universities can be overwhelming, are less likely to believe it is
important to attend with students who are motivated, and are more likely to say there is no
difference between private colleges and public universities on most attributes measured.
Northeast residents are more likely to have spending limits imposed on them.
• Southeastern juniors are twice as likely as other groups to be interested in academic clubs; they
are also more interested in community service. They place greater importance on a program
with a good placement record for jobs and grad school. Southeastern juniors are more likely to
say state university funding was recently cut in their state.
56