Table 1. Percentage distribution of 2003–2004 high school seniors, by intended STEM and non-STEM major upon beginning postsecondary study and selected student and family characteristics: 2006

Education Longitudinal
Study of 2002 (ELS:2002)

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	STEM major							Non-STEM major
Characteristic	Total	mathematics	Biological/ life sciences		Engineering/ technologies/ technicians	Computer and information sciences		Total	Social/ behavioral science	Humanities	Business	Education	Health sciences	Other Non-STEM	Don't know/ Undecided
Total	15.8	4.9	0.7		6.7	3.5		77.5	16.2	8.7	15.0	7.5	17.6	12.6	6.6

Sex
Female	8.0	4.8	0.7		1.2	1.3		85.3	17.2	9.1	12.2	10.6	25.2	11.0	6.8
Male	25.0	5.1	0.9		13.0	6.1		68.5	14.9	8.1	18.4	4.0	8.7	14.5	6.5

Race/ethnicity¹
White, non-Hispanic	15.7	4.7	0.9		6.9	3.2		77.4	15.5	9.7	15.5	8.5	15.5	12.7	6.9
Black, non-Hispanic	16.9	4.6	#		7.3	5.0		78.9	18.2	5.1	15.2	5.7	23.6	11.1	4.2
Hispanic	12.8	4.4	‡		4.8	3.2		79.3	18.8	6.2	12.6	7.2	19.3	15.2	7.9
Asian, non-Hispanic	23.1	9.5	‡		8.3	4.9		69.3	10.7	7.3	18.2	1.6	23.4	8.1	7.6
All other races, non-Hispanic	15.8	5.4	‡		5.6	3.0	!	78.9	16.5	11.2	12.2	6.0	19.8	13.2	5.3

Family socio-economic status
Lowest quartile	13.5	3.8	0.7	!	4.6	4.4		80.7	15.3	4.8	13.7	7.1	25.2	14.7	5.8
Second quartile	14.4	3.8	0.8	!	5.8	4.0		78.9	15.4	6.8	13.6	8.6	19.8	14.6	6.7
Third quartile	14.8	4.8	0.6	!	6.2	3.2		78.1	17.5	9.3	14.8	7.8	15.1	13.7	7.1
Highest quartile	19.0	6.4	1.0		8.7	2.9		74.3	15.8	11.4	16.9	6.8	14.1	9.2	6.7

Native language²
English	15.9	4.9	0.8		6.6	3.5		77.6	16.3	8.9	15.1	7.8	17.0	12.5	6.6
Non-English	15.8	4.9	‡		7.0	3.6		76.9	14.7	6.7	14.7	5.6	21.7	13.5	7.3

Mathematics acheievement quartile
Lowest quartile	8.8	1.8	0.8	!	2.7	3.6		85.1	18.8	6.3	12.4	7.7	21.6	18.4	6.1
Second quartile	10.5	2.9	0.7	!	3.5	3.3		82.1	17.6	6.7	14.0	8.0	21.1	14.7	7.5
Third quartile	13.8	5.1	0.5	!	5.3	2.9		78.8	16.0	8.6	16.0	8.8	16.5	12.8	7.4
Highest quartile	25.3	8.0	1.0		12.3	4.1		69.1	13.6	11.4	16.4	6.0	13.8	7.9	5.6

# Rounds to zero.
! Interpret data with caution. Estimate is unstable because the coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is 30 percent or greater (i.e., the standard error represents 30 percent or more of the estimate).
‡ Reporting standards are not met. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is 50 percent or greater (i.e., the standard error represents 50 percent or more of the estimate).
¹ Black, non-Hispanic includes African American. Hispanic includes Latino. All other races, non-Hispanic includes American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and Two or more races..
² The first language the student learned to speak.
NOTE: Totals are weighted by F2QWT and other estimates are weighted by F2F1WT. The flag variable G12COHRT was used to produce data that are based on 2003-2004 high school seniors interviewed in both 2004 and 2006. Details may not sum to totals due to rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS: 2002) Second Follow-up, 2006."

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