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ARR #9245 WGBH Interviewing dates: SEPTEMBER 18-22, 2015 Sample: NATIONAL ONLINE SURVEY OF 811 COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS

PRELIMINARY TOPLINE 0B. Have you taken classes at a community college within the last 5 years?

Yes—CONTINUE 100 % No—TERMINATE -

2. First, how would you rate the overall strength of American society today?

Very strong 19% Somewhat strong 53 Not very strong 24 Not strong at all 3

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 18% Somewhat strong 44 Not very strong 31 Not strong at all 7

4. When it comes to succeeding in America today would you say a college education is:

Essential 61% Important, but not essential 36 Or do you think success in America doesn’t require a college education? 3

5. 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 64% No, out of reach 36

How important do you consider each of the following benefits that can be gained from college. [RANDOMIZE]

Very

important Somewhat important

Not very important

Not important at

all 6. Gaining specific, marketable

job skills 70% 25% 4% 1%

7. Developing critical thinking skills 72 25 3 - 8. Getting a diploma or certificate

required for a job 71 24 5 1

9. Exploring different subjects to find interests 62 32 5 1

10. Gaining independence from

parents 60 29 9 2

11. Getting a higher paying job 70 25 3 1

12. Becoming a more complete citizens 52 36 9 3

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 B C D F 13. Public universities 38% 42% 16% 3% 1%

14. Private colleges or universities 53 32 10 3 2 15. Community colleges 36 41 19 4 1

16. Online universities 17 34 32 11 5

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 B C D F 17. Public universities 37% 39% 17% 5% 2%



And finally, on average, how would you grade the job each type of institution does preparing students to succeed in today’s economy. [RANDOMIZE] A B C D F 21. Public universities 37% 41% 15% 5% 2%



[ROTATE NEXT THREE QUESTIONS] 25. How much do you think the average four-year private college or university in your area

charges for a year’s tuition? ($40,000+) 36% ($35,000-$39,999) 4 ($30,000-$34,999) 7 ($25,000-$29,999) 7 ($20,000-$24,999) 13 ($15,000-$19,999) 7 ($10,000-$14,999) 8 ($5,000-$9,999) 6 ($1,000-$4,999) 6 (<$1,000) 6 (Free) - (Depends) - (Not sure/Refused) -

26. How much do you think the average community college in your area charges for a year’s tuition? ($40,000+) 6% ($35,000-$39,999) 1 ($30,000-$34,999) 1 ($25,000-$29,999) 2 ($20,000-$24,999) 5 ($15,000-$19,999) 7 ($10,000-$14,999) 12 ($5,000-$9,999) 25 ($1,000-$4,999) 32 (<$1,000) 12 (Free) - (Depends) - (Not sure/Refused) -

27. How much do you think the average four-year public university in your area charges for a year’s tuition? ($40,000+) 21% ($35,000-$39,999) 3 ($30,000-$34,999) 6 ($25,000-$29,999) 5 ($20,000-$24,999) 12 ($15,000-$19,999) 9 ($10,000-$14,999) 16 ($5,000-$9,999) 12 ($1,000-$4,999) 10 (<$1,000) 7 (Free) - (Depends) - (Not sure/Refused) -

28. 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 34% Spend some on a community college education and save the rest 66

Turning specifically to community colleges…

29. 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 48% Currently enrolled in a certificate program 22 Currently taking classes but not in a program 18 Completed an associate degree program 13 Completed a certificate program 10 No longer taking classes, and never completed a program 5

[IF CODE 6 ABOVE “NO LONGER TAKING CLASSES”] 31. Which of the following are reasons you are no longer taking classes:

SELECT ALL THAT APPLY

The cost 65% Work responsibilities 33 Family responsibilities 53 Lost interest in subject 17 Didn’t like the classes I took 8 Other – [TEXT ENTRY] 8

32. Was your goal in attending the community college program…

To graduate and receive a degree or certificate 93% To take classes but not intending to graduate 7

33. After you finish(ed) community college (do you plan to/did you): SELECT ALL THAT APPLY Transfer to a four year college 45% Find a new job 66 Get a promotion or raise 16 Other—[TEXT ENTRY] 4

34. Would you say you (are getting/got) what you wanted out of community college, or had you

hoped for something more?

Getting what wanted 72% Hoped for more 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. While attending community college (are you working/did you work):

Yes 68% No 32

(IF YES) About how many hours a week (were/are) you working? [TEXT ENTRY]

37. (Are you borrowing/did you borrow) money to attend community college?

Yes 43% No 57

[IF CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN, OR COMPLETED ASSOCIATE OR CERTIFICATE PROGRAM. Q31 = CODE 1, 2, 4, OR 5] Which is closest to how you feel about your community college program:

The program is too narrowly focused on a few specific topics and skills 17% The program has the focus I need to achieve my goals 72 The program is not focused enough on the specific topics and skills I care about 10

Please indicate if you think each of the following is a very common reason for attending community college, a somewhat common reason, not a very common reason, or not a common reason at all. [RANDOMIZE]

Very

common Somewhat common

Not very common

Not common

at all 40. It is more affordable than a 4-

year college 74% 20% 5% 1%

41. It is an option for people with bad grades in high school 40 41 16 3

42. To learn the skills to get a better

job and earn more money 63 32 5 1

43. To eventually transfer to a 4-year college 58 35 6 1

44. To learn English 27 36 28 9

45. To take a course or two without

committing to a program 47 40 11 2

46. It is conveniently located 59 34 7 1

47. It is an option for people with job or family responsibilities 65 29 5 1

48. Which of those reasons were factors in your decision to go to community college? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY

More affordable than a 4-year college 75% Learning the skills to get a better job and earn more money 51 Convenient location 46 Fit with job and/or family responsibilities 40 To transfer to a 4-year college 39 To take courses without committing to a program 19 Option for people with bad grades in high school 15 To learn English 5

49. 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 43% Learning the skills to get a better job and earn more money 22 Fit with job and/or family responsibilities 12 To transfer to a 4-year college 12 Option for people with bad grades in high school 4 To take courses without committing to a program 3 Convenient location 3 To learn English 1

Now thinking specifically about your community college experience, what grade would you give for the quality of each of the following: [RANDOMIZE] A B C D F 50. The teachers 39% 40% 17% 3% 1%

51. The physical campus and

infrastructure 39 38 18 3 1 52. The variety of courses available

to you 42 34 19 3 2

53. The career advice or guidance you received 37 35 18 7 3

54. Convenience 58 30 9 2 1 55. The value, meaning is it worth

what it costs 48 33 15 3 1

A B C D F 56. Preparing you for college-level

course work 42 39 15 3 1 57. Preparing you to succeed in

today’s workforce 40 38 17 3 2 58. The motivation of other students 29 34 27 7 3 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements: [RANDOMIZE]

Strongly

agree Somewhat

agree Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

59. Community colleges are essential to helping people get basic job skills 52% 38% 8% 2%

60. Community colleges are essential

to providing low income families opportunities to improve their situation 60 34 5 1

61. Community colleges are an

essential part of our education system 60 34 5 1

62. You typically get what you pay

for in higher education 35 42 19 5

63. It would be difficult to live a middle class life with just a community college education 26 35 27 12

64. Most community college students would probably go somewhere else if they had a choice 37 38 22 3

On another topic… 65. How closely have you been following the presidential race?

Very closely 24% Somewhat closely 44 Not very closely 20 Not at all 12

66. How much difference do you think who wins the presidential election will make in your day to day life?

A great deal 31% A lot 24 Some 28 Not much 13 None at all 4

67. How likely is it that a presidential candidate’s position on college affordability could sway your

vote?

Very likely 32% Somewhat likely 48 Not very likely 16 Not at all likely 5

The following questions for statistical purposes only. 68. What is the highest level of formal education you have completed?

Less than high school 1% High school graduate 21 Vocational, technical school 11 Some college 55 College graduate 11 Graduate degree 1

69. What was the highest level of formal education your FATHER completed?

Less than high school 11% High school graduate 30 Vocational, technical school 10 Some college 19 College graduate 16 Graduate degree 9 Don’t know 5

70. What was the highest level of formal education your MOTHER completed?

Less than high school 12% High school graduate 31 Vocational, technical school 7 Some college 20 College graduate 19 Graduate degree 9 Don’t know 3

71. Were you born in the United States?

Yes 94% No 6

72. Were both your parents born in the United States?

Yes 82% No 18

73. In terms of politics, would you say that you are very liberal, somewhat liberal, somewhat

conservative, or very conservative?

Very liberal 15% Somewhat liberal 24 Moderate 44 Somewhat conservative 11 Very conservative 6

74. Are you registered to vote?

Yes 84% No 16

75. When you think about politics, do you think of yourself as a Democrat or a Republican?

Democrat 36% Republican 26 Independent 29 Other 9

76. Are you of Latino or Hispanic descent?

Yes 19% No 81

77. What is your racial or ethnic heritage?

White 67% African-American, black 14 Asian 5 Latino, Hispanic 11 (Other—specify) 3

78. Do you have children under age 25 living in your household?

Yes 54% No 46

79. Would you describe the area where you live as urban, suburban, small town or rural?

Urban 32% Suburban 39 Small town 19 Rural 11

80. Which of the following best describes your current employment situation?

Employed full-time 37% Employed part-time 25 Full-time student 19 Unemployed 9 Stay-at-home parent 9 Retired 1

81. Thinking in terms of economic classes, which best describes your household’s situation:

Upper class 2% Upper middle class 11 Middle class 48 Lower middle class 29 Lower class 10

82. In which of these categories is your total YEARLY household income--that is, of everyone living

in your family household?

Under $30,000 30% $30,000 to under $50,000 30 $50,000 to under $75,000 25 $75,000 to under $100,000 11 $100,000 or more 5

83. Are you…

Female 55% Male 45

0A. What year were you born?

18-19 10% 20-24 32 25-29 22 30-39 24 40+ 12

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