1. The American Freshman: National Norms for Fall 2006 Sylvia Hurtado & John H. Pryor January 19, 2007
Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP)
Higher Education Research Institute (HERI)
Graduate School of Education & Information Studies
University of California, Los Angeles

2. CIRP Surveys
Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) established in 1966 at American Council on Education
CIRP transferred to UCLA in 1973
40th Anniversary of CIRP in 2006
Examination of long-term trends in college students
Data used for policy analysis, human resource planning, campus administration, educational research, guidance and counseling

3. CIRP Surveys Freshman Survey Your First College Year (YFCY)
End of first year of college
College Senior Survey (CSS)
End of college experience
Survey instruments
Used in conjunction for longitudinal purposes
Revised annually to reflect changing concerns

4. 2006 Freshman Norms
Based on weighted responses of 271,441 students at year colleges and universities
88% median institutional participation rate
Data statistically adjusted to reflect responses of 1.3 million first-time, full-time students

5. Presentation Outline Political Orientation and Views
Attitudes on Social/Political Issues
Concerns about College Finances
Impact of Finances on College Choice
Reliance on Paid Work
AP Course-Taking and Exams
Civic Commitment and Concerns
Pre-College/College Racial Composition

6. Political Orientation and Views

7. Political Orientation and Views
Increased prevalence of discussing politics in high school
2006 – 33.8 percent (“frequently”)
2004 – 25.5 percent (“frequently”)

8. Political Orientation and Views
Political shift away from center
Political Orientation
2006
Change from 2005
Liberal
28.4%
(highest since 1975)
+1.3%
Middle-of-the-Road
43.3%
(lowest since 1970)
-1.7%
Conservative
23.9%
(highest in history)

9. Political Orientation and Views
Political shift away from center

10. Political Orientation and Views
Shift in attitudes from 2005 to 2006
Agree “Strongly or “Somewhat”
2005
2006
The federal government should do more to control the sale of handguns
78.7%
73.8%
There is too much concern in the courts for the rights of criminals
57.9%
55.9%
Same sex couples should have the right to legal marital status
61.2%
It is important to have laws prohibiting homosexual relations
27.4%
25.6%

11. Attitudes on Social/Political Issues

12. Attitudes on Social/Political Issues
Differences in support for gay rights

13. Attitudes on Social/Political Issues
Differences in support for legalizing abortion

14. Attitudes on Social/Political Issues
Noticeable differences along ideological lines
Agree “Strongly or “Somewhat”
Liberals
Conservatives
The death penalty should be abolished
48.0%
22.5%
Marijuana should be legalized
52.5%
23.5%
A national health plan is needed to cover everybody’s medical costs
83.9%
57.0%

15. Attitudes on Social/Political Issues
Affirmative action in college admissions should be abolished
52.7% of conservative freshmen agree “strongly” or “somewhat”
44.6% of liberal freshmen agree “strongly” or “somewhat”

16. Attitudes on Social/Political Issues
Modest differences along ideological lines
Agree “Strongly or “Somewhat”
Liberals
Conservatives
Dissent is a critical component of the political process
66.1%
63.2%
Realistically, an individual can do little to bring about major changes in our society
25.3%
26.5%

17. Attitudes on Social/Political Issues
Political Orientation
Agree “Strongly or “Somewhat”
Liberal/
Far Left
Middle-of-the-Road
Conservative/
Far Right
The federal government is not doing enough to control environmental pollution
88.5%
79.3%
62.5%
The federal government should do more to control the sale of handguns
81.8%
74.8%
62.1%
Only volunteers should serve in the armed forces
73.0%
53.6%
Wealthy people should pay a larger share of taxes than they do now
71.6%
57.8%
42.2%
Through hard work, everybody can succeed in American society
68.3%
79.9%
85.4%
The chief benefit of a college education is that it increases one's earning power
59.6%
68.8%
70.8%

18. Attitudes on Social/Political Issues
Political Orientation
Agree “Strongly or “Somewhat”
Liberal/
Far Left
Middle-of-the-Road
Conservative/
Far Right
There is too much concern in the courts for the rights of criminals
43.2%
58.3%
67.6%
Undocumented immigrants should be denied access to public education
34.0%
47.5%
61.4%
The federal government should raise taxes to reduce the deficit
33.4%
24.2%
23.3%
Colleges have the right to ban extreme speakers from campus
28.5%
40.6%
55.1%
Federal military spending should be increased
18.4%
31.7%
51.4%
Racial discrimination is no longer a problem in America
12.6%
18.7%
27.8%

19. Civic Commitment and Concerns

20. Civic Commitment and Concerns
Institutional Type
Black Colleges
“Essential” or “Very Important” Objectives
All Baccalaureate Institutions
All
Public
Private
Helping others who are in difficulty
66.7%
76.5%
75.0%
79.5%
Becoming a community leader
35.2%
52.7%
49.8%
58.3%
Influencing social values
42.5%
57.7%
56.1%
60.9%
Participating in an organization like the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps/VISTA
11.3%
15.2%
15.3%
15.0%

21. Concerns about College Finances

22. Concerns about College Finances
2 out of 3 (64.1 percent) students indicate that they have “some” or “major” concerns regarding their ability to finance the costs of college education

23. Concerns about College Finances
“Major” concerns about financing college based on family income

24. College Choice and Finances

25. College Choice 2006 – 67.3% attending first choice
Lowest level since 1988 (66.7%)

26. College Choice and Finances
Top 5 important reasons influencing college choice for students attending first-choice institution
Academic reputation
Graduates getting good jobs
Visit to campus
School size
Good social reputation

27. Impact of Finances on College Choice
Finances of greater concern for students attending second- and third-choice institutions
Considered cost
“very important”
Freshmen attending first-choice institution
29.1%
Freshmen attending second-choice institution
37.4%
Freshmen attending third-choice institution
40.4%

28. Impact of Finances on College Choice
Of students who were admitted but did not attend their first-choice institutions…
34.0% could not afford their first choice
20.7% did not receive aid from their first choice

29. Impact of Finances on College Choice
Attending
"Very Important" Reason for Attending this College
1st Choice
2nd Choice
3rd Choice
4th Choice
and Lower
This college has a very good academic reputation
63.0
49.9
41.1
30.5
This college's graduates get good jobs
52.7
44.9
39.2
31.3
A visit to campus
43.1
31.2
23.5
18.0
I wanted to go to a school about the size of this college
42.9
33.6
26.0
21.3
This college has a very good reputation for its social activities
35.6
28.0
21.6
15.5
I was offered financial assistance
32.5
37.2
39.6
39.8
This college's graduates gain admission to top graduate/professional schools
31.4
28.4
27.5
23.8

30. Impact of Finances on College Choice
Attending
"Very Important" Reason for Attending this College
1st Choice
2nd Choice
3rd Choice
4th Choice
and Lower
The cost of attending this college
29.1
37.4
40.4
41.2
I wanted to live near home
19.6
16.7
13.8
12.5
Information from a website
18.1
15.6
13.4
11.0
Rankings in national magazines
17.5
14.4
14.0
12.9
Admitted through Early Action/Decision program
6.4
5.0
3.7
Could not afford my first choice
3.0
20.4
26.0
28.4
Not offered aid by my first choice
2.3
13.2
18.2
21.4

31. Reliance on Paid Work

32. Reliance on Paid Work Source of Aid for First Year 2006
Change from 2000
Parents, other relatives, or friends
82.2%
-0.3%
Other savings
38.3%
+6.3%
Part-time job on campus
29.0%
+3.2%
Part-time job off campus
24.3%
+2.4%
Full-time job while in college
4.7%
+2.0%

33. AP Course-Taking and Exams

34. AP Course-Taking and Exams
61.6% took at least one AP course
51.0% took at least one AP exam
6.3% went to high schools that did not offer AP courses

35. AP Course-Taking and Exams
AP Courses Offered at My High School: None
Took 1 or More AP Courses
Took 1 or More AP Exams
Took 5 or More AP Courses
White
6.2%
61.1%
49.7%
13.9%
Black/African American
7.4%
49.8%
38.6%
7.6%
American Indian
6.5%
62.1%
48.7%
31.7%
Asian American/Pacific Islander
5.8%
73.1%
65.7%
17.8%
Latina/o
5.1%
67.7%
59.4%
13.7%
Other/Unknown
58.9%
47.8%
13.0%
TOTAL
6.3%
61.7%
50.9%
14.9%

36. Pre-College/College Racial Composition

37. Pre-College/College Racial Composition
Percentage of White Students in Incoming Freshman Cohort at Student's Institution
Racial Composition of High School Last Attended
Mean %
s.d.
All/mostly non-White
49.0
28.5
Half & Half
63.0
22.8
All/mostly White
72.1
16.9
Racial Composition of Neighborhood Where You Grew Up
48.5
29.3
59.5
24.6
71.9
16.5
TOTAL
67.0
21.6

38. Conclusions Increasing student political and civic awareness
Colleges can foster democratic citizenship, greater political and civic awareness. Good news for college classroom and student affairs work
College choice is becoming more complex
Attention to financial support for low-income and middle-class families is essential
Given unequal opportunities in access to AP courses and exams, we need to offer alternative criteria for admissions
Diversity remains a major concern for college educational goals

39. Register for the 2007 CIRP Freshman Survey
For more information:
A copy of “The American Freshman: National Norms for Fall 2006, press release, research brief, powerpoint slides:
Register for the 2007 CIRP Freshman Survey