2015 CIRP Freshmen Student Profile
Main Content
Published November 2016
Respondents and Campus Enrollment Comparison
Percentage of female:
- 44.4% – UIUC Freshmen
- 56.5% – CIRP Respondents
Percentage of male:
- 55.6% – UIUC Freshmen
- 43.5% – CIRP Respondents
Percentage of African American:
- 6.3% – UIUC Freshmen
- 4.3% – CIRP Respondents
Percentage of Asian:
- 19.1% – UIUC Freshmen
- 29.0% – CIRP Respondents
Percentage of Latina/o:
- 10.7% – UIUC Freshmen
- 9.4% – CIRP Respondents
Percentage of Multiracial:
- 3.1% – UIUC Freshmen
- 10.3% – CIRP Respondents
Percentage of Native American:
- 0.1% – UIUC Freshmen
- 0.0% – CIRP Respondents
Percentage of White:
- 45.2% – UIUC Freshmen
- 46.4% – CIRP Respondents
Percentage of Unknown or Other:
- 0.7% – UIUC Freshmen
- 0.8% – CIRP Respondents
Percentage of International:
- 14.8% – UIUC Freshmen
- 12.7% – CIRP Respondents
The majority of responding freshmen (97%) were traditional college age 18-19 year olds.
Illinois was either the first (51.9%) or second (24.9%) choice college of respondents.
The most popular intended majors were:
- 23.2% – Engineering
- 14.2% – Business
- 10.1% – Social Sciences
- 9.6% – Biological & Life Sciences
The most popular intended careers were:
- 18.5% – Engineering
- 17.1% – Business
- 7.1% – Doctor
- 7.8% – Other Health Professional
- 5.8% – IT Professional
Most respondents came from middle or higher socioeconomic backgrounds.
- 10.5% – $60-74,999
- 13.8% – $75-99,999
- 16.7% – $100-149,999
- 10.3% – $150-199,999
- 5.9% – $200-249,999
- 10.1% – $250,000 or more
Despite their socioeconomic backgrounds the majority have concerns about their ability to finance their education.
Do you have concern about your ability to finance your college education?
- 23.6% – None, I am confident that I will have sufficient funds
- 59.4% – Some, but I probably will have enough funds
- 16.9% – Major, not sure I will have enough funds to complete college
Many freshmen plan to obtain a Master's (46.7%) or Doctorate (22.4%) degree but not necessarily at UIUC.
The highest academic degrees planned by freshmen from UIUC are Bachelor's (67.4%) and Master's degrees (22.1%).
Freshmen drinking at Illinois reported from the past year.
- 61.3% – Did not drink beer at all
- 56.9% – Did not drink wine/liquor at all
- 33.0% – Drank beer occasionally
- 36.1% – Drank wine occasionally
Much like their peers across the nation, UIUC respondents rated themselves strongly on interpersonal skills.
Self-Rated Interpersonal Skills of UIUC Respondents and Peers
Tolerance of others with different beliefs
- 85.9% – UIUC Freshmen
- 87.2% – Peers
Openness to having my own views challenged
- 68.8% – UIUC Freshmen
- 66.6% – Peers
Ability to discuss and negotiate controversial issues
- 73.9% – UIUC Freshmen
- 74.3% – Peers
Ability to work cooperatively with diverse people
- 83.2% – UIUC Freshmen
- 88.5% – Peers
There is little difference between UIUC and peer respondents' political characteristics.
Self-Reported Political Characteristics of UIUC Respondents and Peers
Far Left
- 4.7% – UIUC Freshmen
- 4.3% – Peers
Liberal
- 38.3% – UIUC Freshmen
- 38.9% – Peers
Middle of the Road
- 42.6% – UIUC Freshmen
- 39.0% – Peers
Conservative
- 14.1% – UIUC Freshmen
- 14.0% – Peers
Far Right
- 0.3% – UIUC Freshmen
- 0.9% – Peers
Specific socio-political ideologies garnered varied strong or somewhat agreement.
UIUC Respondents' Socio-Political Ideologies
Percentage of Respondents that Strongly or Somewhat Agree
- 57.3% – Students from disadvantage social backgrounds should be given preferential treatment in college admissions
- 89.0% – Same-sex couples should have the right to legal marital status
- 23.7% – The United States should intervene in the wars of other countries
- 96.4% – Women should receive the same salary and opportunities for advancement as men in comparable positions
- 69.3% – Colleges should prohibit racist/sexist speech on campus
- 71.2% – Dissent is a critical component of the political process
- 62.2% – Marijuana should be legalized
- 28.7% – Realistically, an individual can do little to bring about change in our society
- 51.7% – Colleges have the right to ban extreme speakers from campus
- 72.2% – Abortion should be legal
- 22.9% – Racial discrimination is no longer a major problem in American
Top Five Reasons for Attending UIUC
- 98.7% – This college has a very good academic reputation
- 93.4% – This college's graduates get good jobs
- 82.8% – This college has a good reputation for its social activities
- 84.4% – Rankings in national magazines
- 77.6% – This college's graduates gain admission to top graduate/professional schools