Comparative Alumni Research: What Matters in College AFTER College

Alumni Survey Methodology Telephone surveys with Lutheran and Non-Lutheran graduates of the following institutions (600 each): –Lutheran colleges –Other private colleges –Flagship public universities –Other public colleges and universities Graduating classes of interviews completed Balanced by region of the country

Definition of Flagship Universities Flagship public universities = 147 public universities designated as “national universities” in U.S. News and World Report, America’s Best Colleges, They offer a full range of undergraduate majors, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees. Many place strong emphasis on research and receive funding for their research endeavors (p.37).

Alumni Profile LutheranFlagship Gender Female58%57% Male42%43% Education College degree65%68% Post graduate degree35%32% Median age 4544 Median household income $62,000$62,500 Married 81%76%

Lutheran Colleges and Flagship Public Universities Compete for Similar Students Selectivity Rating of Respondents’ Alma Mater Source: US News and World Report

THE UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE

What Matters in College …although different types of institutions tend to have particular types of environments, … it is the environment created by the faculty and the students - rather than the type of institution per se - that really seems to matter. Alexander Astin, What Matters in College?

What Matters in College Our review indicates two persistent themes in the research literature on college effects. The first is the central role of other people in a student’s life, whether students or faculty, and the character of the learning environments they create…The second theme is the potency of the student’s effort and involvement in the academic and non academic systems of the institutions they attend. Ernest T. Pascarella and Patrick T. Terenzini, How College Affects Students.

Environment + Involvement = Outcomes

Environment Alumni of Lutheran Colleges benefited more from the learning environment than alumni of flagship institutions. Specifically, they benefited from...

Strong Academic Reputation, Faculty and Facilities S = Significant difference Q.1 Please tell me how much you personally benefited from your college offering... (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=did not benefit at all, and 5=benefited very much)

A Campus Community Which is Part of the Learning Environment S = Significant difference Q.1 Please tell me how much you personally benefited from your college offering... (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=did not benefit at all, and 5=benefited very much)

The Integration of Faith and Values Into the College Experience S = Significant difference *Q.1A/1B Please tell me how much you personally benefited from your college offering... (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=did not benefit at all, and 5=benefited very much) ** Q. 2 How much did your college experience include the following? (rating a 4 or 5 on a five- point scale, where 1=never and 5=always)

The Integration of Faith and Values Into the College Experience *Q.6A Were you involved in any of the following? **Q.12 How much do you agree or disagree with the following? (rating a 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree) Had leadership role: 23% 10%

As students, alumni of Lutheran colleges were more involved in all aspects of campus life. Student Involvement

Involvement With Faculty S = Significant difference Q.1 Please tell me how much you personally benefited from your college offering... (top-two box) Q.2 How often did your college experience include the following? (top-two box) Q.12 How much do you agree or disagree with the following? (top-two box)

Mentoring Who Was Mentor? S = Significant difference Q. 4 Who, if anyone, did you meet at your college who was a mentor or role model for you?

Involvement With Peers S = Significant difference * Q.12 How much do you agree or disagree with the following? (rating a 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree) ** Q.1 Please tell me how much you personally benefited from your college offering... (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=did not benefit at all, and 5=benefited very much) *** Q. 2 How much did your college experience include the following? (rating a 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=never and 5=always)

Extracurricular Involvement Volunteer or service activities Intramural athletics Varsity athletics 62% S 42% 51% S 5% 21% S 37% Total Involved Q.6A Were you involved in any of the following?

Music or theatre performances Campus publications or student government Academic clubs 39% S 18% 16% 26% S Total Involved 50% 44% Q.6A Were you involved in any of the following? Extracurricular Involvement

Outcomes Compared to graduates of public flagship universities, graduates of Lutheran colleges rate their colleges as...

Equally Effective in Developing General Critical Thinking Skills Q.10 How effective was your college in helping you develop the following? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all effective and 5=extremely effective)

More Effective in Developing Communication Skills and Arts Appreciation S = Significant difference Q.10 How effective was your college in helping you develop the following? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all effective and 5=extremely effective)

More Effective in Developing Interpersonal Skills S = Significant difference Q.10 How effective was your college in helping you develop the following? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all effective and 5=extremely effective)

More Effective in Preparing Students For Careers S = Significant difference Q.10 How effective was your college in helping you develop the following? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all effective and 5=extremely effective)

More Effective in Helping Students Develop a Sense of Purpose S = Significant difference Q.10 How effective was your college in helping you develop the following? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all effective and 5=extremely effective)

Compared to graduates of public flagship universities, Lutheran college graduates...

Are Much More Likely to Graduate in Four Years or Less S = Significant difference Q.18 How many years did it take for you to complete your four-year degree?

Are Equally Likely to Earn a Graduate or Professional Degree Are Likely to Earn Equal Incomes

Aspire to Use Their Best Abilities, to Be Leaders, and to Continue to Learn It is Important To... S = Significant difference Q.19 How important is it to you to...? (rating a 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all important and 5=extremely important)

Place Higher Value on Family, Ethical and Religious Concerns Than Financial Advantage It is Important To... S = Significant difference Q.19 How important is it to you to...? (rating a 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all important and 5=extremely important)

Place Higher Value on Community Concerns It is Important To... S = Significant difference Q.19 How important is it to you to...? (rating a 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all important and 5=extremely important)

Are More Likely to be Active, Contributing Members in Their Communities Financial support 75% 64% 47% 50% 39% 28% Recent Involvement in Volunteer Activities S = Significant difference Q.20 In the past five years, have you been involved in the volunteer activity... ? Have you financially supported... ?

WHAT MATTERS TO PARENTS

Lutheran Parent Survey Methodology Surveys mailed to members of ELCA and LCMS churches: –Parents of 9th grade students –Parents of 10th grade students A total of 3000 surveys mailed Qualified families had student in 9th or 10th grade who planned to go to college; 95% qualified Overall response rate of 30%

Parent Profile Education Not a college graduate44% Public college or university graduate41% Other private college graduate 8% Lutheran college graduate 7% Gender Female77% Male23% Married 89% Income Less than $50,00031% $50,000-74,99937% $75,000 or more32%

Campus community Academic reputation and facilities Spiritual growth opportunities Involvement with faculty Alternative study opportunities Extracurricular involvement What Matters to Parents: Experiences *% rating a 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=“not at all important,” and 5=“extremely important” 0%20%40%60%80%100% Extremely Important* Undergraduate Experiences

Parents Credit Lutheran Colleges with a Positive Campus Community Parents: Q.11, 16 Where do you think students would be more likely to find... ? Parents: Where Will Students Find... Extremely 81% 42% 31% Important:

Parents: Q.11 Where do you think students would be more likely to find... ? Parents: Where Will Students Find... Parents See No Difference in Strong Academic Reputation and Facilities Extremely 68% 60% 66% 57% Important:

Spiritual Growth Opportunities Expected at Lutheran Colleges Parents: Q.11, 13,16 Where do you think students would be more likely to find... ? Parents: Where Will Students Find... Extremely 27% 53% 27% 31% Important:

Most Parents Know Lutheran Colleges Promote Faculty Involvement Parents: Q.13 Where do you think students would be more likely to find... ? Parents: Where Will Students Find... Extremely 34% 37% 27% 45% Important:

Parents Don’t Recognize the Availability of Other Learning Opportunities at Lutheran Colleges Parents: Q.13 Where do you think students would be more likely to find... ? Parents: Where Will Students Find... Extremely 11% 33% 9% Important:

Parents See No Difference in Extracurricular Opportunities Parents: Q.11 Where do you think students would be more likely to find... ? Parents: Where Will Students Find... Extremely 11% 12% 13% 8% Important:

What Matters to Parents: Bottom Line *% rating a 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=“not at all important,” and 5=“extremely important” 0%20%40%60%80%100%

Most Parents Don’t Recognize the Greater Chance of Graduating in Four Years Parents: Q.11 Where do you think students would be more likely to find... ? Parents: Where Will Students Find... Extremely 75% 52% 66% Important:

Sense of purpose in life Critical thinking and communication skills Career preparation Strong personal values Interpersonal skills Spiritual development Contributing to the community Being well-off financially What Matters to Parents: Outcomes *% rating a 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=“not at all important,” and 5=“extremely important” Extremely Important* 0%20%40%60%80%100% Undergraduate Outcomes

Of these outcomes, parents: recognize Lutheran colleges are better at developing strong personal values and integrating faith with other aspects of life accurately note there is no difference between Lutheran colleges and public universities in preparing graduates to be well-off financially concluded there were no differences for all other outcome areas, even though Lutheran college graduates gave higher ratings than public university graduates on each of them

Many Parents Don’t Have Strong Awareness or Impressions of Lutheran Colleges When asked about Lutheran Colleges they were aware of: * Among LCMS parents ** Among ELCA parents Q.9 Overall, what are your impressions of Lutheran colleges? Q.5 What Lutheran colleges are you aware of? Q.6 What Lutheran colleges would you consider for your son or daughter?

Perhaps because parents: misperceive the importance of key elements of the college experience misperceive where they are most likely to find key elements and experiences have limited awareness of Lutheran colleges

They Don’t Perceive Major Differences in Quality Q.7 If costs were equal, please rate the quality of education you believe a student receives at a Lutheran college compared to: Lutheran Colleges Compared to Other School Types

How Do Parents Who Favor Lutheran Colleges Differ From Those Who Don’t? no consistent differences by: –gender of parent or child –synod –what they believe a Lutheran education to cost differences occurred by: –perceptions of Lutheran colleges –perceptions of public universities –involvement in the Church –parent’s educational level –the type of college they attended –primary responsibility for paying for college Results of discriminant analysis

Impressions of Lutheran Colleges: Impressions of Public Universities: “Challenging” is a Differentiating Impression for Both Types of Institutions * Rating “about the same” or “not as good as publics” on the following: If costs were equal, please rate the quality of education you believe a student receives at a Lutheran college compared to main public universities

Differentiating Variables Based on Parent Enthusiasm Toward Lutheran Colleges “Friendly,” “Challenging” and “Intellectual” are the Lutheran College Impressions that Foster Enthusiasm Impressions of Lutheran Colleges: Impressions of Public Universities: * Rating a 1, 2 or 3 on a 5-point scale, where 1=not at all enthusiastic and 5=very enthusiastic on the following question: How enthusiastic would you be if your child considered Lutheran colleges?

Lutheran colleges must: document their academic rigor and practical value educate parents about the importance of an involving educational experience explain the availability of financial aid make college more affordable through financing options