Project KEEP US
Knowledge Enabling Efforts to Preserve University Students __________________________________________________________________

Findings: Percentage Counts
(straight-line statistical report on all single and multiple response questions using percentages, Dec. 13, 2004
Total completed number of studies = 2,299  NOTE: Not every respondent replied to every question.)
 
Return to "Findings" home page (For more information, go to www.projectkeepus.com)
 
College & Degree Program
 
Q1 What college do you presently attend? (Choose one primary institution where you are enrolled and attend class on that campus.)

Note: For this study, the word “college” refers to both universities and colleges at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

SUNY Students: Check for your college under "SUC," "SUNY" and the campus name (for example, for "Cortland" see "Cortland, SUNY").
 
0.0% Bryant & Stratton® – Syracuse & Liverpool campuses only
 
3.4% Mohawk Valley Community College
1.9% Cayuga Community College, SUNY
 
0.0% Morrisville State College, SUNY
2.4% Cazenovia College
 
0.0% New York Chiropractic College
6.4% Clarkson University
 
0.2% Onondaga Community College (OCC), SUNY
9.7% Colgate University
 
0.0% Oswego University College, SUNY
0.0% Columbia College at Syracuse – Hancock Air Base campus only
 
0.0% Saint Elizabeth College of Nursing
0.3% Cornell University
 
1.7% Saint Joseph's Hospital Health Center College of Nursing
0.2% Cortland, SUNY
 
0.0% Saint Lawrence University
0.6% Crouse Hospital School of Nursing
 
0.0% Simmons Institute of Funeral Service, Inc.
0.1% Empire State College, SUNY – Syracuse and Auburn locations only
 
0.3% SUC Potsdam
7.3% Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), SUNY
 
9.7% SUNY College of Technology at Canton
4.1% Hamilton College
 
2.3% SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome
0.3% Herkimer County Community College
 
43.9% Syracuse University
0.0% Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary
 
0.0% Tompkins-Cortland Community College, SUNY
0.1% Ithaca College
 
0.0% Upstate Medical University, SUNY
0.0% ITT Technical Institute – Syracuse campus only
 
4.9% Utica College
0.0% Jefferson Community College
 
0.0% Utica School of Commerce
0.0% Le Moyne College
 
0.1% Wells College
0.0% Lynn University
 
0.3% Other (Disqualified from study)
 
Q2 What one statement BEST describes your current course of study?
 
1.5% Part-time study leading to an associate's degree
 
2.1% Part-time study leading to a graduate degree
13.2% Full-time study leading to an associate's degree
 
15.7% Full-time study leading to a graduate degree
1.7% Part-time study leading to a bachelor's degree
 
0.1% Part-time study in a non-degree program that may or may not lead to a certificate or a diploma (Disqualified from study)
65.4% Full-time study leading to a bachelor's degree
 
0.1% Full-time study in a non-degree program that may or may not lead to a certificate or a diploma (Disqualified from study)
 
Past & Future Residences
 
Q3 Where is your hometown area located? (For this research, your hometown is the place where you lived most of your life prior to attending your current college.)
Check the box that applies to your hometown area:
 
1.7% Cayuga County, NY (Auburn, Aurora area)
 
2.4% Oswego County, NY (Oswego area)
0.5% Cortland County, NY (Cortland, Dryden area)
 
0.3% Seneca County, NY (Seneca Falls area)
1.5% Herkimer County, NY (Herkimer, Old Forge area)
 
7.0% St. Lawrence County, NY (Canton, Potsdam area)
1.3% Jefferson County, NY (Watertown area)
 
0.4% Tompkins County, NY (Ithaca area)
0.5% Lewis County, NY (Lowville area)
 
24.8% Another county within New York state
2.7% Madison County, NY (Cazenovia, Hamilton, Morrisville, Oneida area)
 
34.6% Another U.S. state (not New York state)
6.5% Oneida County, NY (Clinton, Rome, Utica area)
 
3.8% Outside of the 50 United States
11.9% Onondaga County, NY (Syracuse area)
 
Q3a . . . Enter the 5-digit zip code for your hometown area in the United States:  
 
Q4 Where do you plan to live and work immediately after completing your education?
(Check ALL that apply.)
 
35.8% In or near my hometown area (For this research, your hometown is the place where you lived most of your life prior to attending your current college)
 
35.1% Another U.S. state (not New York state)
14.3% One of the counties listed above (Cayuga, Cortland, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Seneca, St. Lawrence and/or Tompkins county) in New York state
 
6.0% Outside of the 50 United States
18.1% Another county within New York state
 
33.0% I'm not sure yet
Q4a . . . Write in the city/village, state/province, country where you plan to (or are most likely to) live and work immediately after completing your education.  
 
Decision Factors
 
Q5 . . . Regarding the location where you plan to live and work immediately after you complete your college education, what has influenced (or will influence) your decision the most?
 
Q6 Regarding the location where you plan to live and work immediately after you complete your education, please rate how important each of the following factors have been (or will be) in your decision, using a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is VERY UNIMPORTANT and 5 is VERY IMPORTANT.
a. Can immediately get or start a job that at the very least will pay the bills
1 - Very Unimportant
2.6%
 
2 - Unimportant
3.0%
 
3 - Neither Unimportant nor Important
7.3%
 
4 - Important
36.2%
 
5 - Very Important
49.8%
  b. Excellent opportunity to land my dream job 2.0%   2.9%   16.5%   39.0%   38.5%
  c. Being near my family 4.1%   9.4%   25.1%   38.1%   22.1%
  d. Being near my boyfriend/girlfriend/partner 11.4%   11.1%   28.4%   24.7%   23.4%
  e. Being near friends 5.1%   11.6%   36.9%   35.4%   9.8%
  f. Easy to meet people 3.5%   8.1%   29.9%   44.1%   13.2%
  g. Cultural offerings: arts, music, theater, museums, etc. 3.9%   9.8%   27.9%   40.2%   17.1%
  h. Leisure activities: shopping, recreation, sports, night life, etc. 2.7%   5.7%   22.7%   49.0%   18.7%
  i. Safe environment, feeling of being safe 1.4%   3.4%   14.9%   48.5%   30.6%
  j. Known for being a hip, young area 12.8%   19.3%   39.1%   22.1%   5.5%
  k. High salaries for jobs in my field 2.5%   5.3%   21.4%   45.7%   24.0%
  l. Easy commute and/or good transportation system 1.9%   4.0%   16.9%   53.8%   22.3%
  m. Has the type of weather I prefer 4.4%   11.9%   37.3%   32.2%   13.0%
  n. Diverse and/or tolerant population 3.7%   9.8%   32.1%   37.0%   16.2%
  o. Reasonable cost of living (housing, taxes, transportation, utilities, etc.) 1.3%   4.6%   18.5%   51.8%   22.7%
  p. Housing options: sufficient amount, quality of facilities, neighborhood locations, etc. 1.4%   3.6%   17.8%   56.0%   20.1%
  q. Recommended by a trusted professor or colleague 9.9%   17.5%   44.1%   22.5%   4.9%
  r. Near professional contacts or prior internship/fieldwork/clinical site 5.1%   13.2%   37.2%   31.9%   11.6%
  s. Can live with family to save money 20.3%   22.9%   34.3%   14.5%   6.8%
  t. Can easily change from job to job if I decide to settle there 5.3%   10.3%   32.9%   40.7%   9.7%
  u. Efforts made by a company or community representatives to recruit me 8.2%   12.7%   36.6%   33.5%   7.8%
  v. Benefits and/or special incentives (e.g., loan-payback programs) from employers 7.1%   8.9%   29.8%   39.5%   13.6%
  w. Being very familiar with the area 10.4%   17.8%   33.3%   26.6%   10.8%
  x. Many opportunities for continuing education or furthering my education 4.5%   9.4%   27.2%   38.5%   19.3%
  y. Other (Note: 59.7% of respondents did not to reply to Q6y) 4.0%   1.3%   23.5%   5.8%   5.7%
Q6z . . . Describe "other" factor of importance in selecting a location:  
 
Your Ideal Location
 
You are now going to be presented with 9 descriptions for places where you might live and work immediately upon completing your education.

After you read each description, rate that location -- and do so completely independently of any other location descriptions presented -- using a scale of 0 to 10, where
-- 0 means you'd never choose that location, and
-- 10 means you'd definitely choose that location.
 
Q7 LOCATION Y:
Is in the general area where your family lives.
Has many job opportunities in your field.
Is well known for having a young and hip community.
Salaries in your field just cover the cost of living in the area.
____________________________________________________________________

Rate how likely you are to choose this location to live/work immediately upon completing your education:
0-Never Choose to 10-Definitely Choose
0
1.0%
 
1
1.1%
 
2
2.5%
 
3
4.7%
 
4
7.0%
 
5
12.8%
 
6
14.2%
 
7
20.1%
 
8
18.2%
 
9
9.0%
 
10
8.3%
 
Q8 LOCATION C:
Is in the general area where your family lives.
Known for having the best and most job opportunities in your field.
Does not appear to have a young and hip community.
Salaries in your field are somewhat above the cost of living in the area.
____________________________________________________________________

Rate how likely you are to choose this location to live/work immediately upon completing your education:
0-Never Choose to 10-Definitely Choose
0
0.5%
 
1
0.8%
 
2
1.4%
 
3
2.7%
 
4
4.1%
 
5
8.7%
 
6
13.2%
 
7
18.9%
 
8
22.7%
 
9
15.6%
 
10
10.1%
 
Q9 LOCATION R:
Is a reasonable driving distance to where your family lives.
Has some job opportunities in your field.
Is well known for having a young and hip community.
Salaries in your field are somewhat above the cost of living in the area.
____________________________________________________________________

Rate how likely you are to choose this location to live/work immediately upon completing your education:
0-Never Choose to 10-Definitely Choose
0
0.7%
 
1
0.8%
 
2
2.4%
 
3
4.9%
 
4
7.4%
 
5
15.1%
 
6
18.2%
 
7
18.6%
 
8
18.1%
 
9
9.4%
 
10
4.2%
 
Q10 LOCATION M:
Is a reasonable driving distance to where your family lives.
Known for having the best and most job opportunities in your field.
Appears to have a somewhat young and hip community.
Salaries in your field just cover the cost of living in the area.
____________________________________________________________________

Rate how likely you are to choose this location to live/work immediately upon completing your education:
0-Never Choose to 10-Definitely Choose
0
1.0%
 
1
1.6%
 
2
2.7%
 
3
5.2%
 
4
7.9%
 
5
15.1%
 
6
16.9%
 
7
19.3%
 
8
16.6%
 
9
9.3%
 
10
4.4%
 
Q11 LOCATION K:
Is a reasonable driving distance to where your family lives.
Has many job opportunities in your field.
Does not appear to have a young and hip community.
Salaries in your field are well beyond the cost of living in the area.
____________________________________________________________________

Rate how likely you are to choose this location to live/work immediately upon completing your education:
0-Never Choose to 10-Definitely Choose
0
0.7%
 
1
0.7%
 
2
1.2%
 
3
1.4%
 
4
3.0%
 
5
6.1%
 
6
8.3%
 
7
13.9%
 
8
20.8%
 
9
25.6%
 
10
18.3%
 
Q12 LOCATION B:
Is beyond a reasonable driving distance to where your family lives.
Known for having the best and most job opportunities in your field.
Is well known for having a young and hip community.
Salaries in your field are well beyond the cost of living in the area.
____________________________________________________________________

Rate how likely you are to choose this location to live/work immediately upon completing your education:
0-Never Choose to 10-Definitely Choose
0
1.8%
 
1
1.1%
 
2
2.1%
 
3
3.0%
 
4
4.1%
 
5
5.8%
 
6
6.8%
 
7
11.5%
 
8
16.0%
 
9
20.9%
 
10
26.5%
 
Q13 LOCATION S:
Is beyond a reasonable driving distance to where your family lives.
Has some job opportunities in your field.
Does not appear to have a young and hip community.
Salaries in your field just cover the cost of living in the area.
____________________________________________________________________

Rate how likely you are to choose this location to live/work immediately upon completing your education:
0-Never Choose to 10-Definitely Choose
0
16.8%
 
1
10.7%
 
2
14.0%
 
3
15.5%
 
4
12.4%
 
5
12.9%
 
6
8.9%
 
7
4.1%
 
8
2.9%
 
9
1.2%
 
10
0.5%
 
Q14 LOCATION G:
Is in the general area where your family lives.
Has some job opportunities in your field.
Appears to have a somewhat young and hip community.
Salaries in your field are well beyond the cost of living in the area.
____________________________________________________________________

Rate how likely you are to choose this location to live/work immediately upon completing your education:
0-Never Choose to 10-Definitely Choose
0
0.8%
 
1
0.6%
 
2
1.7%
 
3
2.4%
 
4
4.9%
 
5
8.1%
 
6
12.3%
 
7
17.3%
 
8
21.1%
 
9
16.4%
 
10
14.5%
 
Q15 LOCATION P:
Is beyond a reasonable driving distance to where your family lives.
Has many job opportunities in your field.
Appears to have a somewhat young and hip community.
Salaries in your field are somewhat above the cost of living in the area.
____________________________________________________________________

Rate how likely you are to choose this location to live/work immediately upon completing your education:
0-Never Choose to 10-Definitely Choose
0
2.8%
 
1
3.1%
 
2
3.5%
 
3
5.4%
 
4
8.1%
 
5
15.5%
 
6
18.1%
 
7
20.5%
 
8
14.0%
 
9
6.8%
 
10
2.4%
 
Q16 Using the same scale of 0 to 10, what is the likelihood that you would live somewhat near where you currently attend college?

Remember:
-- 0 means you'd never choose to live somewhat near your campus' location, and
-- 10 means you'd definitely choose to live somewhat near your campus' location.
0-Never live somewhat near, 10-Definitely live somewhat near
0
12.5%
 
1
8.4%
 
2
10.4%
 
3
11.5%
 
4
8.6%
 
5
14.5%
 
6
9.5%
 
7
8.2%
 
8
7.1%
 
9
3.8%
 
10
5.3%
 
Decision-Making Preferences
 
Q17 Indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with each statement, using a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is STRONGLY DISAGREE and 5 is STRONGLY AGREE.
Note: Unless specified otherwise, "the area" refers to the area where you attend college.
a. I want to live in the Greater Syracuse region right after completing college.
1 - Strongly Disagree
35.4%
 
2 - Disagree
27.0%
 
3 - Neither Disagree nor Agree
25.7%
 
4 - Agree
8.0%
 
5 - Strongly Agree
3.7%
  b. Eventually at some point I want to settle or work in the Greater Syracuse region. 37.1%   28.8%   23.0%   7.7%   3.2%
  c. I'd like to live in Central Upstate New York (Cayuga, Cortland, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Seneca, St. Lawrence and/or Tompkins counties). 29.7%   25.2%   21.3%   14.6%   9.1%
  d. Factors out of my control will likely prevent me from living in the area after I graduate from college. 22.2%   25.3%   29.5%   17.1%   5.6%
  e. Immediately after completing my education, I want to live or work in a city that's larger than Syracuse. 17.1%   19.6%   27.4%   23.1%   12.6%
  f. I'd recommend the area to friends who are considering living/working in the area. 13.1%   24.5%   33.7%   24.6%   3.8%
  g. I often leave campus for shopping, work, entertainment, recreation, cultural events or other activities in area communities. 6.2%   16.8%   18.6%   38.9%   19.2%
  h. My mind is completely set about where I'm going to live as soon as I finish college. 23.8%   27.0%   21.2%   16.3%   11.5%
  i. I know a lot about what the area offers new college graduates in terms of housing, job opportunities, recreation, social life, culture, etc. 11.0%   32.9%   25.6%   23.8%   6.5%
  j. Ideally I'd prefer to live in a small town or rural area. 23.8%   22.8%   21.7%   19.9%   11.6%
  k. Being able to be who I am is the most important factor in deciding where I will locate as soon as I finish college. 4.1%   12.1%   30.3%   36.9%   16.4%
  l. I will probably start a family soon. 27.9%   30.6%   24.2%   11.8%   5.4%
  m. I don't expect to settle down for many years. 15.9%   21.0%   30.8%   23.5%   8.5%
  n. I look to my professors to advise me about where I should live/work after I finish my education. 19.8%   29.8%   31.3%   16.3%   2.5%
  o. After college I'm more likely to locate where I've completed an internship, fieldwork or clinical assignment. 7.8%   15.6%   36.6%   33.4%   6.4%
  p. Wherever I begin living immediately after college, I don't expect to stay in that city/town very long. 10.0%   28.7%   47.3%   11.8%   2.0%
  q. I expect to move in with my family as soon as I finish my education. 36.6%   29.9%   22.8%   7.5%   3.0%
  r. My dream job/career requires a high degree of on-the-job creativity. 3.5%   9.5%   27.9%   39.2%   19.7%
  s. Ideally, I'd like to live near my family after I complete my college education. 4.6%   12.3%   31.6%   34.0%   17.3%
 
Career & Course of Study
 
Q18 Select the ONE category that BEST describes your college major (the course of study in which you will earn your degree):
 
2.5% Undeclared / Undecided
 
7.6% Engineering
0.7% Agriculture
 
5.3% Science (except BioSci, CS, Eng)
10.6% Advertising, Journalism, Public Relations
 
1.1% Mathematics, Statistics
11.5% Business, Management, Marketing, HR
 
12.2% Behavioral and Social Sciences
6.1% Education
 
4.8% Fine and Performing Arts
9.0% Healthcare, Medical
 
6.9% Liberal Arts, Languages
5.4% Biosciences
 
0.4% Hospitality & Tourism
5.0% Computer Science, Electronics, IT
 
10.7% Other
Q18a . . . Specify "other" category for your major: (Includes architecture/landscape architecture, environmental studies, fashion, interior design, law/criminal justice/forensics, mortuary science, natural resources, public administration/international affairs, radio/TV/film, wood products, visual communication/graphic design, trades)
 
Q19 During what year do you expect to complete your current course of study?
 
29.4% 2005 or earlier
 
19.0% 2008 or later
29.9% 2006
 
1.4% Not sure
20.0% 2007
 
 
Q20 Have you had an off-campus job, internship, fieldwork or clinical assignment in the community or broader region where you currently attend college?
 
34.0% Yes
 
65.5% No
Q20a . . . Enter the city/village AND organization's name where this job/internship/fieldwork/clinical assignment took place:  
 
Q21 . . . What is your dream job or career at this time? Please be as specific as possible, including the job title, type of organization and type of work.
a. Job Title (for dream job or career)  
  b. Type of Organization (for dream job or career)  
  c. Type of Work (for dream job or career)  
 
Q22 Please indicate the type of INDUSTRY -- select 1, 2 or 3 options at most from the list below -- that you expect to be (or want to be) employed in when you complete your education.

"INDUSTRY" means the type of product or service offered by the organization that employs you.
 
15.6% Not sure, uncertain
 
18.8% Service Industries: Health & Medical Services
6.1% Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
 
21.2% Service Industries: Educational Services
0.4% Mineral Industries
 
5.4% Service Industries: Environmental Systems
2.3% Construction Industries: Environmental Systems
 
1.5% Service Industries: Electronic Services
0.3% Construction Industries: Precision Metal Working
 
4.4% Service Industries: Computer and Electronic Engineering & Management Services
2.0% Construction Industries: All Others
 
5.5% Service Industries: Engineering (all other engineering) & Management Services
3.0% Manufacturing: Biosciences, Medical
 
0.3% Service Industries: Precision Metal Working
2.2% Manufacturing: Electrical & Electronic Equipment, Digital & Electronic Devices
 
0.7% Service Industries: Repair Services
1.3% Manufacturing: Environmental Systems
 
9.5% Service Industries: Social Services
0.3% Manufacturing: Packaging
 
11.6% Service Industries: Legal or Business Services
1.3% Manufacturing: Primary Metal Industries & Fabricated Metal Products
 
1.9% Service Industries: Hotels & Other Lodging
2.0% Manufacturing: All Others
 
10.5% Service Industries: Amusement & Recreational Services
0.9% Transportation & Warehousing
 
5.1% Service Industries: Museums, Art Galleries, Botanical & Zoological Garden
0.8% Utilities, Communications & Sanitary Services
 
4.7% Service Industries: Motion Pictures
0.5% Wholesale Trade: Durable & Non-Durable Goods
 
7.2% Service Industries: All Others (Includes advertising/PR/graphics/web design, broadcast news, communications-unspecified, events planning)
4.8% Retail Trade: Stores, Restaurants, Dealerships, Service Stations
 
19.7% Public Administration (Government, Economic Programs, Housing, National Security, Justice)
1.7% Insurance
 
9.4% Other industry
5.9% Finance & Real Estate
 
Q22a . . . Describe "other industry" you expect to be employed in: (Includes architecture/landscape architecture, fashion-unspecified, funeral, interior design, non-profit, publishing, religion, trades)
 
Tell us about yourself
 
Q23 What sex are you?
 
68.2% Female
 
31.7% Male
 
Q24 . . . What is your age?
 
Q25 Are you Hispanic, Latino or Spanish (includes Mexican, Mexican-American, Chicano, Puerto Rican, Cuban)?
 
92.2% No
 
7.7% Yes
 
Q26 What is your race? (Check the one box that BEST describes your racial identity.)
 
83.7% White alone
 
0.1% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander alone (includes Guamanian or Chamorro, Samoan)
2.8% Black or African-American alone
 
5.4% Two or more races
0.5% American Indian or Alaska Native alone
 
3.0% Other race
4.4% Asian alone (includes Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese)
 
Q26a . . . Provide details for "other race":  
 
Closing Comments
 
Q27 . . . What can the area do to better familiarize you with what it has to offer new college graduates?
 
Q28 . . . Enter here any other comments you would like to see included in this study:

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Research instrument (survey design) and methods employed in this study ©2004 Vincent McCabe, Inc.