Survey Overview

Every other year Miami University participates in the College Student Survey (CSS) during the spring semester. In the most recent year of data collection (2004), 163 colleges and universities nationwide also participated in the CSS. The CSS, which allows us to better understand graduating seniors’ college experiences, goes hand in hand with a second survey, the Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) Freshman Survey. Comparing information from the CIRP and the CSS highlights changes in students’ lives across the college years. The results provided in this brief reflect the responses of 1,113 graduating seniors on Miami’s Oxford campus who completed the CSS during the 1999, 2001, or 2004 administration of the CSS. Of those seniors who completed the CSS, 913 also completed the CIRP.

Student Satisfaction with Miami University

Overall, Miami seniors were very satisfied with their experiences at Miami University. When asked about Miami’s contribution to their intellectual growth, 87.1% of Miami seniors gave a grade of “B” or higher to their experiences in the classroom; 86.7% gave a grade of “B” or higher to their experiences outside the classroom. If they had to make their college choice over again, 84.5% of Miami seniors stated they would “probably” or “definitely” re-enroll at Miami. The vast majority of Miami seniors (92.8%) stated that they were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their overall college experience.

Over 75% of Miami seniors stated that they were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with each of the following aspects of Miami University:

o General education/core curriculum courses

o Courses in their major field

o Overall quality of instruction

o Library facilities

o Availability of internet access

o Class size

o Interaction with other students

o Leadership opportunities

o Recreational facilities

Student Skills and Abilities

In comparison to students at other public institutions participating in the CSS, Miami students were more likely to rate many of their skills and abilities as “above average.” (See chart below.)

Student Development from Freshmen to Senior Year

Comparing information from students’ freshmen year with their senior year illustrates some positive developments made by students during their time at Miami University. Miami University seniors spent significantly more hours studying during their senior year than they did as freshmen. Miami seniors also rated their skills in each of the following areas significantly higher than when they were freshmen:

o Computer skills¹

o Initiative[1]

o Leadership ability

o Self-understanding[2]

o Writing ability

Text Box: “Only the educated are free.” (Epictetus, 55AD-135AD)
For information on Miami University’s educational practices that promote student success, read Student success in college: Creating conditions that matter by George Kuh et al. (2005; Jossey-Bass publishers).

[1] Data available from 2004 CSS respondents only.

[2] Data available from 2001 and 2004 CSS respondents only.