Highlights from the Fall 2019 CIRP Freshman Survey

The annual CIRP Freshman Survey allows the College to collect extensive data on first-year (FY) students’ demographic characteristics, high school experiences, college selection decisions, self-ratings of abilities, values and personal goals, and expectations for college. The Office of Institutional Analysis administered the survey to Gettysburg Fall 2019 FY cohort on the first day of class in Fall 2019. The response rate was 95%. Below are some highlights from the survey.

Top Reasons for Going to College

The top 4 reasons for Gettysburg 2019 FY students to go to college are: to be able to get a better job; to learn more about things that interest me; to gain a general education and appreciation of ideas; and to be able to make more money. The chart below shows % of Gettysburg FY students ranking a reason as "very important" in deciding to go to college:

View data for top reasons for going to college chart

% reporting a reason as "very important" in deciding to go to college:
Reason	Percentage
To be able to get a better job	89%
To learn more about things that interest me	86%
To gain a general education and appreciation of ideas	80%
To be able to make more money	76%
To get training for a specific career	69%
To prepare myself for graduate or professional school	64%
To make me a more cultured person	57%
To please my family	38%

Top Reasons for Attending Gettysburg

The very good academic reputation of Gettysburg has continued to be the most important reason for students to choose to attend Gettysburg. Gettysburg FY students have consistently marked almost the same top reasons over the past few years. Below are the top 6 reasons for attending Gettysburg among 2019 FY students (% reporting a reason as “very important” in deciding to attend Gettysburg):

View data for top reasons for attending Gettysburg chart

% reporting a reason as “very important” in deciding to attend Gettysburg
Reason	Percentage
This college has a very good academic reputation	75%
This college's graduates get good jobs	67%
I was offered financial assistance	64%
A visit to this campus	64%
I wanted to go to a school about the size of this college	60%
This college has a good reputation for its social and extracurricular activities	54%

Top Reasons for Attending Their Current Institution

Gettysburg 2019 FY students were more likely than FY students in the Peer Group to attend their current institution because of the following reasons (% reporting a reason as “very important”):

Top Reasons for Choosing THIS College chart - see table below for data — Figure 3: Top Reasons for Attending Their Current Institution

View data for top reasons for attending their current institution chart

% reporting a reason as “very important” for attending their current institution: Gettysburg vs. Peer Group
Reason	Gettysburg College	Peer Group
This college's graduates get good jobs	67%	50%
I was offered financial assistance	64%	50%
The academic reputation of my intended major	47%	41%
This college's graduates gain admission to top graduate/professional schools	44%	38%
The cost of attending this college	42%	35%

Intended Major and Degree Aspirations

Gettysburg 2019 FY students reported the following intended undergraduate majors:

Intended Majors chart - see table below for data — Figure 4: Intended Majors

80% of Gettysburg 2019 FY students planned to obtain a Master’s degree or higher.

View data for intended majors chart

intended majors among Gettysburg FY students (Students were asked to choose one.):
Intended Major	Percentage
Political Science	13%
Business (inc. Management [4.1%])	11%
Health Professions	9%
Biology (general)	7%
Psychology	7%
Economics	5%
History	4%
Computer Science	3%
Environmental Science	3%
Education	2%
Music	2%
Undecided	14%
Other	19%

Political Views

More Gettysburg FY students characterized their political views as “Liberal” than “Conservative” while close to 40% of them characterized their political views as “Middle-of-the-road".

View data for political views chart

political views of Gettysburg FY students
Political Views	2018	2019
Far left	4%	5%
Liberal	35%	35%
Middle-of-the-road	35%	39%
Conservative	23%	18%
Far right	2%	3%

Note: The Peer Group includes 14 highly selective private liberal arts colleges. Five of them were ranked among the Top 25 national liberal arts colleges (based on the 2020 U.S. News Best Colleges Rankings); five, between 26th and 50th; and four, between 51th and 72th.