Concern About Cost & Food Security
Family & Culture
Living Conditions
Challenge & Well-Being
Concern about Cost & Food Security
How concerned are you about paying for your undergraduate education NEXT YEAR? (Next year is defined as Fall 2017 and Spring 2018.)
| Not concerned | 100 | 25% |
| Somewhat concerned | 125 | 31% |
| Concerned | 74 | 18% |
| Very concerned | 108 | 27% |
Which of the following have you done in the past year or do you plan to do this year to meet anticipated college expenses?
| Applied for financial aid (including work-study) | 194 |
| 46% | |
| Asked financial aid office to reevaluate my application | 50 |
| 12% | |
| Plan to buy fewer books than required, buy cheaper used books, borrow/read books on reserve, rent books | 253 |
| 61% | |
| Will take more courses per term to complete on-time or early | 97 |
| 23% | |
| Will take fewer courses so I can work for pay | 13 |
| 3% | |
| Will accept AP or similar credit instead of taking the course | 186 |
| 45% | |
| Will take or have taken a community college course because community college courses are cheaper | 70 |
| 17% | |
| Will take or have taken an online course because online courses are cheaper | 29 |
| 7% | |
| Worked for pay to save for college | 129 |
| 31% | |
| Plan to work for pay at least my first year | 111 |
| 27% | |
| Requested a triple (3-person room) to save money | 165 |
| 40% | |
| Will live at home to reduce expenses | 14 |
| 3% | |
| Don't expect cost to be a significant problem | 110 |
| 26% | |
| Applied for outside scholarships/grants | 181 |
| 43% | |
| Other (please specify) [Contact OPA for more information] |
7 |
| 2% |
Have you heard about the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, which ensures that scholarships and grants will cover fees for U.S. students from families making less than $80,000 a year, with financial need?
| Yes | 157 | 39% |
| No | 250 | 61% |
Have you heard about the UC Berkeley Middle Class Access Plan (MCAP), a new financial aid program available to families in the $80,000 - $150,000 annual income range?
| Yes | 116 | 29% |
| No | 291 | 72% |
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.
| Strongly disagree | 44 | 11% |
| Disagree | 56 | 14% |
| Somewhat disagree | 64 | 16% |
| Somewhat agree | 110 | 27% |
| Agree | 101 | 25% |
| Strongly agree | 32 | 8% |
Since you have come to UC Berkeley, have you encountered a situation where lack of financial resources kept you from having basic student necessities (housing, food, books, healthcare, etc.)?
| Yes | 52 | 13% |
| No | 354 | 87% |
Please select from the following list all basics you have foregone as a result of finances.
| Housing | 11 |
| 21% | |
| Food | 35 |
| 67% | |
| Books | 33 |
| 64% | |
| Health care | 10 |
| 19% | |
| Other (Please explain) [Contact OPA for more information] |
6 |
| 12% |
For the following statements, please indicate whether the statement was often true, sometimes true, or never true for you in the 12 months before coming to UC Berkeley.
| Often true | Sometimes true | Never true | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The food that I bought just didn't last, and I didn't have money to get more. | 16 | 58 | 329 |
| 4% | 14% | 82% | |
| I couldn't afford to eat balanced meals. | 18 | 65 | 318 |
| 5% | 16% | 79% |
In the 12 months before coming to UC Berkeley, did you ever cut the size of your meals or skip meals because there wasn't enough money for food?
| No | 354 | 88% |
| Yes, almost every month | 13 | 3% |
| Yes, some months, but not every month | 26 | 7% |
| Yes, only 1 or 2 months | 9 | 2% |
In the 12 months before coming to UC Berkeley, did you ever eat less than you felt you should because there wasn't enough money for food?
| No | 341 | 85% |
| Yes | 62 | 15% |
In the 12 months before coming to UC Berkeley, were you ever hungry but didn't eat because there wasn't enough money for food?
| No | 353 | 88% |
| Yes | 49 | 12% |
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] |
Family & Culture
When did you come to the United States to live?
| I was born in the U.S. | 312 | 78% |
| 1997 | 4 | 1% |
| 1998 | 11 | 3% |
| 1999 | 4 | 1% |
| 2000 | 11 | 3% |
| 2001 | 4 | 1% |
| 2002 | 3 | 1% |
| 2003 | 6 | 2% |
| 2004 | 9 | 2% |
| 2005 | 2 | 1% |
| 2006 | 2 | 1% |
| 2007 | 1 | 0% |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% |
| 2009 | 1 | 0% |
| 2010 | 1 | 0% |
| 2011 | 1 | 0% |
| 2012 | 7 | 2% |
| 2013 | 3 | 1% |
| 2015 or later | 18 | 5% |
When did you learn to speak English?
| English is my native language | 245 | 61% |
| Before I was 6 years old | 119 | 30% |
| When I was 6-10 years old | 27 | 7% |
| When I was 11-15 years old | 10 | 3% |
| After turning 16 years old | 1 | 0% |
To the best of your knowledge, where were your parents born?
| In the U.S. | Outside the U.S. | Do not know | N/A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parent/Guardian 1 | 145 | 255 | 1 | 0 |
| 36% | 64% | 0% | 0% | |
| Parent/Guardian 2 | 131 | 268 | 2 | 0 |
| 33% | 67% | 1% | 0% |
To the best of your knowledge, how many of your grandparents were born outside of the United States?
| Zero | 65 | 16% |
| One | 14 | 4% |
| Two | 52 | 13% |
| Three | 11 | 3% |
| Four | 260 | 65% |
Which of the following best describes your social class when you were growing up?
| Wealthy | 24 | 6% |
| Upper-middle or professional-middle | 153 | 38% |
| Middle-class | 131 | 33% |
| Working-class | 40 | 10% |
| Low-income or poor | 51 | 13% |
Are you a financially independent student?
Some students have no contact with their parents, and therefore cannot use their tax information for filing the FAFSA. If you find yourself in this situation and have been formally declared an independent student, then please answer yes.
| Yes | 16 | 4% |
| No | 382 | 96% |
To the best of your knowledge, which category includes the total annual combined income of your parent(s) before taxes in 2015?
| Less than $10,000 | 4 | 1% |
| $10,000 to $19,999 | 22 | 6% |
| $20,000 to $34,999 | 19 | 5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 19 | 5% |
| $50,000 to $64,999 | 21 | 6% |
| $65,000 to $79,999 | 21 | 6% |
| $80,000 to $99,999 | 26 | 7% |
| $100,000 to $124,999 | 41 | 12% |
| $125,000 to $149,999 | 38 | 11% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 50 | 14% |
| $200,000 to $499,000 | 72 | 21% |
| $500,000 or more | 18 | 5% |
To the best of your knowledge, which category includes your household's total annual combined income before taxes in 2015?
| Less than $10,000 | 1 | 7% |
| $10,000 to $19,999 | 1 | 7% |
| $20,000 to $34,999 | 3 | 21% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 3 | 21% |
| $100,000 to $124,999 | 2 | 14% |
| $125,000 to $149,999 | 1 | 7% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 1 | 7% |
| $200,000 to $499,999 | 2 | 14% |
What is your religious/spiritual preference?
| Spiritual but not associated with a major religion | 35 | 9% |
| Not particularly spiritual | 52 | 14% |
| No preference | 41 | 11% |
| Agnostic | 36 | 9% |
| Atheist | 28 | 7% |
| Baptist | 7 | 2% |
| Buddhist | 7 | 2% |
| Christian Church (Disciples) | 24 | 6% |
| Eastern Orthodox | 5 | 1% |
| Episcopalian | 1 | 0% |
| Hindu | 12 | 3% |
| Jewish | 16 | 4% |
| Lutheran | 3 | 1% |
| Methodist | 2 | 1% |
| Mormon | 2 | 1% |
| Muslim | 15 | 4% |
| Presbyterian | 11 | 3% |
| Roman Catholic | 55 | 14% |
| Seventh Day Adventist | 1 | 0% |
| Sikh | 3 | 1% |
| Other Christian | 20 | 5% |
| Other Religion | 5 | 1% |
With which gender do you identify?
| Male | 133 | 34% |
| Female | 253 | 64% |
| Trans Male/Trans Man | 2 | 1% |
| Trans Female/Trans Woman | 0 | 0% |
| Genderqueer/Gender Non-Conforming | 4 | 1% |
| Different identity | 2 | 1% |
Do you consider yourself to be:
| Heterosexual or straight | 337 | 87% |
| Gay or lesbian | 10 | 3% |
| Bisexual | 22 | 6% |
| Questioning/Unsure | 12 | 3% |
| Not listed above, please specify [Contact OPA for more information] |
8 | 2% |
How would you characterize your political orientation?
| Very liberal | 43 | 11% |
| Liberal | 161 | 41% |
| Slightly liberal | 56 | 14% |
| Moderate or middle of the road | 84 | 22% |
| Slightly conservative | 20 | 5% |
| Conservative | 15 | 4% |
| Very conservative | 1 | 0% |
| Other, please elaborate [Contact OPA for more information] |
9 | 2% |
Living Conditions
Where are you living this term?
| Clark Kerr Campus | 53 | 13% |
| Foothill | 32 | 8% |
| Bowles | 4 | 1% |
| Stern | 17 | 4% |
| Unit 1 | 75 | 19% |
| Unit 2 (excluding Wada Apartments) | 109 | 28% |
| Unit 3 (including Beverly Cleary Hall) | 91 | 23% |
| Channing-Bowditch Apartments | 0 | 0% |
| Martinez Commons | 4 | 1% |
| University Village Albany (family housing) | 1 | 0% |
| Wada Apartments | 1 | 0% |
| New Sequoia or Garden Village Apartments | 0 | 0% |
| Mills College or Holy Names University | 0 | 0% |
| Living with family | 2 | 1% |
| Sorority or fraternity | 0 | 0% |
| Co-op Housing | 0 | 0% |
| Living off-campus in a house or apartment | 8 | 2% |
| I have not (yet) found housing | 0 | 0% |
| Other [Contact OPA for more information] |
0 | 0% |
How far from campus are you living this term?
| On campus or less than 1 mile | 306 | 78% |
| 1 mile to 2 miles | 67 | 17% |
| 3 miles to 10 miles | 8 | 2% |
| 11 miles to 20 miles | 8 | 2% |
| 21 miles or more | 4 | 1% |
Do you have a UC Berkeley Meal Plan for this semester?
| Yes - Not sure which plan | 6 | 2% |
| Yes - Standard Plan (included in housing, 10-12 meals/wk.) | 277 | 70% |
| Yes - Premium Plan (included in housing + $350/yr, 12-16 meals/wk.) | 80 | 20% |
| Yes - Ultimate Plan (included in housing + $750/yr, 19+ meals/wk.) | 20 | 5% |
| Yes - Non-Resident BLUE (5-6 meals/wk.) | 0 | 0% |
| Yes - Non-Resident GOLD (7-8 meals/wk.) | 1 | 0% |
| Yes - Non-Resident PLATINUM (9-11 meals/wk.) | 1 | 0% |
| No | 12 | 3% |
With whom are you living this term?
| No one. I live alone | 4 | 1% |
| I share an apartment or dorm room with at least one other UC Berkeley student | 369 | 95% |
| I share an apartment with peers who are not UC Berkeley students | 1 | 0% |
| I live with my spouse or domestic partner (with or without others) | 0 | 0% |
| I live with at least one parent | 8 | 2% |
| Other [Contact OPA for more information] |
7 | 2% |
What is the composition of your residence hall or household while attending UC Berkeley this term?
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 or more | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College students or other adults (count yourself as 1) | 11 | 58 | 140 | 17 | 162 |
| 3% | 15% | 36% | 4% | 42% |
| 0 (Zero) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 or more | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children or teenagers under the age of 18 (do NOT count yourself as 1) | 268 | 37 | 26 | 9 | 5 | 25 |
| 72% | 10% | 7% | 2% | 1% | 7% |
Since the beginning of this semester, have you ever been homeless? (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)
| Yes | 4 | 1% |
| No | 389 | 99% |
Are you a parent or legal guardian?
| No | 328 | 84% |
| Yes | 65 | 17% |
IF YES:
How many children or dependents do you care for?
| None | 8 | 100% |
| 1 | 0 | 0% |
| 2 | 0 | 0% |
| 3 | 0 | 0% |
| 4 | 0 | 0% |
| 5 or more | 0 | 0% |
How many of your dependents are under the age of 18?
| None | 8 | 100% |
| 1 | 0 | 0% |
| 2 | 0 | 0% |
| 3 | 0 | 0% |
| 4 | 0 | 0% |
| 5 or more | 0 | 0% |
Challenge & Well-Being
During your first year at UC Berkeley, how often do you expect each of the following to be obstacles to your school work or academic success?
| Not at all | Rarely | Occasionally | Frequently | All the time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job responsibilities (e.g., paid employment) | 123 | 83 | 102 | 64 | 9 |
| 32% | 22% | 27% | 17% | 2% | |
| Family responsibilities | 105 | 118 | 104 | 38 | 13 |
| 28% | 31% | 28% | 10% | 3% | |
| Other responsibilities (e.g., athletics, clubs, internship) | 33 | 57 | 152 | 114 | 25 |
| 9% | 15% | 40% | 30% | 7% | |
| Weak English skills | 265 | 61 | 25 | 16 | 11 |
| 70% | 16% | 7% | 4% | 3% | |
| Weak writing skills | 207 | 80 | 61 | 20 | 11 |
| 55% | 21% | 16% | 5% | 3% | |
| Weak math skills | 171 | 83 | 85 | 27 | 10 |
| 46% | 22% | 23% | 7% | 3% | |
| Inadequate study skills (e.g., knowing how to start, knowing how to get help, organizing material) | 106 | 103 | 114 | 46 | 10 |
| 28% | 27% | 30% | 12% | 3% | |
| Poor study behaviors (e.g., wait until the last minute, too much social time, too much web surfing) | 80 | 90 | 131 | 62 | 17 |
| 21% | 24% | 35% | 16% | 5% | |
| Poor study environment (e.g., noisy roommate, poor Internet access, inadequate computer or software) | 96 | 129 | 105 | 38 | 12 |
| 25% | 34% | 28% | 10% | 3% | |
| Feeling depressed, stressed, or upset | 70 | 89 | 129 | 65 | 28 |
| 18% | 23% | 34% | 17% | 7% | |
| Physical illness or condition | 141 | 147 | 71 | 16 | 5 |
| 37% | 39% | 19% | 4% | 1% | |
| Military deployment | 337 | 30 | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| 89% | 8% | 2% | 1% | 0% | |
| Going hungry, not having enough food | 276 | 65 | 29 | 7 | 2 |
| 73% | 17% | 8% | 2% | 1% | |
| Inconsistent access to housing, or homelessness | 333 | 31 | 13 | 1 | 2 |
| 88% | 8% | 3% | 0% | 1% | |
| Inability to concentrate on my work | 97 | 103 | 111 | 52 | 18 |
| 26% | 27% | 29% | 14% | 5% | |
| Reluctance to ask for academic help when I need it | 111 | 117 | 100 | 37 | 14 |
| 29% | 31% | 26% | 10% | 4% |
In general, I consider myself:
| (1) not a very happy person | 4 | 1% |
| (2) | 10 | 3% |
| (3) | 24 | 6% |
| (4) | 64 | 17% |
| (5) | 125 | 33% |
| (6) | 107 | 28% |
| (7) a very happy person | 50 | 13% |
In the past 3 months, compared to most of my peers, I consider myself:
| (1) less happy | 18 | 5% |
| (2) | 22 | 6% |
| (3) | 34 | 9% |
| (4) | 93 | 24% |
| (5) | 111 | 29% |
| (6) | 72 | 19% |
| (7) more happy | 34 | 9% |
Whom can you really count on to help you feel better when you are feeling upset?
| Friends nearby | 286 |
| 71% | |
| Friends who are not nearby (e.g., home or high school friends) | 288 |
| 72% | |
| Boyfriend or girlfriend, partner, spouse or significant other | 97 |
| 24% | |
| Teachers, coaches | 65 |
| 16% | |
| Parents, guardians | 277 |
| 69% | |
| Siblings | 217 |
| 54% | |
| Other family | 99 |
| 25% | |
| Clergy | 11 |
| 3% | |
| Counselors, therapists | 37 |
| 9% | |
| UCB student services support staff (counselor, advisor, etc.) | 43 |
| 11% | |
| No one (else) / myself only | 5 |
| 1% | |
| Other (please specify) [Contact OPA for more information] |
9 |
| 2% |
In general, how satisfied are you with how available these people are to you?
| Very dissatisfied | 12 | 3% |
| Fairly dissatisfied | 21 | 6% |
| A little dissatisfied | 25 | 7% |
| A little satisfied | 42 | 11% |
| Fairly satisfied | 153 | 41% |
| Very satisfied | 123 | 33% |
Overall, how satisfied are you with the support that you have?
| Very dissatisfied | 9 | 2% |
| Fairly dissatisfied | 15 | 4% |
| A little dissatisfied | 26 | 7% |
| A little satisfied | 40 | 11% |
| Fairly satisfied | 163 | 43% |
| Very satisfied | 125 | 33% |
Do you know that all UC Berkeley students are eligible for up to 5 free counseling visits at Tang Center-University Health Services regardless of whether they have UC Berkeley SHIP (Student Health Insurance Plan)?
| Yes | 219 | 57% |
| No | 163 | 43% |