Who Attends A Women’s College? Identifying Unique Characteristics and Patterns of Change, 1971-2011 Linda J. Sax, Ph.D., Principal Investigator with Jennifer Berdan Lozano and Colleen Quinn Vandenboom University of California, Los Angeles September 2014 Updated April 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................................... ii ............................................................................................................................................ iii LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................... vii FOREWORD .....................................................................................................................................xiii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................... 1 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS PART I: INTRODUCTION An Evolving Population at Women’s Colleges .................... .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 4 PART II: RESEARCH METHODS Comparison Groups .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Categories for Analysis ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Analysis .......................................................................................................................................................................... 7 ...... 9 PART III: COMPARING CURRENT WOMEN’S COLLEGES WITH HISTORICALLY COEDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS Demographics ............................................................................................................................................................ 10 Academic Self‐Confidence and Engagement ................................................................................................ 13 College Choice ............................................................................................................................................................ 14 Financial Attitudes and Expectations .............................................................................................................. 16 Educational, Career, and Family Aspirations ............................................................................................... 17 Leadership Orientation ......................................................................................................................................... 18 Community Orientation ........................................................................................................................................ 19 Artistic Inclination ................................................................................................................................................... 19 Psychological and Physical Well‐Being .......................................................................................................... 20 Spirituality................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Extracurricular Activities ..................................................................................................................................... 21 Political and Social Views ................................................................................................... .................................................................................................. 22 24 ................................................................................................................................................. 27 SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS AND QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION ................................................................................................................................................. 28 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................................... 30 REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................................... 85 TABLES AND FIGURES APPENDICES A‐D i LIST OF TABLES Table 3.1: Demographics .............................................................................................................................................. 31 Table 3.2: Academic Self‐Confidence and Engagement .................................................................................. 39 Table 3.3: College Choice .............................................................................................................................................. 43 Table 3.4: Financial Attitudes and Expectations ............................................................................................... 47 Table 3.5: Educational, Career, & Family Aspirations ..................................................................................... 49 Table 3.6: Leadership Orientation ........................................................................................................................... 53 Table 3.7: Community Orientation .......................................................................................................................... 54 Table 3.8: Artistic Inclination ..................................................................................................................................... 57 Table 3.9: Psychological and Physical Well‐Being ............................................................................................ 58 Table 3.10: Spirituality .................................................................................................................................................. 59 Table 3.11: Extracurricular Activities .................................................................................................................... 60 Table 3.12: Political and Social Views ................................................................................................................... 62 ii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 3.1: White/Caucasian Student Enrollment ............................................................................................ 67 Figure 3.2: African American/Black Enrollment ............................................................................................... 67 Figure 3.3: Asian American/Asian Student Enrollment ................................................................................. 68 Figure 3.4: Median Parental Income ....................................................................................................................... 68 Figure 3.5: College is 500+ Miles from Home ..................................................................................................... 69 Figure 3.6: Father Has a Four‐Year or Graduate Degree ............................................................................... 69 Figure 3.7: Mother Has a Four‐Year or Graduate Degree .............................................................................. 70 Figure 3.8: Father’s Occupation: Doctor (MD or DDS) .................................................................................... 70 Figure 3.9: Father’s Occupation: Lawyer .............................................................................................................. 71 Figure 3.10: Father’s Occupation: Business ......................................................................................................... 71 Figure 3.11: Father’s Occupation: Laborer .......................................................................................................... 72 Figure 3.12: Father’s Occupation: Unemployed ................................................................................................. 72 Figure 3.13: Father’s Occupation: Military ........................................................................................................... 73 Figure 3.14: Parents Divorced or Living Apart................................................................................................... 73 Figure 3.15: Average Grade in High School: A+, A, or A‐ ................................................................................ 74 Figure 3.16: Median Hours Per Week in High School: Studying/Homework ....................................... 74 Figure 3.17: Self‐Rated Mathematical Ability ..................................................................................................... 75 Figure 3.18: Self‐Rated Academic Ability.............................................................................................................. 75 Figure 3.19: College Applications Other Than Current College: Six or More ........................................ 76 Figure 3.20: Attending First Choice College .......................................................................................................