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A Profile of Freshmen at 4-Year Colleges, Fall 2011

August 26, 2012

Nearly half of new freshmen put their parents’ income at less than $75,000 a year. Most nevertheless plan to be in college for more than four years, in hopes of increasing their own earning power. Less than a quarter expect a bachelor’s degree to be the highest degree they will receive. A third have set their sights on earning a doctoral or professional degree.

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A Profile of Freshmen at 4-Year Colleges, Fall 2011

Nearly half of new freshmen put their parents’ income at less than $75,000 a year. Most nevertheless plan to be in college for more than four years, in hopes of increasing their own earning power. Less than a quarter expect a bachelor’s degree to be the highest degree they will receive. A third have set their sights on earning a doctoral or professional degree.

WHO THEY ARE
Race and ethnicity*
White 70.2%
African-American 12.1%
Asian-American/Asian 9.8%
Mexican-American 7.0%
Puerto Rican 1.5%
Other Latino 5.4%
American Indian/Alaska Native 2.7%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 1.2%
Other 3.6%
First generation in college
Yes 19.7%
No 80.3%
Parents’ education level (college degree or higher)
Father 54.2%
Mother 56.8%
Current religious preference
Roman Catholic 26.0%
None 24.5%
Baptist 9.3%
Church of Christ 5.5%
Methodist 3.8%
Lutheran 3.2%
Presbyterian 2.9%
Jewish 2.6%
Episcopalian 1.4%
Buddhist 1.3%
Muslim 1.1%
Hindu 0.8%
United Church of Christ/Congregational 0.8%
Eastern Orthodox 0.7%
Seventh-day Adventist 0.4%
Mormon 0.3%
Quaker 0.2%
Other Christian 12.4%
Other religion 2.8%
Best estimate of parents’ income
Less than $25,000 14.7%
$25,000 to $49,999 16.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 18.0%
$75,000 to $99,999 12.9%
$100,000 to $149,999 17.1%
$150,000 to $199,999 8.2%
$200,000 or more 12.6%
WHAT THEY THINK
Political views
Far left 2.7%
Liberal 27.6%
Middle of the road 47.4%
Conservative 20.7%
Far right 1.6%
Agree strongly or somewhat with these statements
Abortion should be legal 60.7%
Marijuana should be legal 49.1%
Racial discrimination is no longer a major problem in America 24.5%
Same-sex couples should have the legal right to adopt a child 71.3%
Federal military spending should be increased 30.5%
Undocumented immigrants should be denied access to public education 43.0%
Students from disadvantaged social backgrounds should be given preferential treatment in college admissions 42.1%
A national health-care plan is needed to cover everybody’s medical costs 60.5%
Addressing global warming should be a federal priority 63.2%
WHAT THEY HOPE TO ACHIEVE
Highest degree planned
None 1.0%
Vocational certificate 0.1%
Associate 0.4%
Bachelor’s 21.4%
Master’s 42.0%
Ph.D. or Ed.D. 19.1%
M.D., D.O., D.D.S., D.V.M. 10.2%
J.D. 4.2%
B.D. or M.Div. 0.2%
Other 1.3%
Probable field of study/major
Professional 14.9%
Business 14.9%
Social science 12.1%
Engineering 12.0%
Arts and humanities 11.0%
Biological science 10.9%
Education 5.9%
Physical science 3.7%
Technical 1.0%
Other fields 7.2%
Undecided 6.4%
Agree strongly or somewhat
The chief benefit of a college education is that it increases one’s earning power 72.3%
Reasons, listed as very important, for attending college
Get a better job 85.9%
Learn more about things of interest 82.9%
Train for a specific career 77.6%
Gain a general education and appreciation of ideas 72.4%
Make more money 71.7%
Prepare for graduate or professional school 61.4%
Become a more cultured person 50.3%

* Proportions of racial and ethnic groups add up to more than 100 percent because respondents were told to mark all that applied.
Note: Data are based on responses to an annual survey by 203,967 full-time, first-time freshmen entering 270 baccalaureate institutions and are weighted to provide a normative profile of such students. Because of rounding, figures in some categories may not add up to 100 percent.

Source: “The American Freshman: National Norms, Fall 2011,” U. of California at Los Angeles Higher Education Research Institute
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