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| 2018 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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| Table 311.40. | Percentage of first-year undergraduate students who reported taking remedial education courses, by selected student and institution characteristics: Selected years, 2003-04 through 2015-16 |
| [Standard errors appear in parentheses] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected student or institution characteristic | Percent of 2003-04 first-year undergraduates1 who took any remedial courses | Percent of 2007-08 first-year undergraduates1 who took any remedial courses | Percent of 2011-12 first-year undergraduates1 who took any remedial courses |
2015-16 first-year undergraduates1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total number of students2 (in thousands) | Students who took any remedial courses | Percent who took specific remedial courses in 2015-16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ever | In 2003-04 | Ever | In 2007-08 | Ever | In 2011-12 | Percent who ever took | Number who took in 2015-16 (in thousands) |
Percent who took in 2015-16 |
Mathematics | Reading/ writing | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 34.8 | (0.36) | 19.2 | (0.30) | 36.2 | (0.38) | 20.0 | (0.35) | 32.6 | (0.42) | 19.7 | (0.36) | 7,706 | 43.0 | (0.58) | 1,482 | 19.2 | (0.43) | 14.0 | (0.36) | 8.8 | (0.28) | ||||||||
| Sex | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Male | 33.0 | (0.53) | 18.4 | (0.46) | 33.0 | (0.53) | 19.3 | (0.51) | 30.8 | (0.61) | 19.9 | (0.55) | 3,364 | 40.7 | (0.82) | 643 | 19.1 | (0.67) | 13.9 | (0.58) | 8.5 | (0.38) | ||||||||
| Female | 36.2 | (0.54) | 19.8 | (0.39) | 38.7 | (0.51) | 20.6 | (0.46) | 34.0 | (0.52) | 19.7 | (0.46) | 4,342 | 44.8 | (0.66) | 839 | 19.3 | (0.50) | 14.1 | (0.41) | 8.9 | (0.36) | ||||||||
| Race/ethnicity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| White | 31.7 | (0.42) | 17.8 | (0.35) | 31.3 | (0.46) | 17.7 | (0.41) | 29.4 | (0.51) | 17.7 | (0.47) | 3,683 | 38.3 | (0.76) | 620 | 16.8 | (0.48) | 12.6 | (0.42) | 7.0 | (0.33) | ||||||||
| Black | 41.2 | (1.00) | 22.4 | (0.76) | 45.1 | (0.99) | 24.4 | (0.86) | 37.6 | (0.89) | 22.2 | (0.75) | 1,419 | 48.7 | (1.05) | 292 | 20.6 | (0.78) | 15.0 | (0.74) | 10.2 | (0.62) | ||||||||
| Hispanic | 38.5 | (0.91) | 21.5 | (0.72) | 43.7 | (1.12) | 23.3 | (0.84) | 35.8 | (0.99) | 22.4 | (0.81) | 1,726 | 47.7 | (0.97) | 397 | 23.0 | (0.98) | 16.7 | (0.82) | 10.7 | (0.60) | ||||||||
| Asian | 39.6 | (1.72) | 17.6 | (1.56) | 38.9 | (2.05) | 20.0 | (1.90) | 37.6 | (2.25) | 23.0 | (1.75) | 490 | 45.4 | (1.83) | 97 | 19.8 | (1.48) | 13.9 | (1.28) | 10.4 | (1.11) | ||||||||
| Pacific Islander | 40.8 | (5.11) | 22.4 | (4.55) | 39.9 | (4.63) | 19.1 | (3.90) | 33.4 | (5.16) | 15.2 | (3.50) | 37 | 43.7 | (6.07) | ‡ | 21.8 | (5.04) | 12.0 | ! | (3.73) | 10.6 | ! | (4.44) | ||||||
| American Indian/Alaska | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Native | 44.8 | (4.34) | 23.7 | (3.10) | 47.9 | (4.66) | 29.7 | (3.88) | 34.9 | (4.11) | 19.8 | (2.79) | 79 | 50.1 | (5.64) | 19 | 23.8 | (4.98) | 12.0 | (3.30) | 13.9 | (4.10) | ||||||||
| Two or more races | 33.9 | (2.02) | 20.9 | (1.80) | 32.3 | (2.29) | 20.4 | (2.06) | 29.8 | (2.02) | 19.0 | (1.68) | 271 | 41.1 | (2.28) | 49 | 18.1 | (1.79) | 12.8 | (1.55) | 8.4 | (1.35) | ||||||||
| Other | 31.1 | (2.78) | 17.3 | (2.34) | 35.2 | (6.00) | 21.7 | (5.11) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | — | (†) | — | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | ||||||||
| Age | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 to 23 | 33.7 | (0.41) | 21.5 | (0.39) | 34.5 | (0.46) | 22.0 | (0.43) | 31.0 | (0.49) | 21.1 | (0.38) | 4,678 | 41.0 | (0.70) | 912 | 19.5 | (0.52) | 14.5 | (0.46) | 9.8 | (0.37) | ||||||||
| 24 to 29 | 35.0 | (0.99) | 16.0 | (0.78) | 39.7 | (0.98) | 19.5 | (0.86) | 34.4 | (1.12) | 17.2 | (0.91) | 1,332 | 47.4 | (1.17) | 252 | 18.9 | (0.94) | 13.9 | (0.82) | 6.6 | (0.52) | ||||||||
| 30 or older | 37.6 | (0.87) | 15.6 | (0.52) | 38.1 | (0.84) | 15.2 | (0.68) | 35.4 | (0.94) | 18.4 | (0.82) | 1,696 | 45.1 | (1.06) | 318 | 18.8 | (0.81) | 13.0 | (0.66) | 7.5 | (0.56) | ||||||||
| Attendance status | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-time, full-year3 | 31.4 | (0.45) | 19.1 | (0.37) | 31.4 | (0.52) | 19.4 | (0.46) | 28.1 | (0.48) | 17.6 | (0.41) | 3,254 | 36.7 | (0.78) | 550 | 16.9 | (0.58) | 12.5 | (0.48) | 8.5 | (0.43) | ||||||||
| Part-time only, for only part of year |
37.5 | (0.65) | 17.9 | (0.51) | 39.8 | (0.71) | 19.0 | (0.59) | 37.4 | (0.81) | 21.3 | (0.78) | 3,033 | 47.7 | (0.92) | 616 | 20.3 | (0.74) | 14.5 | (0.63) | 8.1 | (0.46) | ||||||||
| Mixed attendance status4 | 41.1 | (0.97) | 23.7 | (0.85) | 42.6 | (0.98) | 26.3 | (0.93) | 37.0 | (0.95) | 23.4 | (0.74) | 1,419 | 47.4 | (0.97) | 316 | 22.2 | (0.83) | 16.4 | (0.69) | 10.8 | (0.59) | ||||||||
| Student housing status | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On-campus | 24.5 | (0.70) | 16.8 | (0.56) | 23.2 | (0.84) | 17.1 | (0.76) | 17.9 | (0.78) | 14.1 | (0.67) | 921 | 24.7 | (1.26) | 120 | 13.0 | (0.89) | 9.7 | (0.82) | 6.8 | (0.64) | ||||||||
| Off-campus | 35.9 | (0.58) | 17.0 | (0.40) | 37.2 | (0.57) | 17.8 | (0.49) | 34.0 | (0.65) | 19.6 | (0.63) | 3,810 | 45.9 | (0.78) | 720 | 18.9 | (0.58) | 13.6 | (0.50) | 8.2 | (0.39) | ||||||||
| With parents or relatives | 37.9 | (0.59) | 24.5 | (0.61) | 39.6 | (0.78) | 25.2 | (0.66) | 35.3 | (0.78) | 22.2 | (0.61) | 2,293 | 47.6 | (1.04) | 545 | 23.7 | (0.79) | 17.7 | (0.69) | 11.2 | (0.51) | ||||||||
| Attended more than one | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| institution | 36.5 | (1.18) | 18.3 | (0.98) | 36.1 | (1.11) | 20.2 | (0.97) | 32.7 | (1.09) | 17.0 | (0.95) | 682 | 36.0 | (1.07) | 97 | 14.2 | (0.81) | 9.9 | (0.59) | 6.4 | (0.49) | ||||||||
| Dependency status | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dependent | 33.4 | (0.45) | 22.1 | (0.41) | 34.4 | (0.51) | 22.8 | (0.46) | 31.2 | (0.53) | 22.0 | (0.42) | 3,843 | 39.5 | (0.77) | 749 | 19.5 | (0.55) | 14.4 | (0.50) | 9.7 | (0.41) | ||||||||
| Independent | 36.4 | (0.61) | 16.1 | (0.39) | 38.1 | (0.59) | 17.1 | (0.51) | 33.9 | (0.57) | 17.6 | (0.52) | 3,863 | 46.5 | (0.76) | 732 | 19.0 | (0.55) | 13.7 | (0.47) | 7.8 | (0.36) | ||||||||
| Veteran status | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Veteran | 35.9 | (2.33) | 13.2 | (1.52) | 35.8 | (2.36) | 17.1 | (2.08) | 31.4 | (2.21) | 17.4 | (1.74) | 363 | 43.9 | (2.08) | 62 | 17.1 | (1.53) | 12.2 | (1.38) | 6.7 | (0.99) | ||||||||
| Not veteran | 34.8 | (0.38) | 19.4 | (0.31) | 36.2 | (0.38) | 20.1 | (0.36) | 32.7 | (0.42) | 19.8 | (0.37) | 7,343 | 43.0 | (0.58) | 1,420 | 19.3 | (0.43) | 14.1 | (0.37) | 8.9 | (0.30) | ||||||||
| Field of study5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Business/management | 36.4 | (1.00) | 19.6 | (0.97) | 37.0 | (1.13) | 21.7 | (1.06) | 32.7 | (1.11) | 19.8 | (0.85) | 996 | 42.6 | (1.37) | 182 | 18.2 | (0.95) | 13.8 | (0.86) | 9.2 | (0.70) | ||||||||
| Computer science | 33.7 | (1.59) | 19.2 | (1.39) | 34.7 | (2.28) | 19.8 | (1.77) | 29.3 | (1.69) | 17.4 | (1.40) | 329 | 41.0 | (2.14) | 64 | 19.4 | (1.78) | 14.8 | (1.58) | 8.9 | (1.24) | ||||||||
| Education | 41.5 | (1.61) | 23.1 | (1.14) | 40.3 | (1.90) | 23.0 | (1.48) | 36.0 | (1.84) | 21.6 | (1.53) | 289 | 46.6 | (2.33) | 64 | 22.1 | (1.91) | 18.2 | (1.81) | 8.8 | (1.37) | ||||||||
| Engineering | 30.9 | (1.79) | 16.6 | (1.41) | 33.0 | (1.81) | 19.0 | (1.57) | 33.1 | (1.88) | 20.9 | (1.63) | 394 | 38.6 | (2.02) | 70 | 17.8 | (1.66) | 13.7 | (1.54) | 9.0 | (1.11) | ||||||||
| Health | 37.0 | (0.83) | 19.7 | (0.68) | 38.6 | (2.49) | 18.9 | (4.49) | 34.6 | (0.74) | 18.8 | (0.70) | 1,531 | 46.5 | (1.09) | 293 | 19.1 | (0.87) | 14.7 | (0.75) | 9.2 | (0.68) | ||||||||
| Humanities | 34.0 | (1.29) | 18.8 | (0.94) | 31.2 | (1.94) | 20.5 | (1.77) | 36.6 | (1.03) | 23.9 | (0.91) | 1,421 | 46.8 | (1.13) | 292 | 20.5 | (0.97) | 14.4 | (0.84) | 9.0 | (0.64) | ||||||||
| Life sciences | 31.2 | (1.81) | 19.7 | (1.72) | 31.2 | (6.21) | 20.5 | ! | (8.64) | 26.7 | (1.71) | 17.9 | (1.11) | 386 | 36.4 | (2.03) | 69 | 18.0 | (1.56) | 14.0 | (1.53) | 8.2 | (1.16) | |||||||
| Mathematics | 23.0 | (5.55) | 11.0 | ! | (4.43) | 41.1 | (6.31) | 15.6 | ! | (5.20) | 14.3 | ! | (4.57) | 8.4 | ! | (2.81) | 29 | 36.4 | (7.45) | ‡ | 13.2 | ! | (4.85) | 12.1 | ! | (4.68) | ‡ | (†) | ||
| Physical sciences | 24.0 | (4.39) | 12.9 | (3.49) | 24.5 | (4.31) | 15.7 | (3.92) | 29.2 | (4.72) | 24.7 | (4.59) | 62 | 37.2 | (6.96) | ‡ | 15.4 | (3.50) | 9.2 | (2.47) | 7.6 | (2.27) | ||||||||
| Social/behavioral sciences | 33.2 | (2.08) | 19.4 | (1.57) | 35.0 | (2.16) | 23.4 | (1.94) | 27.7 | (1.87) | 19.8 | (1.38) | 341 | 42.4 | (2.23) | 66 | 19.2 | (1.61) | 13.9 | (1.40) | 9.6 | (1.30) | ||||||||
| Vocational/technical | 38.5 | (2.11) | 18.3 | (1.60) | 31.1 | (1.93) | 15.7 | (1.78) | 26.9 | (1.94) | 15.7 | (1.59) | 336 | 33.0 | (2.32) | 51 | 15.3 | (1.64) | 11.3 | (1.41) | 8.4 | (1.16) | ||||||||
| Undeclared | 33.6 | (0.67) | 19.2 | (0.59) | 35.8 | (1.29) | 20.0 | (1.14) | 31.8 | (2.10) | 22.0 | (1.86) | 297 | 45.0 | (2.56) | 77 | 25.8 | (2.15) | 18.4 | (1.97) | 11.6 | (1.57) | ||||||||
| Other | 33.3 | (1.49) | 18.0 | (1.06) | 34.6 | (1.23) | 18.5 | (0.97) | 29.3 | (0.94) | 16.7 | (0.77) | 930 | 42.6 | (1.36) | 174 | 18.7 | (1.01) | 12.8 | (0.94) | 8.0 | (0.67) | ||||||||
| Control and level of institution |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Public less-than-2-year | 30.6 | (1.85) | 10.9 | (1.09) | 31.9 | (1.99) | 9.0 | (0.89) | 30.2 | (6.13) | 12.2 | ! | (3.86) | 55 | 33.0 | (3.85) | ‡ | 10.9 | (1.54) | 8.4 | (1.61) | 6.9 | (0.93) | |||||||
| Public 2-year | 41.4 | (0.59) | 23.0 | (0.47) | 41.8 | (0.54) | 23.7 | (0.48) | 40.3 | (0.67) | 25.6 | (0.64) | 4,275 | 52.5 | (0.76) | 1,082 | 25.3 | (0.63) | 18.6 | (0.53) | 10.8 | (0.42) | ||||||||
| Public 4-year nondoctorate | 34.2 | (1.77) | 21.4 | (1.12) | 38.9 | (1.24) | 25.4 | (1.14) | 37.8 | (2.12) | 24.3 | (1.30) | 692 | 44.4 | (1.92) | 125 | 18.1 | (1.28) | 13.9 | (1.09) | 7.8 | (0.77) | ||||||||
| Public 4-year doctorate | 25.7 | (1.11) | 16.3 | (0.64) | 25.0 | (1.03) | 17.8 | (0.86) | 21.9 | (0.84) | 15.6 | (0.80) | 819 | 26.2 | (1.35) | 96 | 11.7 | (0.93) | 9.0 | (0.75) | 5.7 | (0.72) | ||||||||
| Private nonprofit less- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| than-4-year | 31.3 | (2.06) | 12.9 | (1.89) | 30.3 | (3.75) | 10.2 | (2.81) | 22.3 | (4.25) | 9.4 | ! | (3.42) | 76 | 23.7 | (1.86) | 4 | 5.7 | ! | (2.02) | 5.1 | ! | 2.0456 | 4.1 | ! | (2.06) | ||||
| Private nonprofit 4-year | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| nondoctorate | 26.0 | (1.16) | 14.7 | (0.78) | 25.5 | (1.74) | 16.6 | (1.46) | 24.4 | (1.66) | 15.3 | (1.23) | 344 | 28.3 | (1.88) | 39 | 11.3 | (0.93) | 7.6 | (0.91) | 6.7 | (0.71) | ||||||||
| Private nonprofit 4-year | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| doctorate | 18.3 | (1.67) | 11.6 | (1.39) | 22.1 | (1.70) | 12.6 | (1.38) | 14.6 | (1.85) | 9.6 | (1.24) | 396 | 21.8 | (1.71) | 36 | 9.2 | (1.07) | 5.0 | (0.97) | 6.2 | (0.93) | ||||||||
| Private for-profit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| less-than-2-year | 24.1 | (0.50) | 7.8 | (0.23) | 26.5 | (1.02) | 5.5 | (0.51) | 16.7 | (0.74) | 3.8 | (0.56) | 288 | 25.0 | (1.10) | 12 | 4.2 | (0.69) | 2.5 | (0.49) | 2.0 | (0.50) | ||||||||
| Private for-profit 2 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| or more | 25.4 | (1.63) | 11.7 | (1.04) | 28.8 | (1.46) | 11.3 | (1.20) | 20.9 | (0.74) | 8.2 | (0.37) | 761 | 33.9 | (1.61) | 82 | 10.7 | (0.70) | 7.5 | (0.58) | 6.7 | (0.54) | ||||||||
| —Not available. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| †Not applicable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| !Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ‡Reporting standards not met. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is 50 percent or greater. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 First-year student status was determined by accumulation of credits. Students attending postsecondary education part time, or not completing the credit accumulation requirements for second-year status, could be considered first-year students for more than one year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 Numbers may not equal those reported in other tables, since these data are based on a sample survey of students who enrolled at any time during the academic year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 Includes only students enrolled full time for a full academic year (defined as 9 or more months). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 Includes students enrolled part time for a full academic year as well as students enrolled full time, but for only part of an academic year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 Excludes students not in a degree or certificate program. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: Percentages of students who took remedial courses are based on student reports. Data exclude students attending institutions in Puerto Rico. Detail may not sum to totals because of survey item nonresponse and rounding. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2003-04, 2007-08, 2011-12, and 2015-16 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:04, NPSAS:08, NPSAS:12, and NPSAS:16). (This table was prepared June 2018.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
