Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Interviewing dates:
Sample:
WGBH
SEPTEMBER 18-22, 2015
NATIONAL ONLINE SURVEY OF 811 COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS
PRELIMINARY TOPLINE
0B.
Have you taken classes at a community college within the last 5 years?
YesCONTINUE
NoTERMINATE
2.
First, how would you rate the overall strength of American society today?
Very strong
Somewhat strong
Not very strong
Not strong at all
3.
18%
44
31
7
When it comes to succeeding in America today would you say a college education is:
Essential
Important, but not essential
Or do you think success in America
doesnt require a college education?
5.
19%
53
24
3
How would you rate the strength of the American education system overall, in terms of how well
it prepares Americans to succeed and contribute to a strong society?
Very strong
Somewhat strong
Not very strong
Not strong at all
4.
100 %
-
61%
36
3
In general, do you think that the type of higher education needed to succeed today is accessible to
most Americans, or is it out of reach?
Yes, accessible
No, out of reach
64%
36
How important do you consider each of the following benefits that can be gained from college.
[RANDOMIZE]
6.
Not
Not very important at
important
all
Very
important
Somewhat
important
70%
25%
4%
1%
7.
72
25
8.
71
24
62
32
60
29
11.
70
25
12.
52
36
9.
10.
Now please use a scale from A to F to grade the quality of education that you think is provided, on
average, at each of the following types of higher education institutions, in general.
[RANDOMIZE]
A
38%
B
42%
C
16%
D
3%
F
1%
53
32
10
15.
Community colleges
36
41
19
16.
Online universities
17
34
32
11
13.
Public universities
14.
And how would you grade the value of the education provided at each type of institution, on average,
meaning is it worth what it costs. Please again use an A through F scale, where A means excellent value,
and F means very poor value.
[RANDOMIZE]
A
37%
B
39%
C
17%
D
5%
F
2%
17.
Public universities
18.
39
33
17
19.
Community colleges
44
36
14
20.
Online universities
24
32
27
12
And finally, on average, how would you grade the job each type of institution does preparing students to
succeed in todays economy.
[RANDOMIZE]
A
37%
B
41%
C
15%
D
5%
F
2%
45
33
16
23.
Community colleges
39
36
19
24.
Online universities
19
29
30
15
21.
Public universities
22.
36%
4
7
7
13
7
8
6
6
6
-
26.
How much do you think the average community college in your area charges for a years tuition?
($40,000+)
($35,000-$39,999)
($30,000-$34,999)
($25,000-$29,999)
($20,000-$24,999)
($15,000-$19,999)
($10,000-$14,999)
($5,000-$9,999)
($1,000-$4,999)
(<$1,000)
(Free)
(Depends)
(Not sure/Refused)
27.
How much do you think the average four-year public university in your area charges for a
years tuition?
($40,000+)
($35,000-$39,999)
($30,000-$34,999)
($25,000-$29,999)
($20,000-$24,999)
($15,000-$19,999)
($10,000-$14,999)
($5,000-$9,999)
($1,000-$4,999)
(<$1,000)
(Free)
(Depends)
(Not sure/Refused)
28.
6%
1
1
2
5
7
12
25
32
12
-
21%
3
6
5
12
9
16
12
10
7
-
If a high school senior inherited $200,000, what do you think would be better for him or her to do
with that money:
Spend it all on a four-year college education
Spend some on a community college education and save the rest
34%
66
What is the first word or phrase that comes to mind when you think about community colleges?
[TEXT ENTRY]
30.
Which of the following best describes your experience with community college?
SELECT ALL THAT APPLY
Currently enrolled in an associate degree program
Currently enrolled in a certificate program
Currently taking classes but not in a program
Completed an associate degree program
Completed a certificate program
No longer taking classes, and never completed a program
48%
22
18
13
10
5
65%
33
53
17
8
8
33.
93%
7
After you finish(ed) community college (do you plan to/did you):
45%
66
16
4
Would you say you (are getting/got) what you wanted out of community college, or had you
hoped for something more?
Getting what wanted
Hoped for more
72%
28
35.
What is the main thing you (hope/hoped) to get out of community college? Why did you decide
to enroll? [TEXT ENTRY]
36.
68%
32
(IF YES)
About how many hours a week (were/are) you working? [TEXT ENTRY]
37.
43%
57
Somewhat
common
Not very
common
Not
common
at all
74%
20%
5%
1%
40
41
16
63
32
58
35
44.
To learn English
27
36
28
45.
47
40
11
46.
It is conveniently located
59
34
47.
65
29
40.
41.
42.
43.
17%
72
10
48.
75%
51
46
40
39
19
15
5
Which one of those reasons was most important to your decision to go to community college?
[SHOW ONLY SELECTIONS FROM PREVIOUS QUESTION. IF ONLY ONE
SELECTED IN PREVIOUS, CODE THAT OPTION HERE]
More affordable than a 4-year college
Learning the skills to get a better job and earn more money
Fit with job and/or family responsibilities
To transfer to a 4-year college
Option for people with bad grades in high school
To take courses without committing to a program
Convenient location
To learn English
43%
22
12
12
4
3
3
1
Now thinking specifically about your community college experience, what grade would you give
for the quality of each of the following:
[RANDOMIZE]
A
39%
B
40%
C
17%
D
3%
F
1%
50.
The teachers
51.
39
38
18
42
34
19
37
35
18
54.
Convenience
58
30
55.
48
33
15
52.
53.
56.
57.
58.
42
39
15
40
38
17
29
34
27
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
Somewhat Somewhat
agree
disagree
52%
38%
8%
2%
60
34
60
34
35
42
19
26
35
27
12
37
38
22
On another topic
65.
Strongly
disagree
24%
44
20
12
66.
How much difference do you think who wins the presidential election will make in your day to
day life?
A great deal
A lot
Some
Not much
None at all
67.
31%
24
28
13
4
How likely is it that a presidential candidates position on college affordability could sway your
vote?
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Not very likely
Not at all likely
32%
48
16
5
69.
What was the highest level of formal education your FATHER completed?
Less than high school
High school graduate
Vocational, technical school
Some college
College graduate
Graduate degree
Dont know
70.
1%
21
11
55
11
1
11%
30
10
19
16
9
5
What was the highest level of formal education your MOTHER completed?
Less than high school
High school graduate
Vocational, technical school
Some college
College graduate
Graduate degree
Dont know
12%
31
7
20
19
9
3
71.
72.
73.
19%
81
78.
36%
26
29
9
77.
84%
16
When you think about politics, do you think of yourself as a Democrat or a Republican?
Democrat
Republican
Independent
Other
76.
15%
24
44
11
6
75.
82%
18
In terms of politics, would you say that you are very liberal, somewhat liberal, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal
Somewhat liberal
Moderate
Somewhat conservative
Very conservative
74.
94%
6
67%
14
5
11
3
54%
46
79.
Would you describe the area where you live as urban, suburban, small town or rural?
Urban
Suburban
Small town
Rural
80.
81.
30%
30
25
11
5
Are you
Female
Male
0A.
2%
11
48
29
10
In which of these categories is your total YEARLY household income--that is, of everyone living
in your family household?
Under $30,000
$30,000 to under $50,000
$50,000 to under $75,000
$75,000 to under $100,000
$100,000 or more
83.
37%
25
19
9
9
1
Thinking in terms of economic classes, which best describes your households situation:
Upper class
Upper middle class
Middle class
Lower middle class
Lower class
82.
32%
39
19
11
55%
45
10%
32
22
24
12