CIRP Freshman Survey

The CIRP Freshman Survey has been administered to nearly every entering class of new first years at Macalester since 1971. This nationwide survey asks first years about their views and expectations as they enter college. The survey covers a wide range of student characteristics: parental income and education, ethnicity, and other demographic items; financial aid; secondary school achievement and activities; educational and career plans; and values, attitudes, beliefs, and self-concept. Nationally almost 400,000 new first years complete this survey every year. The survey is offered through the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA.

*Note: While the Office of Institutional Research prefers the term ‘first-year student,’ the official name of this national survey is the CIRP Freshman Survey.