Summary of the 2005 CIRP Freshman Survey
Background. The CIRP Freshman Survey is administered annually to incoming first-year
students at Calvin and at colleges nationwide. Calvin has a nearly 40 year history of
participation in the survey. The survey is coordinated by the Higher Education Research
Institute (HERI) at UCLA (http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/heri/heri.html).
Calvin's results are compared with a group called Other Religious Four-Year Colleges, as
distinguished from Catholic, Non-Sectarian, and Public Four-Year Colleges and
Universities. Many in the Other Religious category are Protestant institutions with
historical denominational ties, such as Alma, Carthage, Elmhurst, Valparaiso, and
Wittenburg. In addition, CCCU schools with denominational affiliations are included-schools such as Abilene Christian, Bethel (IN), Messiah, Point Loma Nazarene, and
Seattle Pacific. Detailed tables of these data comparisons can be found after the narrative.
HIGHLIGHTS
Reasons for Attending College. Calvin students are less likely than their peers at other
institutions to view careers, graduate school, and making money as very important
reasons for going to college. Sixty-four percent (64%) of students at Other Religious
Four-Year Colleges said “To be able to make more money” was a very important reason
in deciding to go to college compared to 47% of Calvin students. Similarly, 70% of
comparison group students said “To get training for a specific career” was a very
important reason compared to 54% for Calvin students. Preparation for graduate or
professional school was also more important for students at Calvin’s peer institutions,
with 53% saying this was a very important reason compared to 44% of Calvin students.
The results on this last item appear to be related to gender differences. Calvin men are
about equally likely as their male peers at other institutions to say that preparation for
graduate school is a very important reason for them deciding to go to college (46% vs.
47%). However, Calvin women are significantly less likely than their female peers at
comparison institutions to have rated this item as very important (43% vs. 57%).
Degree Aspirations. There appears to be increasingly less interest among first-year
Calvin students in pursuing graduate degrees. When asked “What is the highest degree
you plan to obtain at any college?” the percentage saying Bachelor’s degree has increased
over the past ten years, from 23% in 1995, to 33% in 2005. The percentage saying
Master’s, Ph.D. or various professional degrees has dropped from over 75% in 1995 to
66% in 2005.
Majors. Interest in Arts and Humanities majors is increasing, while teacher education
appears to be in a bit of a slump. The proportion of incoming Calvin first-year students
saying they plan to major in Arts and Humanities fields such as Art, English, Foreign
Languages, Music, Theatre, Philosophy, Religion, etc. has increased from 13% and 12%
in 1995 and 2000, respectively, to 16% in 2005. The percentage setting their sights on an
education major dropped from 19% in 1995 and 2000 to 13% in 2005.
1
Reasons for Choosing Calvin. Academic reputation is becoming increasingly important
to students in their decision to attend Calvin. When given a list of 18 factors potentially
influencing their decision to attend, the item chosen most often as very important (79%)
was “This college has a very good academic reputation.” The importance of this item has
increased over recent years--in the 1995 CIRP survey, 67% selected this item as very
important. Among our comparison group of Other Religious Four-Year Colleges, the
percentage saying this item was very important in their decision was 59% in 2005 and
roughly the same in 1995.
The second most important reason selected by Calvin students (69%) was “I was
attracted by the religious affiliation/orientation of the college.” This item was selected by
students at our group of comparison colleges (religious colleges, no less!) by only 28%.
The importance of this item for Calvin students has increased over time, as the percent in
1995 saying this was very important in their decision was 53%.
Financial considerations were less important in Calvin student decision-making than for
students choosing to go elsewhere. While 56% of students at comparison institutions said
“I was offered financial assistance” was a very important reason in their decision-making,
this was true for only 39% of Calvin students. In addition, the “cost of attending” was a
very important factor for half as many Calvin students (12%) as for students at
comparison institutions (23%).
Family Income. In a related vein, Calvin students are more likely to be from wealthier
families than students from the comparison group of Other Religious Four-Year Colleges.
The percentage of Calvin students who estimate their parent’s income to be $60,000 or
higher is 70% compared to 57% for students at comparison institutions.
Student Expectations. A higher percentage of Calvin students (75%) expect their religious
beliefs/convictions to be strengthened during their college experience compared with
those entering Other Religious Four-Year Colleges (44%). In addition, a higher
percentage of Calvin students expect to participate in a study abroad program (44% vs.
29%). Sixty-three percent of Calvin students say chances are very good that they will be
satisfied with their college choice compared with 55% of the comparison group. A
slightly higher percentage of Calvin students say chances are very good that they will get
a job to help pay for college expenses (56% vs. 47%) and that they will participate in
volunteer or community service work (42% vs. 34%).
Student Self-Ratings. Calvin students rate themselves highest in Academic ability and
Spirituality/Religiosity. When asked to rate themselves relative to their peers on 18 traits,
Calvin students rate themselves highest in Academic Ability. Seventy-nine percent (79%)
of Calvin first-time students rate themselves as either above average or in the top 10% in
“Academic ability” when compared with the average person his/her age. This compares
with 66% of students at comparison institutions. In addition, Calvin student’s ratings on
this item have increased in the past decade, 69% answered the same way in 1995. Calvin
students differ the most from their peers at Other Religious Four-Year Colleges in their
self-ratings of religiousness and spirituality. Seventy percent (70%) of Calvin students
2
rate themselves above average or in the top 10% in religiousness compared to 45% of
students at other institutions; and 69% of Calvin students rate themselves above average
in spirituality compared with 49% of their peers.
Significant gender gaps exist among Calvin students in self-ratings of computer skills,
mathematical ability, and physical health. While similar gender gaps exist between males
and females at peer institutions, the computer skills and mathematical ratings differences
between Calvin males and females are even more pronounced than the differences
evident at comparison group institutions. Calvin women tend to rate themselves higher
than Calvin men in “Drive to achieve” and “Understanding of others.”
Student Goals and Objectives. Integrating spirituality into one’s life and raising a family
are the top rated objectives of incoming Calvin students, rated as Essential or Very
important by 86% and 83% of students, respectively. While raising a family is also the
top-rated objective of students at peer institutions (79%), the second most important
objective for them is “helping others who are in difficulty (70%). A similar percentage of
Calvin students rate this item as important (69%). Integrating spirituality into their lives
is a much lower priority for students at other institutions (essential or very important for
only 58%). Another of the large differences between objectives of Calvin students and
those of their peers is the percentage saying “Being very well off financially” is an
essential or very important objective (43% for Calvin vs. 66% for peer institutions). In
addition, significantly fewer Calvin students today than ten years ago place a high
importance on “Becoming an authority in my field” (44% in 2005 vs. 53% in 1995).
Political Views. Calvin students consider themselves to be more politically conservative
than students at peer institutions. However, what may be surprising is that Calvin
students today see themselves as more conservative than Calvin students did 10 years
ago. Among the 2005 class of incoming students, 56% consider their political views
“conservative” compared to 45% of the class of 1995. This compares with 33% of
incoming students at Other Religious Four-Year Colleges in 2005 and 30% in 1995.
Two social/political issues on which Calvin students exhibit their political conservatism
most emphatically are abortion and homosexuality. On the items “Abortion should be
legal” and “Same-sex couples should have the right to legal marital status,” only 12% and
17%, respectively, of Calvin students agreed, compared to 41% and 43% of students at
Other Religious Four-Year Colleges. In addition, Calvin students differ substantially
from their peers at other institutions in their views of casual sexual relations. Only 5% of
incoming Calvin students agree that “If two people really like each other, it’s all right for
them to have sex even if they’ve known each other for only a very short time” compared
with 32% of their peers at other institutions.
Student Activities/Behaviors. Fewer Calvin students have smoked cigarettes and drank
beer than those entering ten years ago, mirroring a national trend. In addition, more have
participated in volunteer work (96%) compared with ten years ago (86%).
3
First-Year Student Views and Development
Educational Plans and Reasons for Selecting College Attended
2005 Survey
Calvin
College
0%
33%
41%
12%
9%
3%
1%
1%
1%
27%
40%
16%
9%
4%
1%
2%
0%
28%
44%
14%
9%
2%
1%
1%
4%
2%
2%
11%
2%
7%
7%
2%
3%
13%
2%
14%
33%
7%
2%
2%
2%
4%
4%
6%
2%
1%
14%
3%
14%
41%
16%
6%
11%
13%
12%
2%
17%
9%
7%
6%
12%
79%
39%
39%
12%
9%
69%
55%
Calvin
College
(N=833)
Other
Religious
Four-year
Colleges1
1995 Survey
Calvin
College
(N=857)
4 yr Private
Protestant
1%
25%
41%
16%
9%
4%
1%
3%
0%
23%
46%
15%
10%
4%
1%
2%
1%
25%
38%
17%
12%
4%
1%
2%
4%
1%
3%
10%
2%
4%
6%
3%
2%
20%
2%
16%
27%
8%
2%
4%
3%
4%
2%
8%
2%
1%
15%
3%
13%
37%
5%
2%
2%
10%
3%
5%
7%
2%
4%
18%
3%
12%
27%
7%
2%
2%
3%
4%
3%
9%
2%
2%
15%
2%
13%
37%
17%
7%
16%
14%
2%
3%
14%
11%
7%
9%
12%
5%
9%
19%
11%
3%
13%
9%
11%
8%
15%
8%
16%
15%
3%
3%
12%
11%
7%
11%
13%
6%
10%
19%
10%
3%
14%
12%
8%
5%
13%
9%
14%
15%
3%
3%
16%
11%
8%
8%
11%
59%
31%
56%
23%
17%
28%
55%
9%
73%
38%
36%
2%
10%
65%
54%
9%
57%
28%
51%
8%
15%
28%
52%
9%
67%
23%
34%
4%
10%
53%
50%
9%
61%
25%
53%
8%
15%
25%
58%
Highest Degree Planned Anywhere
None
Bachelor's
Master's
Ph.D. or Ed.D.
M.D., D.O., D.D.S., D.V.M.
LL.B. or J.D.
B.D. or M.Div.
Other
2000 Survey
Other
Religious
Four-year
Colleges1
(N=841)
1999 Survey2
Student's Probable Career
Business Executive
Clergy
Computer Programmer
Engineer
Lawyer or Judge
Nurse
Physician
Scientific researcher
Social, welfare, recreation worker
Teacher
Writer or journalist
Undecided
Other
Student's Probable Major
Arts and Humanities
Biological Sciences
Business/Accounting
Education
Engineering
Physical Sciences
Professional
Social Sciences
Undecided
Other
Reasons for selecting college*
Relatives wanted me to come
Good academic reputation
Good social reputation
Offered financial assistance
Low tuition
Wanted to live near home
Religious affiliation/orientation
Size of college
*Percentages are of students who chose "very important" to each line item
Includes same schools as 4 Year Private Protestant stratification in earlier years.
2
This question was worded differently in the 2000 survey, so we provide more comparable 1999 data here.
1
4
First-Year Student Views and Development
Family Background, Reason for Attending College, Religious Preference
2005 Survey
2000 Survey
Calvin
College
(N=833)
Other
Religious
Four-year
1
Colleges
12%
14%
35%
4%
36%
1995 Survey
Calvin
College
(N=841)
Other
Religious
Four-year
1
Colleges
(N=857)
4 yr Private
Protestant
29%
20%
28%
2%
21%
14%
14%
32%
4%
35%
28%
21%
27%
2%
21%
16%
15%
30%
4%
34%
28%
22%
26%
3%
21%
11%
17%
49%
4%
19%
25%
24%
33%
3%
16%
14%
22%
42%
4%
17%
27%
25%
31%
3%
15%
16%
22%
42%
5%
14%
30%
26%
28%
3%
14%
7%
23%
35%
20%
15%
16%
27%
28%
15%
14%
10%
31%
32%
16%
11%
20%
33%
27%
11%
9%
12%
42%
29%
9%
7%
22%
38%
25%
8%
7%
30%
34%
18%
18%
23%
23%
20%
33%
29%
31%
17%
23%
23%
21%
20%
37%
23%
29%
20%
28%
20%
19%
20%
41%
27%
59%
14%
32%
54%
14%
28%
60%
13%
33%
53%
14%
25%
58%
18%
27%
54%
19%
40%
66%
47%
69%
37%
80%
44%
54%
41%
69%
64%
64%
43%
77%
53%
70%
39%
64%
48%
61%
29%
74%
41%
67%
41%
68%
63%
64%
36%
75%
54%
72%
35%
61%
40%
58%
23%
69%
na
na
44%
73%
64%
65%
34%
74%
na
na
5%
3%
2%
15%
1%
68%
2%
1%
18%
8%
9%
6%
14%
20%
3%
9%
8%
3%
2%
13%
2%
69%
3%
2%
22%
6%
9%
6%
15%
27%
7%
9%
6%
4%
2%
13%
2%
68%
4%
1%
22%
8%
11%
6%
16%
22%
7%
9%
Calvin
College
Father's Education
HS graduate or less
Some College or Postsecondary Educ
College Graduate
Some Graduate School
Graduate Degree
Mother's Education
HS graduate or less
Some College or Postsecondary Educ
College Graduate
Some Graduate School
Graduate Degree
Estimated Parental Income
Less than $30,000
$30,000 - $59,999
$60,000 - $99,999
$100,000 - $149,999
$150,000 or more
Average grade in high school?
A or A+
AB+
B or below
Concern about financing college
None
Some
Major
Reason for attending college*
Become a more cultured person
Get a better job
Make more money
Gain general education
Parents wanted me to go
Learn more about things that interest me
Prepare for grad/prof. school
Get training for a specific career
Student's Religious Preference
Baptist
Lutheran
Methodist
Presbyterian
Roman Catholic
Other Christian
Other religions
None
*Percentages are of students who chose "very important" to each line item
Includes same schools as 4 Year Private Protestant stratification
1
5
First-Year Student Views and Development
Student Self-Ratings, Important Objectives, and Political Views
2005 Survey
2000 Survey
Other
Religious
Calvin
Calvin
College Four-year College
1
(N=833) Colleges
(N=841)
Other
Religious
Four-year
1
Colleges
1995 Survey
Calvin
College 4 yr Private
(N=857)
Protestant
Student Rated Self Above Average
or Highest 10%
Academic ability
Artistic ability
Computer skills
Competitiveness
Cooperativeness
Creativity
Drive to achieve
Emotional health
Leadership ability
Mathematical ability
Physical health
Popularity
Public speaking ability
Self-confidence (intellectual)
Self-confidence (social)
Self-understanding
Spirituality
Understanding of others
Writing ability
79%
31%
31%
na
75%
54%
69%
57%
60%
48%
56%
na
38%
64%
50%
57%
69%
67%
54%
64%
29%
33%
na
74%
56%
72%
54%
62%
38%
56%
na
37%
59%
51%
56%
49%
67%
46%
77%
33%
30%
49%
70%
55%
66%
54%
58%
49%
54%
30%
37%
61%
43%
54%
61%
64%
55%
65%
28%
30%
56%
74%
56%
72%
56%
64%
39%
58%
39%
39%
61%
53%
59%
55%
67%
46%
69%
28%
na
53%
69%
50%
67%
59%
57%
49%
52%
34%
36%
60%
42%
na
na
68%
49%
64%
25%
na
59%
76%
51%
73%
59%
61%
41%
57%
38%
36%
57%
49%
na
na
74%
45%
15%
44%
34%
16%
47%
83%
43%
69%
14%
16%
15%
25%
15%
44%
29%
30%
28%
86%
18%
57%
48%
20%
45%
79%
66%
70%
15%
16%
16%
38%
19%
46%
32%
34%
35%
58%
13%
47%
33%
9%
41%
78%
43%
64%
10%
14%
13%
18%
8%
41%
18%
20%
21%
87%
16%
57%
45%
18%
44%
77%
64%
68%
14%
15%
14%
37%
17%
44%
32%
28%
35%
64%
12%
53%
37%
13%
46%
78%
35%
64%
10%
13%
10%
21%
11%
47%
24%
26%
26%
na
15%
63%
50%
18%
46%
76%
63%
68%
15%
14%
12%
35%
21%
45%
35%
32%
36%
na
1%
9%
32%
56%
3%
3%
20%
42%
33%
3%
1%
12%
39%
46%
2%
3%
19%
47%
29%
2%
1%
9%
42%
45%
3%
2%
19%
46%
30%
3%
Objectives Considered to be
Essential or Very Important
Becoming accomplished in performing arts
Becoming an authority in my field
Obtaining recognition from my colleagues
Influencing the political structure
Influencing social values
Raising a family
Being very well off financially
Helping others who are in difficulty
Making a theoretical contribution to science
Writing original works (poems, novels, etc.)
Creating artistic work
Becoming successful in my own business
Cleaning up the environment
Developing a meaningful philosophy of life
Helping to promote racial understanding
Keeping up to date with political affairs
Becoming a community leader
Integrating spirituality into my life
Political Views
Far left
Liberal
Middle-of-the-road
Conservative
Far right
1
Includes same schools as 4 Year Private Protestant stratification
6
First-Year Student Views and Development
Past Activities, Predictions of Future Activity, and Social/Political Views
2005 Survey
2000 Survey
1995 Survey
Other
Other
Religious
Religious
Calvin
Calvin
Calvin
College Four-year College Four-year College
1
1
(N=833)
(N=841)
(N=857)
Colleges
Colleges
4 yr Private
Protestant
Activities Noted as Frequent
in the Past Year
Smoked cigarettes
Felt overwhelmed by all I had to do
Felt depressed
Used a personal computer
Used internet for research/homework
Socialized with another racial/ethnic group
2%
29%
6%
83%
80%
56%
4%
29%
8%
84%
77%
70%
4%
28%
6%
80%
60%
49%
7%
30%
8%
77%
64%
67%
8%
26%
7%
56%
na
49%
8%
28%
9%
53%
na
64%
100%
42%
23%
96%
68%
89%
48%
90%
54%
35%
87%
47%
86%
50%
100%
35%
23%
89%
63%
87%
46%
91%
48%
35%
85%
45%
87%
52%
100%
36%
31%
86%
59%
87%
50%
91%
45%
42%
79%
46%
89%
54%
41%
74%
50%
8%
50%
7%
24%
32%
74%
54%
17%
54%
10%
29%
38%
79%
49%
9%
63%
6%
20%
36%
78%
55%
23%
59%
11%
29%
49%
80%
49%
15%
62%
7%
23%
41%
79%
56%
24%
58%
9%
30%
16%
56%
56%
na
63%
42%
61%
43%
14%
44%
12%
47%
62%
na
55%
34%
66%
44%
28%
29%
17%
57%
65%
82%
61%
31%
57%
41%
12%
na
13%
43%
60%
77%
53%
33%
66%
47%
27%
na
17%
57%
55%
76%
55%
36%
na
na
14%
na
13%
41%
52%
76%
54%
29%
na
na
27%
na
41%
30%
29%
64%
46%
22%
43%
10%
40%
16%
72%
58%
17%
14%
39%
31%
26%
66%
46%
24%
39%
11%
26%
17%
66%
63%
20%
na
46%
21%
26%
67%
53%
25%
na
Activities Noted as Frequent
or Occasional in the Past Year
Attended a religious service
Participated in organized demonstrations
Drank beer
Performed volunteer work
Played a musical instrument
Studied with other students
Tutored another student
Student Spent 6 or More Hours
Per Week During Senior Year:
Studying/homework
Socializing with friends
Exercise or sports
Partying
Working (for pay)
Volunteer Work
Watching TV
Student's Estimates: Chances are
Very Good that he/she Will:
Change major field
Get a job to help pay for college expenses
Make at least a "B" average
Get a bachelor's degree
Be satisfied with this college
Do volunteer or community service work
Socialize with another racial/ethnic group
Participate in student clubs/groups
Play varsity/intercollegiate athletics
Paticipate in a study abroad program
Student Agrees Strongly or Somewhat
Abortion should be legal
The death penalty should be abolished
Marijuana should be legalized
Colleges should prohibit racist/sexist speech
No affirmative action in college admissions
Married women best at home
Right to legal marriage for same sex couples
1
12%
39%
17%
63%
54%
16%
17%
Includes same schools as 4 Year Private Protestant stratification
7
First-Year Student Views and Development
Selected Gender Differences 2005
Calvin College
Men
Women
Other Religious 4yr Colleges
Men
Women
Student Rated Self Above Average or Highest 10%
Computer skills
Drive to achieve
Emotional health
Leadership ability
Mathematical ability
Physical health
Public speaking ability
Self-confidence (intellectual)
Self-confidence (social)
Understanding of others
49%
63%
63%
63%
60%
69%
43%
72%
54%
61%
17%
74%
52%
57%
41%
46%
35%
59%
47%
72%
43%
68%
60%
67%
45%
70%
40%
67%
57%
64%
26%
74%
49%
59%
32%
46%
35%
53%
47%
69%
51%
41%
41%
50%
60%
33%
49%
34%
38%
29%
51%
37%
76%
19%
62%
27%
59%
50%
42%
69%
62%
44%
43%
37%
55%
47%
48%
63%
75%
34%
54%
32%
31%
53%
62%
47%
43%
75%
32%
68%
55%
47%
61%
70%
49%
29%
55%
58%
28%
65%
5%
37%
29%
62%
51%
65%
67%
35%
82%
6%
47%
55%
38%
22%
59%
47%
32%
35%
6%
31%
20%
54%
43%
71%
61%
44%
51%
8%
54%
35%
60%
55%
21%
23%
53%
43%
31%
66%
53%
14%
11%
51%
30%
45%
59%
51%
34%
29%
37%
43%
25%
67%
42%
25%
16%
25%
35%
33%
63%
31%
42%
74%
44%
64%
22%
51%
43%
32%
60%
63%
91%
20%
35%
83%
43%
17%
89%
28%
37%
Objectives Considered to be Essential or Very Important
Becoming an authority in my field
Obtaining recognition from my colleagues
Influencing social values
Being very well off financially
Helping others who are in difficulty
Becoming successful in a business of my own
Improving understanding of other countries and cultures
Keeping up to date with political affairs
Reason for Attending College*
To be a more cultured person
Make more money
Gain general education
Student's Estimates: Chances are Very Good that he/she Will:
Get a job to help pay for college expenses
Do volunteer or community service work
Socialize with another racial/ethnic group
Be satisfied with your college
Communicate regularly with professors
Strengthen religious beliefs and convictions
Seek personal counseling
Participate in student clubs/groups
Participate in a study abroad program
Student Agrees Strongly or Somewhat
Colleges should prohibit racist/sexist speech
No affirmative action in college admissions
Marijuana should be legalized
Married women best at home
Important to have laws against homosexual relationships
Federal military spending should be increased
The death penalty should be abolished
Reasons for Selecting College Attended*
Religious affiliation/orientation
Offered financial assistance
Size of college
Activites Done Occasionally or Frequently During the Past Year
Studied with other students
Drank beer
Felt overwhelmed by all I had to do
86%
28%
21%
8