Graduation and Affordability
How important is it to you to graduate within four years after starting college?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Not that important | 1,038 | 13.9% |
| Somewhat important | 1,834 | 24.6% |
| Very important | 2,403 | 32.2% |
| Essential | 2,194 | 29.4% |
| Not applicable | 221 |
Will you complete a bachelor's degree this spring or summer?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Probably no | 5,537 | 72.0% |
| Probably yes | 2,149 | 28.0% |
How concerned have you been about paying for your undergraduate education up to now?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Not concerned | 2,016 | 26.3% |
| Somewhat concerned | 2,350 | 30.6% |
| Concerned | 1,477 | 19.2% |
| Very concerned | 1,834 | 23.9% |
How concerned are you about paying for your undergraduate education next year?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Not concerned | 1,373 | 24.9% |
| Somewhat concerned | 1,594 | 28.9% |
| Concerned | 1,063 | 19.2% |
| Very concerned | 1,495 | 27.1% |
How concerned are you about your accumulated educational debt?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Not concerned | 2,698 | 35.2% |
| Somewhat concerned | 1,600 | 20.8% |
| Concerned | 1,243 | 16.2% |
| Very concerned | 2,133 | 27.8% |
Have you ever received a Pell grant?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 2,930 | 38.7% |
| No | 4,641 | 61.3% |
How frequently have you engaged in the following behaviors in the past year?
| Never | Rarely | Occasionally | Somewhat often | Often | Very often | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skipped or cut the size of meals because there wasn't enough money for food | 2,619 | 1,755 | 1,542 | 720 | 562 | 458 |
| Skipped or cut the size of meals because there wasn't enough money for food | 34.2% | 22.9% | 20.1% | 9.4% | 7.3% | 6.0% |
| Cut down on personal / recreational spending | 470 | 575 | 1,788 | 1,594 | 1,619 | 1,606 |
| Cut down on personal / recreational spending | 6.1% | 7.5% | 23.4% | 20.8% | 21.2% | 21.0% |
| Worried about my debt and financial circumstances | 1,134 | 1,114 | 1,533 | 1,069 | 1,115 | 1,691 |
| Worried about my debt and financial circumstances | 14.8% | 14.6% | 20.0% | 14.0% | 14.6% | 22.1% |
For the following statements, please say whether the statement was often true, sometimes true, or never true for you in the last 12 months.
| Never true | Sometimes true | Often true | |
|---|---|---|---|
| I was worried whether my food would run out before I got money to buy more | 4,824 | 1,944 | 889 |
| I was worried whether my food would run out before I got money to buy more | 63.0% | 25.4% | 11.6% |
| The food that I bought just didn't last, and I didn't have money to get more | 5,488 | 1,532 | 629 |
| The food that I bought just didn't last, and I didn't have money to get more | 71.7% | 20.0% | 8.2% |
Which of the following have you done this current academic year to meet college expenses?
| Yes, doing now or have done | No | |
|---|---|---|
| Applied for financial aid, scholarships, and/or grants | 5,635 | 1,979 |
| Applied for financial aid, scholarships, and/or grants | 74.0% | 26.0% |
| Asked financial aid office to reevaluate my application | 1,925 | 5,670 |
| Asked financial aid office to reevaluate my application | 25.3% | 74.7% |
| Bought fewer books, bought cheaper/used books, read books on reserve | 6,531 | 1,086 |
| Bought fewer books, bought cheaper/used books, read books on reserve | 85.7% | 14.3% |
| Took a leave of absence or a quarter/semester off | 400 | 7,181 |
| Took a leave of absence or a quarter/semester off | 5.3% | 94.7% |
| Took more courses per term | 2,930 | 4,665 |
| Took more courses per term | 38.6% | 61.4% |
| Took action to graduate more quickly | 2,337 | 5,258 |
| Took action to graduate more quickly | 30.8% | 69.2% |
| Did not retake a class to improve my grade | 2,122 | 5,456 |
| Did not retake a class to improve my grade | 28.0% | 72.0% |
| Took a community college course because it was cheaper | 2,031 | 5,551 |
| Took a community college course because it was cheaper | 26.8% | 73.2% |
| Took a job for the first time at college | 2,767 | 4,829 |
| Took a job for the first time at college | 36.4% | 63.6% |
| Worked before but increased the number of hours worked | 2,124 | 5,445 |
| Worked before but increased the number of hours worked | 28.1% | 71.9% |
| Increased the debt I carry on my credit card | 1,655 | 5,936 |
| Increased the debt I carry on my credit card | 21.8% | 78.2% |
| Increased my annual student loan amount | 1,972 | 5,581 |
| Increased my annual student loan amount | 26.1% | 73.9% |
| Have cut expenses overall / have been more frugal | 5,511 | 2,080 |
| Have cut expenses overall / have been more frugal | 72.6% | 27.4% |
| None of the above. Cost hasn't been a problem | 851 | 5,851 |
| None of the above. Cost hasn't been a problem | 12.7% | 87.3% |
| Other, please elaborate: [Contact OPA for more information] |
203 | 1,675 |
| Other, please elaborate: [Contact OPA for more information] | 10.8% | 89.2% |
Have you heard about the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, which ensures that scholarships and grants will cover fees for students from families making less than $80,000 a year, with financial need?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 3,969 | 52.0% |
| No | 3,659 | 48.0% |
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement: Given the grants and scholarships, if any, that you receive, the total cost of attending UC Berkeley is manageable.
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Strongly disagree | 753 | 9.9% |
| Disagree | 960 | 12.6% |
| Somewhat disagree | 1,486 | 19.5% |
| Somewhat agree | 2,434 | 32.0% |
| Agree | 1,458 | 19.1% |
| Strongly agree | 524 | 6.9% |
Is there anything else that you would like to tell us about the impact of the cost to attend on your educational experience at UC Berkeley?
[Contact OPA for more information]
Background & Personal Characteristics
When did you come to the United States to live?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| I was born in the U.S | 5,468 | 71.7% |
| 2000 or earlier | 606 | 7.9% |
| 2001 | 138 | 1.8% |
| 2002 | 80 | 1.0% |
| 2003 | 75 | 1.0% |
| 2004 | 85 | 1.1% |
| 2005 | 66 | 0.9% |
| 2006 | 67 | 0.9% |
| 2007 | 68 | 0.9% |
| 2008 | 75 | 1.0% |
| 2009 | 64 | 0.8% |
| 2010 | 110 | 1.4% |
| 2011 | 126 | 1.7% |
| 2012 | 170 | 2.2% |
| 2013 | 174 | 2.3% |
| 2014 | 121 | 1.6% |
| 2015 or later | 137 | 1.8% |
When did you learn to speak English?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| English is my native language | 4,648 | 60.9% |
| Before I was 6 years old | 1,682 | 22.0% |
| When I was 6 to 10 years old | 818 | 10.7% |
| When I was 11 to 15 years old | 335 | 4.4% |
| After turning 16 years old | 151 | 2.0% |
Please identify, to the best of your knowledge, where the following relatives were born.
| Outside the U.S. | In the U.S. | |
|---|---|---|
| My Mother / Guardian 1 | 4,852 | 2,754 |
| My Mother / Guardian 1 | 63.8% | 36.2% |
| My Father / Guardian 2 | 4,715 | 2,811 |
| My Father / Guardian 2 | 62.6% | 37.4% |
Which of the following best describes the highest educational experience of your parents (guardians)?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Neither parent attended any college | 1,508 | 19.8% |
| One or both parents attended some college, but neither has a four-year degree | 886 | 11.6% |
| One parent has a four-year degree | 928 | 12.2% |
| Both parents have a four-year degree | 1,230 | 16.2% |
| One parent has a graduate or professional degree | 1,564 | 20.5% |
| Both parents have a graduate or professional degree | 1,496 | 19.7% |
Which of the following best describes your social class when you were growing up?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Low-income or poor | 1,142 | 15.0% |
| Working-class | 1,401 | 18.4% |
| Middle-class | 2,562 | 33.7% |
| Upper-middle or professional-middle | 2,307 | 30.3% |
| Wealthy | 198 | 2.6% |
Are you a financially independent student? Some students have no contact with their parents, and therefore cannot use their tax information for filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you find yourself in this situation and have been formally declared an independent student, then please answer yes.
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| No | 6,627 | 87.1% |
| Yes | 978 | 12.9% |
To the best of your knowledge, which category includes the total annual combined income of your parent(s) before taxes in 2015?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Less than $10,000 | 264 | 4.1% |
| $10,000 to $19,999 | 353 | 5.4% |
| $20,000 to $34,999 | 617 | 9.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 514 | 7.9% |
| $50,000 to $64,999 | 532 | 8.2% |
| $65,000 to $79,999 | 525 | 8.1% |
| $80,000 to $99,999 | 654 | 10.1% |
| $100,000 to $124,999 | 886 | 13.6% |
| $125,000 to $149,999 | 510 | 7.9% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 591 | 9.1% |
| $200,000 or more | 1,049 | 16.2% |
To the best of your knowledge, which category includes your household's total annual combined income before taxes in 2015?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Less than $10,000 | 378 | 39.0% |
| $10,000 to $19,999 | 178 | 18.4% |
| $20,000 to $34,999 | 150 | 15.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 67 | 6.9% |
| $50,000 to $64,999 | 51 | 5.3% |
| $65,000 to $79,999 | 41 | 4.2% |
| $80,000 to $99,999 | 16 | 1.7% |
| $100,000 to $124,999 | 39 | 4.0% |
| $125,000 to $149,999 | 17 | 1.8% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 12 | 1.2% |
| $200,000 or more | 19 | 2.0% |
What is your religious/spiritual preference?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Spiritual but not associated with a major religion | 863 | 11.4% |
| Not particularly spiritual | 1,113 | 14.7% |
| No preference | 874 | 11.5% |
| Agnostic | 764 | 10.1% |
| Atheist | 880 | 11.6% |
| Baptist | 182 | 2.4% |
| Buddhist | 257 | 3.4% |
| Christian Church (Disciples) | 320 | 4.2% |
| Eastern Orthodox | 62 | 0.8% |
| Episcopalian | 32 | 0.4% |
| Hindu | 198 | 2.6% |
| Jewish | 217 | 2.9% |
| Lutheran | 35 | 0.5% |
| Methodist | 40 | 0.5% |
| Mormon | 21 | 0.3% |
| Muslim | 161 | 2.1% |
| Presbyterian | 187 | 2.5% |
| Quaker | 5 | 0.1% |
| Roman Catholic | 797 | 10.5% |
| Seventh Day Adventist | 10 | 0.1% |
| Sikh | 25 | 0.3% |
| Taoist | 16 | 0.2% |
| Unitarian/Universalist | 10 | 0.1% |
| United Church of Christ/Congregational | 19 | 0.3% |
| Other Christian | 371 | 4.9% |
| Other religion | 111 | 1.5% |
Do you have any physical disabilities that affect how you access or use campus facilities?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| No | 7,351 | 96.6% |
| Yes | 255 | 3.4% |
Do you have any learning disabilities that affect how you read, study, or do your coursework?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| No | 7,043 | 92.6% |
| Yes | 562 | 7.4% |
Do you have any psychological disabilities that affect how you learn or interact with others on campus?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| No | 6,452 | 84.9% |
| Yes | 1,151 | 15.1% |
Do you currently receive accommodations from campus due to your disability?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| No | 1,025 | 67.5% |
| Yes | 494 | 32.5% |
Is there anything else that you would like to tell us about how your disability affects your experiences as a student on this campus?
[Contact OPA for more information]
How do you describe yourself?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 2,987 | 39.3% |
| Female | 4,470 | 58.7% |
| Trans Male/Trans Man | 12 | 0.2% |
| Trans Female/Trans Woman | 9 | 0.1% |
| Genderqueer/Gender Non-Conforming | 87 | 1.1% |
| Different Identity | 44 | 0.6% |
What sex were you assigned at birth, such as on an original birth certificate?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 3,049 | 40.1% |
| Female | 4,560 | 59.9% |
Do you consider yourself to be:
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Heterosexual or straight | 6,446 | 85.4% |
| Gay or lesbian | 326 | 4.3% |
| Bisexual | 499 | 6.6% |
| Not listed above, please specify [Contact OPA for more information] |
278 | 3.7% |
A person’s appearance, style, dress, or mannerisms (such as the way they walk or talk) may affect the way people think of them. On average, how do you think other people at school would describe your appearance, style, dress, or mannerisms?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Mostly feminine | 2,582 | 34.2% |
| Somewhat feminine | 1,497 | 19.9% |
| Equally feminine and masculine | 752 | 10.0% |
| Somewhat masculine | 956 | 12.7% |
| Mostly masculine | 1,754 | 23.3% |
How would you characterize your political orientation?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Very liberal | 888 | 11.8% |
| Liberal | 2,918 | 38.8% |
| Slightly liberal | 1,292 | 17.2% |
| Moderate or middle of the road | 1,397 | 18.6% |
| Slightly conservative | 460 | 6.1% |
| Conservative | 241 | 3.2% |
| Very conservative | 56 | 0.7% |
| Other, please elaborate [Contact OPA for more information] |
269 | 3.6% |
Since attending UC Berkeley, have you ever been homeless for any of the following lengths of time (check all that apply)? (Homeless means not having stable or reliable housing, e.g., living on the street, in vehicles, motels, camp grounds, single-occupancy facilities, or couch surfing in other people’s homes for temporary sleeping arrangements).
| No | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| No | 362 | 7,218 |
| No | 4.8% | 95.2% |
| Yes, during Fall-Spring academic year | 7,410 | 170 |
| Yes, during Fall-Spring academic year | 97.8% | 2.2% |
| Yes, during Summer when taking classes | 7,479 | 101 |
| Yes, during Summer when taking classes | 98.7% | 1.3% |
| Yes, during Summer when not taking classes | 7,462 | 118 |
| Yes, during Summer when not taking classes | 98.4% | 1.6% |
| Yes, during Winter break | 7,495 | 85 |
| Yes, during Winter break | 98.9% | 1.1% |
Where are you living this term?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Campus residence hall | 1,668 | 22.0% |
| Campus owned apartment or house (on- or off-campus) | 313 | 4.1% |
| Sorority or fraternity | 435 | 5.7% |
| Co-op student housing | 352 | 4.6% |
| Off-campus in an apartment | 3,666 | 48.4% |
| Off-campus in a house | 1,010 | 13.3% |
| No stable residence/Homeless | 29 | 0.4% |
| Other, please elaborate [Contact OPA for more information] |
107 | 1.4% |
How far do you live from campus?
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| On campus or < 1 mile | 5,006 | 66.0% |
| 1 mile to 2 miles | 1,611 | 21.2% |
| 3 miles to 10 miles | 497 | 6.6% |
| 11 miles to 20 miles | 230 | 3.0% |
| 21 miles or more | 241 | 3.2% |
With whom do you live? Please select the option that best describes your living situation this term.
| Response | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| I live alone | 391 | 5.2% |
| I share an apartment, house, or residence hall room with at least one other UC Berkeley student | 6,094 | 80.3% |
| I share an apartment or house with people who are not UC Berkeley students | 405 | 5.3% |
| I live with at least one family member | 313 | 4.1% |
| I am a single parent living with children | 59 | 0.8% |
| I live with my spouse or domestic partner and children | 73 | 1.0% |
| I live with my spouse or domestic partner without children | 131 | 1.7% |
| Other, please elaborate [Contact OPA for more information] |
121 | 1.6% |