20 13

Iowa College Student Analysis A Survey of Iowarsquos College Students

Here Today Where Tomorrow

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Statewide Results 2

Community College Results 12

Regent University Results 17

Private College Results 22

Index of Charts and Tables 27

Methodology 28

Iowa Student Survey 2013

In January 2008 Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) in partnership with the Governorrsquos Office Department of Education and Department of Economic Development observed the need for a practical approach to address the migration of college graduates from the state of Iowa IWD produced its first College Student Survey consisting of questions pertaining to studentsrsquo demographics areas of study future ambitions opinions of the state of Iowa and what would attract them to relocate stay in the state of Iowa This 2013 survey and analysis is a follow up to the original 2008 version As the turnover in college students has progressed over the past five years a new analysis is necessary to keep up with the changing perceptions of the latest population of college students

ldquoIowa is great Ive lived here for 19 years and it is an absolutely awesome place to be When I graduate I will probably find a job somewhere else though nothing against Iowa I just want to see what else is out thererdquo - 19 year-old Loras College student

This report is designed to inform government community and business leaders in Iowa regarding the expectations and opinions of the future workforce The report is broken into four sections covering statewide data community colleges regent universities and private colleges The following sections will cover demographics of age gender state of origin desired population setting etc of college students These demographics will address questions pertaining to fields of study the occupation industry in which they would like to be employed desired wages desired benefits opinions about features that attract them to stayrelocate in Iowa and whether they plan to stay in the state after graduation

All colleges throughout the state were contacted and asked to distribute an on-line survey to their students The survey received 5074 responses Figure 1 details the survey respondents by collegiate category

Figure 1 College Respondents

350

424 150

76

Community College

Regent University

Private College

Unspecified

1

Statewide Results

Close to half of students responding to the statewide survey (446) lean toward staying in Iowa however nearly one-third (320) of students are unsure of their plans after college and the remaining 234 percent of students are contemplating leaving the state once they have completed their education

ldquoIowa is a great place with many opportunities However for the number of people graduating with similar degrees the competition [is] fierce I find that for one job hundreds of people are applying It is [hard] to move positions or advance your career for fear of having no jobhellip I wish the high schools would emphasize (vocational trade) more and focus less on students getting 4-year degrees All my children hear is that they need to go to college and get undergraduate or graduate degrees then they cant get a job My son who completed a vocational degree was hired before he left school Why arent the high schools presenting that to the studentsrdquo - 40 year-old Des Moines Area Community College student

Nearly half (456) of the female students plan to stay in Iowa while 428 percent of the male students lean toward making Iowa their home after completing their education

Analysis was completed by age group to see if age was a factor in the decision to stay in Iowa Figure 2 illustrates that older students were more likely to stay in Iowa than younger students

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Students were asked to identify their state of origin in order to distinguish likeliness to remain in the state after completing their education by residency This was analyzed based on whether or not they are an Iowa native from another state or an international student Figure 3 on the next page indicates that Iowa natives are more likely to stay in the state than those from outside of Iowa however nearly one-sixth (164) lean toward leaving the state

2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) Iowa natives are more likely to stay 100

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

in Iowa after graduation based on 90 the data collected 785 percent of80 respondents originate from the state 70

of Iowa 198 percent were from60

50 other states (US) and 17 percent 40 were international students Over 30 half (531) of the Iowa students 20 lean toward staying in the state 10

while only 106 percent of out-ofshy0 Iowa Out of State International state students lean toward staying

However 163 percent of the international students lean toward staying in the state (Figure 3)

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide)

Iowa provides population centers 100

that are either rural suburban or 90

urban It is important to 80

understand the desired population 70

setting in which the future 60

workforce would like to reside 50

Figure 4 shows that college 40

students who would prefer to live 30

in an urban setting are more apt to 20

lean against staying in Iowa after 10

completing their education 0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Urban Suburban Rural (370) However those desiring residence in suburban or rural settings more strongly lean toward staying in Iowa after the completion of their education (394 and 577 respectively)

Student Retention

How do we attract college students to stay in Iowa Based on survey results attractive benefits would influence over four-fifths (855) of graduates Over half of respondents (544) agree that employers in Iowa currently offer job opportunities with attractive benefits Students are looking for positions that interest them personally offer attractive benefits career advancement opportunities and competitive wages (Figure 5 on the next page)

ldquoWe are going to have to do something about the wages Cost of living is getting so high even in the rural areas with rising utility bills gasoline rent increases etcrdquo - 52 year-old Indian Hills Community College student

3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 573 866 101 34 Offer attractive benefits 544 855 106 40 Offer career advancement 549 846 112 42 Provide competitive wages 455 840 118 43 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 562 635 301 63

It is perceived that one of the reasons graduates leave the state is due to the lack of entertainment options The results of this survey show that few students perceive Iowa having many types of entertainment opportunities (Figure 6) Only 367 percent of respondents stated that Iowa has entertainment options that interest them

Over two-thirds (681) of students stated that outdoor recreation is a feature that would influence them when deciding where to reside after completing their education 648 percent of all respondents agree that Iowa has attractive outdoor recreation such as fishing camping hiking hunting etc

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide)

Iowa Has (an) Attractive I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 368 739 217 44 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc)

648 681 262 58

FitnessHealth CentersYMCAs 611 640 302 59 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc)

406 632 314 54

Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 438 608 335 57 Commercial centersdistricts 379 554 377 70 Sports teamseventsvenues 341 519 408 74 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations

373 494 429 78

Organized recreation leagues 413 446 465 90 Golf courses country clubs resorts 416 368 530 101

Following outdoor recreation fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (640) cultural attractions (632) night life (608) commercial centers (554) and sports teams eventsvenues (519) would influence the most Iowa college students

ldquoThe New Bohemian district in Cedar Rapids is really promising and the culture and shopping in Iowa City is a lot of fun Shopping and dining in Des Moines is fun as well Running trails and nature centers all over Iowa are good too I wish there was more for people in their 20-30s to do in Cedar Rapids like cool music venues or those theaters where you sit at tables and can order food and talk while they play moviesrdquo - 23 year-old University of Iowa student

The entertainment features that would not influence the most Iowa college students appear to be golf coursescountry clubsresorts (530) organized recreation leagues (465) socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations (429) sports teams eventsvenues (408) and commercial centers (377)

4

Figure 7 indicates the importance that quality of life issues play in the student respondentsrsquo consideration to stay in Iowa For example a large majority (886) of respondents would be influenced by cleansafe communities Slightly over four-fifths (803) of the survey respondents agree that such communities exist in Iowa Nearly four-fifths (791) of the students indicated that the ability to live near familyfriends would influence their decision to stay in Iowa

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 803 886 91 23 Low crime rate 700 856 119 25 Strong education system 683 846 126 29 Medical care network that is easily accessible 679 818 148 35 Short amp safe daily commutes 711 801 168 31 Living near familyfriends 698 791 181 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 786 761 193 46 Suitable roads amp highways 660 760 211 29 Weather I enjoy 354 545 408 47 Diverse communities 397 463 479 58

Diverse communities is the least impactful feature listed Nearly half (479) of respondents answered that they would not be influenced by the availability of diverse communities Weather is the second least influential item listed (408)

Figure 8 documents the attractiveness of affordability when deciding where to live following graduation Over two-thirds (673) of students agree that Iowa has affordable living costs and 863 percent of students would be attracted to this feature

Other highly motivating factors are affordable housing education and medical care Interestingly 639 percent agree that Iowa has affordable education 590 percent state agree that Iowa has affordable housing options and 506 percent of students agree that Iowa has affordable medical care

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 673 863 105 32 Affordable housing 590 847 119 34 Affordable education 639 828 135 37 Affordable medical care 506 793 163 44 Affordable tax rate 473 729 214 58 Affordable travel options 414 650 297 54

In comparing June 2013 median home list prices Des Moines Iowa had a median price of $167900 compared to $184450 in Milwaukee Wisconsin $189900 in Kansas City Kansas $209000 in Chicago Illinois and $225123 in Minneapolis Minnesota (Sourcewwwrealtorcom)

5

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Statewide Results 2

Community College Results 12

Regent University Results 17

Private College Results 22

Index of Charts and Tables 27

Methodology 28

Iowa Student Survey 2013

In January 2008 Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) in partnership with the Governorrsquos Office Department of Education and Department of Economic Development observed the need for a practical approach to address the migration of college graduates from the state of Iowa IWD produced its first College Student Survey consisting of questions pertaining to studentsrsquo demographics areas of study future ambitions opinions of the state of Iowa and what would attract them to relocate stay in the state of Iowa This 2013 survey and analysis is a follow up to the original 2008 version As the turnover in college students has progressed over the past five years a new analysis is necessary to keep up with the changing perceptions of the latest population of college students

ldquoIowa is great Ive lived here for 19 years and it is an absolutely awesome place to be When I graduate I will probably find a job somewhere else though nothing against Iowa I just want to see what else is out thererdquo - 19 year-old Loras College student

This report is designed to inform government community and business leaders in Iowa regarding the expectations and opinions of the future workforce The report is broken into four sections covering statewide data community colleges regent universities and private colleges The following sections will cover demographics of age gender state of origin desired population setting etc of college students These demographics will address questions pertaining to fields of study the occupation industry in which they would like to be employed desired wages desired benefits opinions about features that attract them to stayrelocate in Iowa and whether they plan to stay in the state after graduation

All colleges throughout the state were contacted and asked to distribute an on-line survey to their students The survey received 5074 responses Figure 1 details the survey respondents by collegiate category

Figure 1 College Respondents

350

424 150

76

Community College

Regent University

Private College

Unspecified

1

Statewide Results

Close to half of students responding to the statewide survey (446) lean toward staying in Iowa however nearly one-third (320) of students are unsure of their plans after college and the remaining 234 percent of students are contemplating leaving the state once they have completed their education

ldquoIowa is a great place with many opportunities However for the number of people graduating with similar degrees the competition [is] fierce I find that for one job hundreds of people are applying It is [hard] to move positions or advance your career for fear of having no jobhellip I wish the high schools would emphasize (vocational trade) more and focus less on students getting 4-year degrees All my children hear is that they need to go to college and get undergraduate or graduate degrees then they cant get a job My son who completed a vocational degree was hired before he left school Why arent the high schools presenting that to the studentsrdquo - 40 year-old Des Moines Area Community College student

Nearly half (456) of the female students plan to stay in Iowa while 428 percent of the male students lean toward making Iowa their home after completing their education

Analysis was completed by age group to see if age was a factor in the decision to stay in Iowa Figure 2 illustrates that older students were more likely to stay in Iowa than younger students

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Students were asked to identify their state of origin in order to distinguish likeliness to remain in the state after completing their education by residency This was analyzed based on whether or not they are an Iowa native from another state or an international student Figure 3 on the next page indicates that Iowa natives are more likely to stay in the state than those from outside of Iowa however nearly one-sixth (164) lean toward leaving the state

2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) Iowa natives are more likely to stay 100

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

in Iowa after graduation based on 90 the data collected 785 percent of80 respondents originate from the state 70

of Iowa 198 percent were from60

50 other states (US) and 17 percent 40 were international students Over 30 half (531) of the Iowa students 20 lean toward staying in the state 10

while only 106 percent of out-ofshy0 Iowa Out of State International state students lean toward staying

However 163 percent of the international students lean toward staying in the state (Figure 3)

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide)

Iowa provides population centers 100

that are either rural suburban or 90

urban It is important to 80

understand the desired population 70

setting in which the future 60

workforce would like to reside 50

Figure 4 shows that college 40

students who would prefer to live 30

in an urban setting are more apt to 20

lean against staying in Iowa after 10

completing their education 0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Urban Suburban Rural (370) However those desiring residence in suburban or rural settings more strongly lean toward staying in Iowa after the completion of their education (394 and 577 respectively)

Student Retention

How do we attract college students to stay in Iowa Based on survey results attractive benefits would influence over four-fifths (855) of graduates Over half of respondents (544) agree that employers in Iowa currently offer job opportunities with attractive benefits Students are looking for positions that interest them personally offer attractive benefits career advancement opportunities and competitive wages (Figure 5 on the next page)

ldquoWe are going to have to do something about the wages Cost of living is getting so high even in the rural areas with rising utility bills gasoline rent increases etcrdquo - 52 year-old Indian Hills Community College student

3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 573 866 101 34 Offer attractive benefits 544 855 106 40 Offer career advancement 549 846 112 42 Provide competitive wages 455 840 118 43 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 562 635 301 63

It is perceived that one of the reasons graduates leave the state is due to the lack of entertainment options The results of this survey show that few students perceive Iowa having many types of entertainment opportunities (Figure 6) Only 367 percent of respondents stated that Iowa has entertainment options that interest them

Over two-thirds (681) of students stated that outdoor recreation is a feature that would influence them when deciding where to reside after completing their education 648 percent of all respondents agree that Iowa has attractive outdoor recreation such as fishing camping hiking hunting etc

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide)

Iowa Has (an) Attractive I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 368 739 217 44 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc)

648 681 262 58

FitnessHealth CentersYMCAs 611 640 302 59 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc)

406 632 314 54

Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 438 608 335 57 Commercial centersdistricts 379 554 377 70 Sports teamseventsvenues 341 519 408 74 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations

373 494 429 78

Organized recreation leagues 413 446 465 90 Golf courses country clubs resorts 416 368 530 101

Following outdoor recreation fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (640) cultural attractions (632) night life (608) commercial centers (554) and sports teams eventsvenues (519) would influence the most Iowa college students

ldquoThe New Bohemian district in Cedar Rapids is really promising and the culture and shopping in Iowa City is a lot of fun Shopping and dining in Des Moines is fun as well Running trails and nature centers all over Iowa are good too I wish there was more for people in their 20-30s to do in Cedar Rapids like cool music venues or those theaters where you sit at tables and can order food and talk while they play moviesrdquo - 23 year-old University of Iowa student

The entertainment features that would not influence the most Iowa college students appear to be golf coursescountry clubsresorts (530) organized recreation leagues (465) socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations (429) sports teams eventsvenues (408) and commercial centers (377)

4

Figure 7 indicates the importance that quality of life issues play in the student respondentsrsquo consideration to stay in Iowa For example a large majority (886) of respondents would be influenced by cleansafe communities Slightly over four-fifths (803) of the survey respondents agree that such communities exist in Iowa Nearly four-fifths (791) of the students indicated that the ability to live near familyfriends would influence their decision to stay in Iowa

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 803 886 91 23 Low crime rate 700 856 119 25 Strong education system 683 846 126 29 Medical care network that is easily accessible 679 818 148 35 Short amp safe daily commutes 711 801 168 31 Living near familyfriends 698 791 181 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 786 761 193 46 Suitable roads amp highways 660 760 211 29 Weather I enjoy 354 545 408 47 Diverse communities 397 463 479 58

Diverse communities is the least impactful feature listed Nearly half (479) of respondents answered that they would not be influenced by the availability of diverse communities Weather is the second least influential item listed (408)

Figure 8 documents the attractiveness of affordability when deciding where to live following graduation Over two-thirds (673) of students agree that Iowa has affordable living costs and 863 percent of students would be attracted to this feature

Other highly motivating factors are affordable housing education and medical care Interestingly 639 percent agree that Iowa has affordable education 590 percent state agree that Iowa has affordable housing options and 506 percent of students agree that Iowa has affordable medical care

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 673 863 105 32 Affordable housing 590 847 119 34 Affordable education 639 828 135 37 Affordable medical care 506 793 163 44 Affordable tax rate 473 729 214 58 Affordable travel options 414 650 297 54

In comparing June 2013 median home list prices Des Moines Iowa had a median price of $167900 compared to $184450 in Milwaukee Wisconsin $189900 in Kansas City Kansas $209000 in Chicago Illinois and $225123 in Minneapolis Minnesota (Sourcewwwrealtorcom)

5

Iowa Student Survey 2013

In January 2008 Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) in partnership with the Governorrsquos Office Department of Education and Department of Economic Development observed the need for a practical approach to address the migration of college graduates from the state of Iowa IWD produced its first College Student Survey consisting of questions pertaining to studentsrsquo demographics areas of study future ambitions opinions of the state of Iowa and what would attract them to relocate stay in the state of Iowa This 2013 survey and analysis is a follow up to the original 2008 version As the turnover in college students has progressed over the past five years a new analysis is necessary to keep up with the changing perceptions of the latest population of college students

ldquoIowa is great Ive lived here for 19 years and it is an absolutely awesome place to be When I graduate I will probably find a job somewhere else though nothing against Iowa I just want to see what else is out thererdquo - 19 year-old Loras College student

This report is designed to inform government community and business leaders in Iowa regarding the expectations and opinions of the future workforce The report is broken into four sections covering statewide data community colleges regent universities and private colleges The following sections will cover demographics of age gender state of origin desired population setting etc of college students These demographics will address questions pertaining to fields of study the occupation industry in which they would like to be employed desired wages desired benefits opinions about features that attract them to stayrelocate in Iowa and whether they plan to stay in the state after graduation

All colleges throughout the state were contacted and asked to distribute an on-line survey to their students The survey received 5074 responses Figure 1 details the survey respondents by collegiate category

Figure 1 College Respondents

350

424 150

76

Community College

Regent University

Private College

Unspecified

1

Statewide Results

Close to half of students responding to the statewide survey (446) lean toward staying in Iowa however nearly one-third (320) of students are unsure of their plans after college and the remaining 234 percent of students are contemplating leaving the state once they have completed their education

ldquoIowa is a great place with many opportunities However for the number of people graduating with similar degrees the competition [is] fierce I find that for one job hundreds of people are applying It is [hard] to move positions or advance your career for fear of having no jobhellip I wish the high schools would emphasize (vocational trade) more and focus less on students getting 4-year degrees All my children hear is that they need to go to college and get undergraduate or graduate degrees then they cant get a job My son who completed a vocational degree was hired before he left school Why arent the high schools presenting that to the studentsrdquo - 40 year-old Des Moines Area Community College student

Nearly half (456) of the female students plan to stay in Iowa while 428 percent of the male students lean toward making Iowa their home after completing their education

Analysis was completed by age group to see if age was a factor in the decision to stay in Iowa Figure 2 illustrates that older students were more likely to stay in Iowa than younger students

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Students were asked to identify their state of origin in order to distinguish likeliness to remain in the state after completing their education by residency This was analyzed based on whether or not they are an Iowa native from another state or an international student Figure 3 on the next page indicates that Iowa natives are more likely to stay in the state than those from outside of Iowa however nearly one-sixth (164) lean toward leaving the state

2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) Iowa natives are more likely to stay 100

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

in Iowa after graduation based on 90 the data collected 785 percent of80 respondents originate from the state 70

of Iowa 198 percent were from60

50 other states (US) and 17 percent 40 were international students Over 30 half (531) of the Iowa students 20 lean toward staying in the state 10

while only 106 percent of out-ofshy0 Iowa Out of State International state students lean toward staying

However 163 percent of the international students lean toward staying in the state (Figure 3)

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide)

Iowa provides population centers 100

that are either rural suburban or 90

urban It is important to 80

understand the desired population 70

setting in which the future 60

workforce would like to reside 50

Figure 4 shows that college 40

students who would prefer to live 30

in an urban setting are more apt to 20

lean against staying in Iowa after 10

completing their education 0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Urban Suburban Rural (370) However those desiring residence in suburban or rural settings more strongly lean toward staying in Iowa after the completion of their education (394 and 577 respectively)

Student Retention

How do we attract college students to stay in Iowa Based on survey results attractive benefits would influence over four-fifths (855) of graduates Over half of respondents (544) agree that employers in Iowa currently offer job opportunities with attractive benefits Students are looking for positions that interest them personally offer attractive benefits career advancement opportunities and competitive wages (Figure 5 on the next page)

ldquoWe are going to have to do something about the wages Cost of living is getting so high even in the rural areas with rising utility bills gasoline rent increases etcrdquo - 52 year-old Indian Hills Community College student

3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 573 866 101 34 Offer attractive benefits 544 855 106 40 Offer career advancement 549 846 112 42 Provide competitive wages 455 840 118 43 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 562 635 301 63

It is perceived that one of the reasons graduates leave the state is due to the lack of entertainment options The results of this survey show that few students perceive Iowa having many types of entertainment opportunities (Figure 6) Only 367 percent of respondents stated that Iowa has entertainment options that interest them

Over two-thirds (681) of students stated that outdoor recreation is a feature that would influence them when deciding where to reside after completing their education 648 percent of all respondents agree that Iowa has attractive outdoor recreation such as fishing camping hiking hunting etc

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide)

Iowa Has (an) Attractive I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 368 739 217 44 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc)

648 681 262 58

FitnessHealth CentersYMCAs 611 640 302 59 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc)

406 632 314 54

Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 438 608 335 57 Commercial centersdistricts 379 554 377 70 Sports teamseventsvenues 341 519 408 74 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations

373 494 429 78

Organized recreation leagues 413 446 465 90 Golf courses country clubs resorts 416 368 530 101

Following outdoor recreation fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (640) cultural attractions (632) night life (608) commercial centers (554) and sports teams eventsvenues (519) would influence the most Iowa college students

ldquoThe New Bohemian district in Cedar Rapids is really promising and the culture and shopping in Iowa City is a lot of fun Shopping and dining in Des Moines is fun as well Running trails and nature centers all over Iowa are good too I wish there was more for people in their 20-30s to do in Cedar Rapids like cool music venues or those theaters where you sit at tables and can order food and talk while they play moviesrdquo - 23 year-old University of Iowa student

The entertainment features that would not influence the most Iowa college students appear to be golf coursescountry clubsresorts (530) organized recreation leagues (465) socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations (429) sports teams eventsvenues (408) and commercial centers (377)

4

Figure 7 indicates the importance that quality of life issues play in the student respondentsrsquo consideration to stay in Iowa For example a large majority (886) of respondents would be influenced by cleansafe communities Slightly over four-fifths (803) of the survey respondents agree that such communities exist in Iowa Nearly four-fifths (791) of the students indicated that the ability to live near familyfriends would influence their decision to stay in Iowa

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 803 886 91 23 Low crime rate 700 856 119 25 Strong education system 683 846 126 29 Medical care network that is easily accessible 679 818 148 35 Short amp safe daily commutes 711 801 168 31 Living near familyfriends 698 791 181 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 786 761 193 46 Suitable roads amp highways 660 760 211 29 Weather I enjoy 354 545 408 47 Diverse communities 397 463 479 58

Diverse communities is the least impactful feature listed Nearly half (479) of respondents answered that they would not be influenced by the availability of diverse communities Weather is the second least influential item listed (408)

Figure 8 documents the attractiveness of affordability when deciding where to live following graduation Over two-thirds (673) of students agree that Iowa has affordable living costs and 863 percent of students would be attracted to this feature

Other highly motivating factors are affordable housing education and medical care Interestingly 639 percent agree that Iowa has affordable education 590 percent state agree that Iowa has affordable housing options and 506 percent of students agree that Iowa has affordable medical care

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 673 863 105 32 Affordable housing 590 847 119 34 Affordable education 639 828 135 37 Affordable medical care 506 793 163 44 Affordable tax rate 473 729 214 58 Affordable travel options 414 650 297 54

In comparing June 2013 median home list prices Des Moines Iowa had a median price of $167900 compared to $184450 in Milwaukee Wisconsin $189900 in Kansas City Kansas $209000 in Chicago Illinois and $225123 in Minneapolis Minnesota (Sourcewwwrealtorcom)

5

Statewide Results

Close to half of students responding to the statewide survey (446) lean toward staying in Iowa however nearly one-third (320) of students are unsure of their plans after college and the remaining 234 percent of students are contemplating leaving the state once they have completed their education

ldquoIowa is a great place with many opportunities However for the number of people graduating with similar degrees the competition [is] fierce I find that for one job hundreds of people are applying It is [hard] to move positions or advance your career for fear of having no jobhellip I wish the high schools would emphasize (vocational trade) more and focus less on students getting 4-year degrees All my children hear is that they need to go to college and get undergraduate or graduate degrees then they cant get a job My son who completed a vocational degree was hired before he left school Why arent the high schools presenting that to the studentsrdquo - 40 year-old Des Moines Area Community College student

Nearly half (456) of the female students plan to stay in Iowa while 428 percent of the male students lean toward making Iowa their home after completing their education

Analysis was completed by age group to see if age was a factor in the decision to stay in Iowa Figure 2 illustrates that older students were more likely to stay in Iowa than younger students

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Students were asked to identify their state of origin in order to distinguish likeliness to remain in the state after completing their education by residency This was analyzed based on whether or not they are an Iowa native from another state or an international student Figure 3 on the next page indicates that Iowa natives are more likely to stay in the state than those from outside of Iowa however nearly one-sixth (164) lean toward leaving the state

2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) Iowa natives are more likely to stay 100

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

in Iowa after graduation based on 90 the data collected 785 percent of80 respondents originate from the state 70

of Iowa 198 percent were from60

50 other states (US) and 17 percent 40 were international students Over 30 half (531) of the Iowa students 20 lean toward staying in the state 10

while only 106 percent of out-ofshy0 Iowa Out of State International state students lean toward staying

However 163 percent of the international students lean toward staying in the state (Figure 3)

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide)

Iowa provides population centers 100

that are either rural suburban or 90

urban It is important to 80

understand the desired population 70

setting in which the future 60

workforce would like to reside 50

Figure 4 shows that college 40

students who would prefer to live 30

in an urban setting are more apt to 20

lean against staying in Iowa after 10

completing their education 0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Urban Suburban Rural (370) However those desiring residence in suburban or rural settings more strongly lean toward staying in Iowa after the completion of their education (394 and 577 respectively)

Student Retention

How do we attract college students to stay in Iowa Based on survey results attractive benefits would influence over four-fifths (855) of graduates Over half of respondents (544) agree that employers in Iowa currently offer job opportunities with attractive benefits Students are looking for positions that interest them personally offer attractive benefits career advancement opportunities and competitive wages (Figure 5 on the next page)

ldquoWe are going to have to do something about the wages Cost of living is getting so high even in the rural areas with rising utility bills gasoline rent increases etcrdquo - 52 year-old Indian Hills Community College student

3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 573 866 101 34 Offer attractive benefits 544 855 106 40 Offer career advancement 549 846 112 42 Provide competitive wages 455 840 118 43 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 562 635 301 63

It is perceived that one of the reasons graduates leave the state is due to the lack of entertainment options The results of this survey show that few students perceive Iowa having many types of entertainment opportunities (Figure 6) Only 367 percent of respondents stated that Iowa has entertainment options that interest them

Over two-thirds (681) of students stated that outdoor recreation is a feature that would influence them when deciding where to reside after completing their education 648 percent of all respondents agree that Iowa has attractive outdoor recreation such as fishing camping hiking hunting etc

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide)

Iowa Has (an) Attractive I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 368 739 217 44 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc)

648 681 262 58

FitnessHealth CentersYMCAs 611 640 302 59 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc)

406 632 314 54

Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 438 608 335 57 Commercial centersdistricts 379 554 377 70 Sports teamseventsvenues 341 519 408 74 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations

373 494 429 78

Organized recreation leagues 413 446 465 90 Golf courses country clubs resorts 416 368 530 101

Following outdoor recreation fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (640) cultural attractions (632) night life (608) commercial centers (554) and sports teams eventsvenues (519) would influence the most Iowa college students

ldquoThe New Bohemian district in Cedar Rapids is really promising and the culture and shopping in Iowa City is a lot of fun Shopping and dining in Des Moines is fun as well Running trails and nature centers all over Iowa are good too I wish there was more for people in their 20-30s to do in Cedar Rapids like cool music venues or those theaters where you sit at tables and can order food and talk while they play moviesrdquo - 23 year-old University of Iowa student

The entertainment features that would not influence the most Iowa college students appear to be golf coursescountry clubsresorts (530) organized recreation leagues (465) socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations (429) sports teams eventsvenues (408) and commercial centers (377)

4

Figure 7 indicates the importance that quality of life issues play in the student respondentsrsquo consideration to stay in Iowa For example a large majority (886) of respondents would be influenced by cleansafe communities Slightly over four-fifths (803) of the survey respondents agree that such communities exist in Iowa Nearly four-fifths (791) of the students indicated that the ability to live near familyfriends would influence their decision to stay in Iowa

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 803 886 91 23 Low crime rate 700 856 119 25 Strong education system 683 846 126 29 Medical care network that is easily accessible 679 818 148 35 Short amp safe daily commutes 711 801 168 31 Living near familyfriends 698 791 181 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 786 761 193 46 Suitable roads amp highways 660 760 211 29 Weather I enjoy 354 545 408 47 Diverse communities 397 463 479 58

Diverse communities is the least impactful feature listed Nearly half (479) of respondents answered that they would not be influenced by the availability of diverse communities Weather is the second least influential item listed (408)

Figure 8 documents the attractiveness of affordability when deciding where to live following graduation Over two-thirds (673) of students agree that Iowa has affordable living costs and 863 percent of students would be attracted to this feature

Other highly motivating factors are affordable housing education and medical care Interestingly 639 percent agree that Iowa has affordable education 590 percent state agree that Iowa has affordable housing options and 506 percent of students agree that Iowa has affordable medical care

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 673 863 105 32 Affordable housing 590 847 119 34 Affordable education 639 828 135 37 Affordable medical care 506 793 163 44 Affordable tax rate 473 729 214 58 Affordable travel options 414 650 297 54

In comparing June 2013 median home list prices Des Moines Iowa had a median price of $167900 compared to $184450 in Milwaukee Wisconsin $189900 in Kansas City Kansas $209000 in Chicago Illinois and $225123 in Minneapolis Minnesota (Sourcewwwrealtorcom)

5

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) Iowa natives are more likely to stay 100

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

in Iowa after graduation based on 90 the data collected 785 percent of80 respondents originate from the state 70

of Iowa 198 percent were from60

50 other states (US) and 17 percent 40 were international students Over 30 half (531) of the Iowa students 20 lean toward staying in the state 10

while only 106 percent of out-ofshy0 Iowa Out of State International state students lean toward staying

However 163 percent of the international students lean toward staying in the state (Figure 3)

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide)

Iowa provides population centers 100

that are either rural suburban or 90

urban It is important to 80

understand the desired population 70

setting in which the future 60

workforce would like to reside 50

Figure 4 shows that college 40

students who would prefer to live 30

in an urban setting are more apt to 20

lean against staying in Iowa after 10

completing their education 0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Urban Suburban Rural (370) However those desiring residence in suburban or rural settings more strongly lean toward staying in Iowa after the completion of their education (394 and 577 respectively)

Student Retention

How do we attract college students to stay in Iowa Based on survey results attractive benefits would influence over four-fifths (855) of graduates Over half of respondents (544) agree that employers in Iowa currently offer job opportunities with attractive benefits Students are looking for positions that interest them personally offer attractive benefits career advancement opportunities and competitive wages (Figure 5 on the next page)

ldquoWe are going to have to do something about the wages Cost of living is getting so high even in the rural areas with rising utility bills gasoline rent increases etcrdquo - 52 year-old Indian Hills Community College student

3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 573 866 101 34 Offer attractive benefits 544 855 106 40 Offer career advancement 549 846 112 42 Provide competitive wages 455 840 118 43 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 562 635 301 63

It is perceived that one of the reasons graduates leave the state is due to the lack of entertainment options The results of this survey show that few students perceive Iowa having many types of entertainment opportunities (Figure 6) Only 367 percent of respondents stated that Iowa has entertainment options that interest them

Over two-thirds (681) of students stated that outdoor recreation is a feature that would influence them when deciding where to reside after completing their education 648 percent of all respondents agree that Iowa has attractive outdoor recreation such as fishing camping hiking hunting etc

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide)

Iowa Has (an) Attractive I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 368 739 217 44 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc)

648 681 262 58

FitnessHealth CentersYMCAs 611 640 302 59 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc)

406 632 314 54

Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 438 608 335 57 Commercial centersdistricts 379 554 377 70 Sports teamseventsvenues 341 519 408 74 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations

373 494 429 78

Organized recreation leagues 413 446 465 90 Golf courses country clubs resorts 416 368 530 101

Following outdoor recreation fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (640) cultural attractions (632) night life (608) commercial centers (554) and sports teams eventsvenues (519) would influence the most Iowa college students

ldquoThe New Bohemian district in Cedar Rapids is really promising and the culture and shopping in Iowa City is a lot of fun Shopping and dining in Des Moines is fun as well Running trails and nature centers all over Iowa are good too I wish there was more for people in their 20-30s to do in Cedar Rapids like cool music venues or those theaters where you sit at tables and can order food and talk while they play moviesrdquo - 23 year-old University of Iowa student

The entertainment features that would not influence the most Iowa college students appear to be golf coursescountry clubsresorts (530) organized recreation leagues (465) socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations (429) sports teams eventsvenues (408) and commercial centers (377)

4

Figure 7 indicates the importance that quality of life issues play in the student respondentsrsquo consideration to stay in Iowa For example a large majority (886) of respondents would be influenced by cleansafe communities Slightly over four-fifths (803) of the survey respondents agree that such communities exist in Iowa Nearly four-fifths (791) of the students indicated that the ability to live near familyfriends would influence their decision to stay in Iowa

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 803 886 91 23 Low crime rate 700 856 119 25 Strong education system 683 846 126 29 Medical care network that is easily accessible 679 818 148 35 Short amp safe daily commutes 711 801 168 31 Living near familyfriends 698 791 181 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 786 761 193 46 Suitable roads amp highways 660 760 211 29 Weather I enjoy 354 545 408 47 Diverse communities 397 463 479 58

Diverse communities is the least impactful feature listed Nearly half (479) of respondents answered that they would not be influenced by the availability of diverse communities Weather is the second least influential item listed (408)

Figure 8 documents the attractiveness of affordability when deciding where to live following graduation Over two-thirds (673) of students agree that Iowa has affordable living costs and 863 percent of students would be attracted to this feature

Other highly motivating factors are affordable housing education and medical care Interestingly 639 percent agree that Iowa has affordable education 590 percent state agree that Iowa has affordable housing options and 506 percent of students agree that Iowa has affordable medical care

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 673 863 105 32 Affordable housing 590 847 119 34 Affordable education 639 828 135 37 Affordable medical care 506 793 163 44 Affordable tax rate 473 729 214 58 Affordable travel options 414 650 297 54

In comparing June 2013 median home list prices Des Moines Iowa had a median price of $167900 compared to $184450 in Milwaukee Wisconsin $189900 in Kansas City Kansas $209000 in Chicago Illinois and $225123 in Minneapolis Minnesota (Sourcewwwrealtorcom)

5

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 573 866 101 34 Offer attractive benefits 544 855 106 40 Offer career advancement 549 846 112 42 Provide competitive wages 455 840 118 43 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 562 635 301 63

It is perceived that one of the reasons graduates leave the state is due to the lack of entertainment options The results of this survey show that few students perceive Iowa having many types of entertainment opportunities (Figure 6) Only 367 percent of respondents stated that Iowa has entertainment options that interest them

Over two-thirds (681) of students stated that outdoor recreation is a feature that would influence them when deciding where to reside after completing their education 648 percent of all respondents agree that Iowa has attractive outdoor recreation such as fishing camping hiking hunting etc

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide)

Iowa Has (an) Attractive I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 368 739 217 44 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc)

648 681 262 58

FitnessHealth CentersYMCAs 611 640 302 59 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc)

406 632 314 54

Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 438 608 335 57 Commercial centersdistricts 379 554 377 70 Sports teamseventsvenues 341 519 408 74 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations

373 494 429 78

Organized recreation leagues 413 446 465 90 Golf courses country clubs resorts 416 368 530 101

Following outdoor recreation fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (640) cultural attractions (632) night life (608) commercial centers (554) and sports teams eventsvenues (519) would influence the most Iowa college students

ldquoThe New Bohemian district in Cedar Rapids is really promising and the culture and shopping in Iowa City is a lot of fun Shopping and dining in Des Moines is fun as well Running trails and nature centers all over Iowa are good too I wish there was more for people in their 20-30s to do in Cedar Rapids like cool music venues or those theaters where you sit at tables and can order food and talk while they play moviesrdquo - 23 year-old University of Iowa student

The entertainment features that would not influence the most Iowa college students appear to be golf coursescountry clubsresorts (530) organized recreation leagues (465) socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations (429) sports teams eventsvenues (408) and commercial centers (377)

4

Figure 7 indicates the importance that quality of life issues play in the student respondentsrsquo consideration to stay in Iowa For example a large majority (886) of respondents would be influenced by cleansafe communities Slightly over four-fifths (803) of the survey respondents agree that such communities exist in Iowa Nearly four-fifths (791) of the students indicated that the ability to live near familyfriends would influence their decision to stay in Iowa

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 803 886 91 23 Low crime rate 700 856 119 25 Strong education system 683 846 126 29 Medical care network that is easily accessible 679 818 148 35 Short amp safe daily commutes 711 801 168 31 Living near familyfriends 698 791 181 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 786 761 193 46 Suitable roads amp highways 660 760 211 29 Weather I enjoy 354 545 408 47 Diverse communities 397 463 479 58

Diverse communities is the least impactful feature listed Nearly half (479) of respondents answered that they would not be influenced by the availability of diverse communities Weather is the second least influential item listed (408)

Figure 8 documents the attractiveness of affordability when deciding where to live following graduation Over two-thirds (673) of students agree that Iowa has affordable living costs and 863 percent of students would be attracted to this feature

Other highly motivating factors are affordable housing education and medical care Interestingly 639 percent agree that Iowa has affordable education 590 percent state agree that Iowa has affordable housing options and 506 percent of students agree that Iowa has affordable medical care

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 673 863 105 32 Affordable housing 590 847 119 34 Affordable education 639 828 135 37 Affordable medical care 506 793 163 44 Affordable tax rate 473 729 214 58 Affordable travel options 414 650 297 54

In comparing June 2013 median home list prices Des Moines Iowa had a median price of $167900 compared to $184450 in Milwaukee Wisconsin $189900 in Kansas City Kansas $209000 in Chicago Illinois and $225123 in Minneapolis Minnesota (Sourcewwwrealtorcom)

5

Figure 7 indicates the importance that quality of life issues play in the student respondentsrsquo consideration to stay in Iowa For example a large majority (886) of respondents would be influenced by cleansafe communities Slightly over four-fifths (803) of the survey respondents agree that such communities exist in Iowa Nearly four-fifths (791) of the students indicated that the ability to live near familyfriends would influence their decision to stay in Iowa

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 803 886 91 23 Low crime rate 700 856 119 25 Strong education system 683 846 126 29 Medical care network that is easily accessible 679 818 148 35 Short amp safe daily commutes 711 801 168 31 Living near familyfriends 698 791 181 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 786 761 193 46 Suitable roads amp highways 660 760 211 29 Weather I enjoy 354 545 408 47 Diverse communities 397 463 479 58

Diverse communities is the least impactful feature listed Nearly half (479) of respondents answered that they would not be influenced by the availability of diverse communities Weather is the second least influential item listed (408)

Figure 8 documents the attractiveness of affordability when deciding where to live following graduation Over two-thirds (673) of students agree that Iowa has affordable living costs and 863 percent of students would be attracted to this feature

Other highly motivating factors are affordable housing education and medical care Interestingly 639 percent agree that Iowa has affordable education 590 percent state agree that Iowa has affordable housing options and 506 percent of students agree that Iowa has affordable medical care

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 673 863 105 32 Affordable housing 590 847 119 34 Affordable education 639 828 135 37 Affordable medical care 506 793 163 44 Affordable tax rate 473 729 214 58 Affordable travel options 414 650 297 54

In comparing June 2013 median home list prices Des Moines Iowa had a median price of $167900 compared to $184450 in Milwaukee Wisconsin $189900 in Kansas City Kansas $209000 in Chicago Illinois and $225123 in Minneapolis Minnesota (Sourcewwwrealtorcom)

5

Figure 9 shows that students at Iowarsquos colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in social services professions lean the most toward staying in Iowa Respondents who are interested in a career in entertainment and recreation lean the most against staying in Iowa

Figure 9 Future Employment Interests (Statewide)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward Staying Lean Against Staying Not Sure

Social Services 512 194 294 Education 495 210 295 General Business Administration 490 190 320 WholesaleRetail Trade 483 224 293 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 482 203 315 Personal Services 468 202 330 Manufacturing 452 232 316 Healthcare 447 212 341 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 445 235 320 Construction 428 264 308 TransportationPublic Utilities 410 215 375 Computer Information Technology 406 262 332 Public Administration Government 395 241 364 Other 345 320 335 Active MilitaryLaw Enforcement Public Safety 342 280 378 Legal 316 334 350 Entertainment amp Recreation 296 368 336 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 268 285 447

Students with future employment interests in social services (512) education (495) general business administration (490) wholesaleretail trade (483) and financeinsurancereal estate (482) are among those most likely to stay in Iowa after graduation Aspiring entertainment and recreation (368) legal (334) communicationsjournalismpublic relations (285) active militarylaw enforcement public safety (280) construction (264) and computer information technology (262) professionals are among those that most lean against staying in Iowa after graduation

ldquoIowa needs more quality skilled manufacturing jobs We have top educational programs in this area but not nearly enough jobs to reflect the high quality of training that is available here I think its crazy that someone who loves living here and has high sought after skills like me has to look to Michigan Ohio Texas or Colorado to find plentiful high paying jobs in skilled manufacturingrdquo - 36 year-old Des Moines Area Community College student

Further examining those respondents who have an interest in manufacturing or construction that are unsure about or lean toward leaving Iowa jobs that offer career advancement (875) a job opportunity within their field of interest (868) cleansafe communities (853) jobs that offer attractive benefits (845) affordable cost of living (839) low crime rate (840) jobs that offer competitive wages (833) affordable housing (818) and strong education systems (810) would be attractions that may influence their decision

6

Students interested in future careers in financeinsurancereal estate or general business administration are most attracted to jobs that offer attractive benefits (855) job opportunities in their field of interest (843) cleansafe communities (838) jobs that offer career advancement (835) affordable cost of living (826) jobs that offer competitive wages (812) affordable housing (812) low crime rate (805) and short and safe daily commute (787)

There are a multitude of reasons why students in Iowarsquos colleges are enrolled in their chosen programs of study Respondents are taking classes for their own personal improvement continuing their education with a certification working towards a two-year or four-year degree or striving for a graduateprofessional degree This survey finds that of students currently enrolled in a certificate or two-year degree program 551 percent lean toward staying in Iowa after completing their program of study Students currently enrolled in either a four-year degree or graduateprofessional degree programs are less inclined to lean toward staying in Iowa following completion of their degrees (386 and 353 respectively)

Figure 10 Field of Study (CertificationTwo-year Degree)

Field of Study Lean Toward Staying Lean Against Staying Not Sure

Computer Information Technology 622 108 270 BusinessAdministrationGeneral Office Support 612 90 299 FamilyConsumer Sciences amp Human Services 611 56 333 Agriculture amp Natural Resources 600 133 267 Health Occupations 600 95 305 Liberal Arts 574 85 340 Construction Trades 500 125 375 Hospitality amp Tourism 500 167 333 Manufacturing 500 167 333 Transportation 500 00 500

Figure 10 focuses on students seeking certification or a two-year degree When asked the field of study students were currently in the most common responses were health occupations businessadministrative support and liberal arts Of the respondents who identified themselves as studying health occupations 600 percent lean toward staying in Iowa 95 percent lean against staying in Iowa and 305 percent are not sure if they will stay in Iowa after completing their education

Over three-fifths (612) of businessadministrationgeneral office support students lean toward staying in Iowa 90 percent lean against staying in Iowa and 299 percent stated that they are not sure if they will stay in Iowa after graduation Less than three-fifths (574) of Liberal Arts students responded that they lean toward staying in Iowa 85 percent lean against staying in Iowa and 340 percent are not sure if they will stay in Iowa after graduation

Respondents seeking a two-year degree or certification in health occupations that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most attracted to cleansafe communities (868) affordable housing (842) low crime rate (838) short and

7

safe daily commutes (816) suitable roads and highways (816) job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (811) accessible medical network (789) affordable tax rates (789) and strong education system (763)

Respondents seeking two-year degree or certification in computer information technology that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most attracted to job opportunities in their field or industry (786) job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (786) job opportunities that offer career advancement (786) affordable cost of living (769) job opportunities that offer competitive wages (714) cleansafe communities (714) affordable housing (692) affordable tax rates (692) affordable medical care (615) and affordable education (615)

Figure 11 Field of Study (Four-year Degree)

Field of Study Lean Toward Staying Lean Against Staying Not Sure

Agriculture Agricultural Operations amp Related Sciences

675 140 185

Physical Sciences 615 154 231 Transportation 600 400 00 Education 569 155 276 SalesMarketing Finance Economics 526 237 237 Health Professions 523 176 301 MathematicsStatisticsAccounting 513 125 363 Liberal Arts amp SciencesGeneral Studies amp Humanities

505 194 301

Social Sciences 500 261 239 FamilyConsumer amp Human Sciences 447 237 316 Psychology 436 327 236 Protective ServicesPublic Administration amp Social Service Professions

429 250 321

Engineering amp Related Technologies 409 269 323 Computer Information Technology 394 288 318 Biology amp Biomedical Sciences 385 346 269 LiteratureEnglish 313 375 313 Conservation amp Natural SciencesResources 300 267 433 PhilosophyReligionClassics 300 600 100 CommunicationJournalismPublic Relations 250 333 417 Visual amp Performing Arts 235 412 353 Personal Design amp Culinary Sciences 208 583 208 Legal Professions 200 100 700 Foreign Languages amp Literatures 190 333 476 Construction Trades 167 333 500

Figure 11 shows that students striving for a four-year degree and studying agriculture agricultural operations and related sciences are most likely to stay in the state following graduation followed by physical sciences transportation education salesmarketing finance and economics health professions mathematics statistics and accounting and liberal arts amp sciences

8

The Governorrsquos STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) Advisory Council is a partnership of business policy and education leaders from across the state convening to bolster STEM education and innovation and to better position Iowarsquos young people and the statersquos economy for the future

When looking at STEM related fields of study the students pursuing a four-year degree that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most attracted to cleansafe communities (870) job opportunities in their field or industry (849) low crime rate (841) job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (828) job opportunities that offer career advancement (826) affordable cost of living (820) affordable housing (803) job opportunities that provide competitive wages (802) and strong education system (785)

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post-GraduateProfessional Degree)

Field of Study Lean Toward Staying Lean Against Staying Not Sure

Agriculture Agricultural Operations amp Related Sciences

533 133 333

CommunicationJournalismPublic Relations 500 150 350 MathematicsStatisticsAccounting 500 269 231 PhilosophyReligionClassics 500 300 200 Education 494 218 287 FamilyConsumer amp Human Sciences 474 211 316 Protective ServicesPublic Administration amp Social Service Professions

471 176 353

Liberal Arts amp SciencesGeneral Studies amp Humanities

407 271 322

Computer Information Technology 393 393 214 Health Professions 367 270 363 Social Sciences 362 333 304 LiteratureEnglish 357 179 464 SalesMarketing Finance Economics 339 339 321 Psychology 317 267 416 Biology amp Biomedical Sciences 287 255 457 Visual amp Performing Arts 250 417 333 Legal Professions 227 409 364 Personal Design amp Culinary Sciences 200 400 400 Engineering amp Related Technologies 172 473 355 Physical Sciences 160 560 280 Foreign Languages amp Literatures 143 476 381 Conservation amp Natural SciencesResources 00 00 100 Construction Trades Transportation Insufficient survey datarefused

Students advancing their education with a post-graduate or professional degree and studying agriculture agricultural operations amp related sciences (533) are most likely to stay in the state following graduation (Figure 12) followed by communications journalism and public relations (500) mathematics statistics and accounting (500) philosophy religion and classics (500) and education (494)

9

Keeping the focus on STEM related fields of study students pursuing a graduate professional degree who are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are very similar to the undergraduate students when responding to the survey They are most attracted to cleansafe communities (878) job opportunities in their field or industry (878) job opportunities that offer career advancement (869) strong education system (858) job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (848) job opportunities that provide competitive wages (844) affordable cost of living (842) affordable education (837) and low crime rate (835)

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education

00

50

100

150

200

250 Community College

Regent University

Private College

Statewide

Under $925 $925 - $1149 $1150 - $1449 $1450 - $1824 $1825 - $2274 $2275 - $2874 $2875 - $3599 $3600 - $4524 $4525 or Over Hourly Under Hourly $19240 - Hourly $23920 - Hourly $30160 - Hourly $37960 - Hourly $47320 - Hourly $59800 - Hourly $74880 - Hourly $94120

$19240 Annually $23919 Annually $30159 Annually $37959 Annually $47319 Annually $59799 Annually $74879 Annually $94119 Annually or Over Annually

Overall 840 percent of respondents claimed that competitive wages would attract them to maintain residence in the state following completion of their studies However only 455 percent of college students agree that Iowa has job opportunities that provide competitive wages Figure 13 above shows that 211 percent of statewide college students expect to earn wages in the $2275-$2874 per hour$47320-$59799 per year upon completion of their education

According to the 2012 IWD Statewide Laborshed Study the current median wage of those who are employed is $1521 per hour and the median salary is $57000 per year Of the 444 percent of college students expecting $2275+ per hour$47320+ per year 408 percent lean toward staying 278 percent lean against staying and 314 percent are unsure about staying in the state of Iowa after completing their education

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Type of College Lean Toward Staying Lean Against Staying Not Sure

Community College 549 151 300 Regent University 348 321 331 Private College 429 223 348

Figure 14 demonstrates the likeliness of college students staying in the state based on the type of educational institution they are attending Students who are attending community colleges lean more toward staying in the state (548) Students who are attending the three regent universities lean more against staying in the state (321)

10

Students interested in future careers in financeinsurancereal estate or general business administration are most attracted to jobs that offer attractive benefits (855) job opportunities in their field of interest (843) cleansafe communities (838) jobs that offer career advancement (835) affordable cost of living (826) jobs that offer competitive wages (812) affordable housing (812) low crime rate (805) and short and safe daily commute (787)

There are a multitude of reasons why students in Iowarsquos colleges are enrolled in their chosen programs of study Respondents are taking classes for their own personal improvement continuing their education with a certification working towards a two-year or four-year degree or striving for a graduateprofessional degree This survey finds that of students currently enrolled in a certificate or two-year degree program 551 percent lean toward staying in Iowa after completing their program of study Students currently enrolled in either a four-year degree or graduateprofessional degree programs are less inclined to lean toward staying in Iowa following completion of their degrees (386 and 353 respectively)

Figure 10 Field of Study (CertificationTwo-year Degree)

Field of Study Lean Toward Staying Lean Against Staying Not Sure

Computer Information Technology 622 108 270 BusinessAdministrationGeneral Office Support 612 90 299 FamilyConsumer Sciences amp Human Services 611 56 333 Agriculture amp Natural Resources 600 133 267 Health Occupations 600 95 305 Liberal Arts 574 85 340 Construction Trades 500 125 375 Hospitality amp Tourism 500 167 333 Manufacturing 500 167 333 Transportation 500 00 500

Figure 10 focuses on students seeking certification or a two-year degree When asked the field of study students were currently in the most common responses were health occupations businessadministrative support and liberal arts Of the respondents who identified themselves as studying health occupations 600 percent lean toward staying in Iowa 95 percent lean against staying in Iowa and 305 percent are not sure if they will stay in Iowa after completing their education

Over three-fifths (612) of businessadministrationgeneral office support students lean toward staying in Iowa 90 percent lean against staying in Iowa and 299 percent stated that they are not sure if they will stay in Iowa after graduation Less than three-fifths (574) of Liberal Arts students responded that they lean toward staying in Iowa 85 percent lean against staying in Iowa and 340 percent are not sure if they will stay in Iowa after graduation

Respondents seeking a two-year degree or certification in health occupations that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most attracted to cleansafe communities (868) affordable housing (842) low crime rate (838) short and

7

safe daily commutes (816) suitable roads and highways (816) job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (811) accessible medical network (789) affordable tax rates (789) and strong education system (763)

Respondents seeking two-year degree or certification in computer information technology that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most attracted to job opportunities in their field or industry (786) job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (786) job opportunities that offer career advancement (786) affordable cost of living (769) job opportunities that offer competitive wages (714) cleansafe communities (714) affordable housing (692) affordable tax rates (692) affordable medical care (615) and affordable education (615)

Figure 11 Field of Study (Four-year Degree)

Field of Study Lean Toward Staying Lean Against Staying Not Sure

Agriculture Agricultural Operations amp Related Sciences

675 140 185

Physical Sciences 615 154 231 Transportation 600 400 00 Education 569 155 276 SalesMarketing Finance Economics 526 237 237 Health Professions 523 176 301 MathematicsStatisticsAccounting 513 125 363 Liberal Arts amp SciencesGeneral Studies amp Humanities

505 194 301

Social Sciences 500 261 239 FamilyConsumer amp Human Sciences 447 237 316 Psychology 436 327 236 Protective ServicesPublic Administration amp Social Service Professions

429 250 321

Engineering amp Related Technologies 409 269 323 Computer Information Technology 394 288 318 Biology amp Biomedical Sciences 385 346 269 LiteratureEnglish 313 375 313 Conservation amp Natural SciencesResources 300 267 433 PhilosophyReligionClassics 300 600 100 CommunicationJournalismPublic Relations 250 333 417 Visual amp Performing Arts 235 412 353 Personal Design amp Culinary Sciences 208 583 208 Legal Professions 200 100 700 Foreign Languages amp Literatures 190 333 476 Construction Trades 167 333 500

Figure 11 shows that students striving for a four-year degree and studying agriculture agricultural operations and related sciences are most likely to stay in the state following graduation followed by physical sciences transportation education salesmarketing finance and economics health professions mathematics statistics and accounting and liberal arts amp sciences

8

The Governorrsquos STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) Advisory Council is a partnership of business policy and education leaders from across the state convening to bolster STEM education and innovation and to better position Iowarsquos young people and the statersquos economy for the future

When looking at STEM related fields of study the students pursuing a four-year degree that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most attracted to cleansafe communities (870) job opportunities in their field or industry (849) low crime rate (841) job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (828) job opportunities that offer career advancement (826) affordable cost of living (820) affordable housing (803) job opportunities that provide competitive wages (802) and strong education system (785)

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post-GraduateProfessional Degree)

Field of Study Lean Toward Staying Lean Against Staying Not Sure

Agriculture Agricultural Operations amp Related Sciences

533 133 333

CommunicationJournalismPublic Relations 500 150 350 MathematicsStatisticsAccounting 500 269 231 PhilosophyReligionClassics 500 300 200 Education 494 218 287 FamilyConsumer amp Human Sciences 474 211 316 Protective ServicesPublic Administration amp Social Service Professions

471 176 353

Liberal Arts amp SciencesGeneral Studies amp Humanities

407 271 322

Computer Information Technology 393 393 214 Health Professions 367 270 363 Social Sciences 362 333 304 LiteratureEnglish 357 179 464 SalesMarketing Finance Economics 339 339 321 Psychology 317 267 416 Biology amp Biomedical Sciences 287 255 457 Visual amp Performing Arts 250 417 333 Legal Professions 227 409 364 Personal Design amp Culinary Sciences 200 400 400 Engineering amp Related Technologies 172 473 355 Physical Sciences 160 560 280 Foreign Languages amp Literatures 143 476 381 Conservation amp Natural SciencesResources 00 00 100 Construction Trades Transportation Insufficient survey datarefused

Students advancing their education with a post-graduate or professional degree and studying agriculture agricultural operations amp related sciences (533) are most likely to stay in the state following graduation (Figure 12) followed by communications journalism and public relations (500) mathematics statistics and accounting (500) philosophy religion and classics (500) and education (494)

9

Keeping the focus on STEM related fields of study students pursuing a graduate professional degree who are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are very similar to the undergraduate students when responding to the survey They are most attracted to cleansafe communities (878) job opportunities in their field or industry (878) job opportunities that offer career advancement (869) strong education system (858) job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (848) job opportunities that provide competitive wages (844) affordable cost of living (842) affordable education (837) and low crime rate (835)

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education

00

50

100

150

200

250 Community College

Regent University

Private College

Statewide

Under $925 $925 - $1149 $1150 - $1449 $1450 - $1824 $1825 - $2274 $2275 - $2874 $2875 - $3599 $3600 - $4524 $4525 or Over Hourly Under Hourly $19240 - Hourly $23920 - Hourly $30160 - Hourly $37960 - Hourly $47320 - Hourly $59800 - Hourly $74880 - Hourly $94120

$19240 Annually $23919 Annually $30159 Annually $37959 Annually $47319 Annually $59799 Annually $74879 Annually $94119 Annually or Over Annually

Overall 840 percent of respondents claimed that competitive wages would attract them to maintain residence in the state following completion of their studies However only 455 percent of college students agree that Iowa has job opportunities that provide competitive wages Figure 13 above shows that 211 percent of statewide college students expect to earn wages in the $2275-$2874 per hour$47320-$59799 per year upon completion of their education

According to the 2012 IWD Statewide Laborshed Study the current median wage of those who are employed is $1521 per hour and the median salary is $57000 per year Of the 444 percent of college students expecting $2275+ per hour$47320+ per year 408 percent lean toward staying 278 percent lean against staying and 314 percent are unsure about staying in the state of Iowa after completing their education

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Type of College Lean Toward Staying Lean Against Staying Not Sure

Community College 549 151 300 Regent University 348 321 331 Private College 429 223 348

Figure 14 demonstrates the likeliness of college students staying in the state based on the type of educational institution they are attending Students who are attending community colleges lean more toward staying in the state (548) Students who are attending the three regent universities lean more against staying in the state (321)

10

safe daily commutes (816) suitable roads and highways (816) job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (811) accessible medical network (789) affordable tax rates (789) and strong education system (763)

Respondents seeking two-year degree or certification in computer information technology that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most attracted to job opportunities in their field or industry (786) job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (786) job opportunities that offer career advancement (786) affordable cost of living (769) job opportunities that offer competitive wages (714) cleansafe communities (714) affordable housing (692) affordable tax rates (692) affordable medical care (615) and affordable education (615)

Figure 11 Field of Study (Four-year Degree)

Field of Study Lean Toward Staying Lean Against Staying Not Sure

Agriculture Agricultural Operations amp Related Sciences

675 140 185

Physical Sciences 615 154 231 Transportation 600 400 00 Education 569 155 276 SalesMarketing Finance Economics 526 237 237 Health Professions 523 176 301 MathematicsStatisticsAccounting 513 125 363 Liberal Arts amp SciencesGeneral Studies amp Humanities

505 194 301

Social Sciences 500 261 239 FamilyConsumer amp Human Sciences 447 237 316 Psychology 436 327 236 Protective ServicesPublic Administration amp Social Service Professions

429 250 321

Engineering amp Related Technologies 409 269 323 Computer Information Technology 394 288 318 Biology amp Biomedical Sciences 385 346 269 LiteratureEnglish 313 375 313 Conservation amp Natural SciencesResources 300 267 433 PhilosophyReligionClassics 300 600 100 CommunicationJournalismPublic Relations 250 333 417 Visual amp Performing Arts 235 412 353 Personal Design amp Culinary Sciences 208 583 208 Legal Professions 200 100 700 Foreign Languages amp Literatures 190 333 476 Construction Trades 167 333 500

Figure 11 shows that students striving for a four-year degree and studying agriculture agricultural operations and related sciences are most likely to stay in the state following graduation followed by physical sciences transportation education salesmarketing finance and economics health professions mathematics statistics and accounting and liberal arts amp sciences

8

The Governorrsquos STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) Advisory Council is a partnership of business policy and education leaders from across the state convening to bolster STEM education and innovation and to better position Iowarsquos young people and the statersquos economy for the future

When looking at STEM related fields of study the students pursuing a four-year degree that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most attracted to cleansafe communities (870) job opportunities in their field or industry (849) low crime rate (841) job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (828) job opportunities that offer career advancement (826) affordable cost of living (820) affordable housing (803) job opportunities that provide competitive wages (802) and strong education system (785)

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post-GraduateProfessional Degree)

Field of Study Lean Toward Staying Lean Against Staying Not Sure

Agriculture Agricultural Operations amp Related Sciences

533 133 333

CommunicationJournalismPublic Relations 500 150 350 MathematicsStatisticsAccounting 500 269 231 PhilosophyReligionClassics 500 300 200 Education 494 218 287 FamilyConsumer amp Human Sciences 474 211 316 Protective ServicesPublic Administration amp Social Service Professions

471 176 353

Liberal Arts amp SciencesGeneral Studies amp Humanities

407 271 322

Computer Information Technology 393 393 214 Health Professions 367 270 363 Social Sciences 362 333 304 LiteratureEnglish 357 179 464 SalesMarketing Finance Economics 339 339 321 Psychology 317 267 416 Biology amp Biomedical Sciences 287 255 457 Visual amp Performing Arts 250 417 333 Legal Professions 227 409 364 Personal Design amp Culinary Sciences 200 400 400 Engineering amp Related Technologies 172 473 355 Physical Sciences 160 560 280 Foreign Languages amp Literatures 143 476 381 Conservation amp Natural SciencesResources 00 00 100 Construction Trades Transportation Insufficient survey datarefused

Students advancing their education with a post-graduate or professional degree and studying agriculture agricultural operations amp related sciences (533) are most likely to stay in the state following graduation (Figure 12) followed by communications journalism and public relations (500) mathematics statistics and accounting (500) philosophy religion and classics (500) and education (494)

9

Keeping the focus on STEM related fields of study students pursuing a graduate professional degree who are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are very similar to the undergraduate students when responding to the survey They are most attracted to cleansafe communities (878) job opportunities in their field or industry (878) job opportunities that offer career advancement (869) strong education system (858) job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (848) job opportunities that provide competitive wages (844) affordable cost of living (842) affordable education (837) and low crime rate (835)

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education

00

50

100

150

200

250 Community College

Regent University

Private College

Statewide

Under $925 $925 - $1149 $1150 - $1449 $1450 - $1824 $1825 - $2274 $2275 - $2874 $2875 - $3599 $3600 - $4524 $4525 or Over Hourly Under Hourly $19240 - Hourly $23920 - Hourly $30160 - Hourly $37960 - Hourly $47320 - Hourly $59800 - Hourly $74880 - Hourly $94120

$19240 Annually $23919 Annually $30159 Annually $37959 Annually $47319 Annually $59799 Annually $74879 Annually $94119 Annually or Over Annually

Overall 840 percent of respondents claimed that competitive wages would attract them to maintain residence in the state following completion of their studies However only 455 percent of college students agree that Iowa has job opportunities that provide competitive wages Figure 13 above shows that 211 percent of statewide college students expect to earn wages in the $2275-$2874 per hour$47320-$59799 per year upon completion of their education

According to the 2012 IWD Statewide Laborshed Study the current median wage of those who are employed is $1521 per hour and the median salary is $57000 per year Of the 444 percent of college students expecting $2275+ per hour$47320+ per year 408 percent lean toward staying 278 percent lean against staying and 314 percent are unsure about staying in the state of Iowa after completing their education

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Type of College Lean Toward Staying Lean Against Staying Not Sure

Community College 549 151 300 Regent University 348 321 331 Private College 429 223 348

Figure 14 demonstrates the likeliness of college students staying in the state based on the type of educational institution they are attending Students who are attending community colleges lean more toward staying in the state (548) Students who are attending the three regent universities lean more against staying in the state (321)

10

The Governorrsquos STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) Advisory Council is a partnership of business policy and education leaders from across the state convening to bolster STEM education and innovation and to better position Iowarsquos young people and the statersquos economy for the future

When looking at STEM related fields of study the students pursuing a four-year degree that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most attracted to cleansafe communities (870) job opportunities in their field or industry (849) low crime rate (841) job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (828) job opportunities that offer career advancement (826) affordable cost of living (820) affordable housing (803) job opportunities that provide competitive wages (802) and strong education system (785)

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post-GraduateProfessional Degree)

Field of Study Lean Toward Staying Lean Against Staying Not Sure

Agriculture Agricultural Operations amp Related Sciences

533 133 333

CommunicationJournalismPublic Relations 500 150 350 MathematicsStatisticsAccounting 500 269 231 PhilosophyReligionClassics 500 300 200 Education 494 218 287 FamilyConsumer amp Human Sciences 474 211 316 Protective ServicesPublic Administration amp Social Service Professions

471 176 353

Liberal Arts amp SciencesGeneral Studies amp Humanities

407 271 322

Computer Information Technology 393 393 214 Health Professions 367 270 363 Social Sciences 362 333 304 LiteratureEnglish 357 179 464 SalesMarketing Finance Economics 339 339 321 Psychology 317 267 416 Biology amp Biomedical Sciences 287 255 457 Visual amp Performing Arts 250 417 333 Legal Professions 227 409 364 Personal Design amp Culinary Sciences 200 400 400 Engineering amp Related Technologies 172 473 355 Physical Sciences 160 560 280 Foreign Languages amp Literatures 143 476 381 Conservation amp Natural SciencesResources 00 00 100 Construction Trades Transportation Insufficient survey datarefused

Students advancing their education with a post-graduate or professional degree and studying agriculture agricultural operations amp related sciences (533) are most likely to stay in the state following graduation (Figure 12) followed by communications journalism and public relations (500) mathematics statistics and accounting (500) philosophy religion and classics (500) and education (494)

9

Keeping the focus on STEM related fields of study students pursuing a graduate professional degree who are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are very similar to the undergraduate students when responding to the survey They are most attracted to cleansafe communities (878) job opportunities in their field or industry (878) job opportunities that offer career advancement (869) strong education system (858) job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (848) job opportunities that provide competitive wages (844) affordable cost of living (842) affordable education (837) and low crime rate (835)

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education

00

50

100

150

200

250 Community College

Regent University

Private College

Statewide

Under $925 $925 - $1149 $1150 - $1449 $1450 - $1824 $1825 - $2274 $2275 - $2874 $2875 - $3599 $3600 - $4524 $4525 or Over Hourly Under Hourly $19240 - Hourly $23920 - Hourly $30160 - Hourly $37960 - Hourly $47320 - Hourly $59800 - Hourly $74880 - Hourly $94120

$19240 Annually $23919 Annually $30159 Annually $37959 Annually $47319 Annually $59799 Annually $74879 Annually $94119 Annually or Over Annually

Overall 840 percent of respondents claimed that competitive wages would attract them to maintain residence in the state following completion of their studies However only 455 percent of college students agree that Iowa has job opportunities that provide competitive wages Figure 13 above shows that 211 percent of statewide college students expect to earn wages in the $2275-$2874 per hour$47320-$59799 per year upon completion of their education

According to the 2012 IWD Statewide Laborshed Study the current median wage of those who are employed is $1521 per hour and the median salary is $57000 per year Of the 444 percent of college students expecting $2275+ per hour$47320+ per year 408 percent lean toward staying 278 percent lean against staying and 314 percent are unsure about staying in the state of Iowa after completing their education

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Type of College Lean Toward Staying Lean Against Staying Not Sure

Community College 549 151 300 Regent University 348 321 331 Private College 429 223 348

Figure 14 demonstrates the likeliness of college students staying in the state based on the type of educational institution they are attending Students who are attending community colleges lean more toward staying in the state (548) Students who are attending the three regent universities lean more against staying in the state (321)

10

Keeping the focus on STEM related fields of study students pursuing a graduate professional degree who are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are very similar to the undergraduate students when responding to the survey They are most attracted to cleansafe communities (878) job opportunities in their field or industry (878) job opportunities that offer career advancement (869) strong education system (858) job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (848) job opportunities that provide competitive wages (844) affordable cost of living (842) affordable education (837) and low crime rate (835)

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education

00

50

100

150

200

250 Community College

Regent University

Private College

Statewide

Under $925 $925 - $1149 $1150 - $1449 $1450 - $1824 $1825 - $2274 $2275 - $2874 $2875 - $3599 $3600 - $4524 $4525 or Over Hourly Under Hourly $19240 - Hourly $23920 - Hourly $30160 - Hourly $37960 - Hourly $47320 - Hourly $59800 - Hourly $74880 - Hourly $94120

$19240 Annually $23919 Annually $30159 Annually $37959 Annually $47319 Annually $59799 Annually $74879 Annually $94119 Annually or Over Annually

Overall 840 percent of respondents claimed that competitive wages would attract them to maintain residence in the state following completion of their studies However only 455 percent of college students agree that Iowa has job opportunities that provide competitive wages Figure 13 above shows that 211 percent of statewide college students expect to earn wages in the $2275-$2874 per hour$47320-$59799 per year upon completion of their education

According to the 2012 IWD Statewide Laborshed Study the current median wage of those who are employed is $1521 per hour and the median salary is $57000 per year Of the 444 percent of college students expecting $2275+ per hour$47320+ per year 408 percent lean toward staying 278 percent lean against staying and 314 percent are unsure about staying in the state of Iowa after completing their education

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Type of College Lean Toward Staying Lean Against Staying Not Sure

Community College 549 151 300 Regent University 348 321 331 Private College 429 223 348

Figure 14 demonstrates the likeliness of college students staying in the state based on the type of educational institution they are attending Students who are attending community colleges lean more toward staying in the state (548) Students who are attending the three regent universities lean more against staying in the state (321)

10

Additional Statewide Statistics

Marital Status

Many respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (629) while 129 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 398 percent lean toward staying while 266 percent lean against staying

Climate

A feature that was included in the survey this time around was the weather in Iowa Unfortunately this is a feature the state of Iowa can do very little to address Many college students commented that the harsh winters are a reason that they would choose to leave Iowa Over one-third (354) of respondents agree Iowa has weather they enjoy However only 545 percent of respondents stated that weather would influence their decision to stay in Iowa which was less than most other factors measured

ldquoI love Iowa City It will always be a special place to me But Im sick of the Midwest I want better weather and I want to be living on the cutting edge I will be taking my tech degree and moving west most likelyrdquo - 22 year-old University of Iowa student

Statewide Trends

The last time IWD conducted this survey was spring of 2008 The state of Iowa had projected a job vacancy surplus and a shortage of qualified workers to fill those positions over the next 10 years These projections were partially due to estimates of baby boomers retiring and college students migrating out of the state to find work elsewhere Since that time the economy bottomed out and unemployment rates rose in the state of Iowa beginning at 38 in early 2008 topping out at 64 in 2010 and now in June 2013 back down to as low as 46

With the perception that the job market is not as welcoming to new entries as it was before the recession college studentsrsquo responses to the survey have been affected As a whole respondents leaning toward staying in the state after graduation decreased from 471 percent to 446 percent Students unsure about their future residence plans increased considerably from slightly over one-fourth (255) to nearly one-third (320)

Although college students perception of Iowa employers providing competitive wages increased 77 percentage points the total percent of Iowa college students who believe Iowa businesses provide competitive wages is still less than half (455) There is a general belief that Iowa lacks entertainment options for young professionals That perception dramatically increased over the past five years as respondents who agreed that Iowa has entertainment options that interest them decreased 143 percentage points from 511 percent to 368 percent

11

Community College Results

The following data is based on the responses of community college students which comprises 351 percent of all college student survey responses The majority of respondents were female (701) but both genders lean toward staying in the state after graduation Over half of males (536) and over half of females (555) plan to stay in the state Notably nearly one-third of each gender were unsure of their decision at the time of the survey (301 male 300 female)

Analysis was also done by age group for the community college section to see if age was a factor in the decision to stay in Iowa Figure 15 illustrates that the majority of each age category either leans toward staying in Iowa or are unsure of their future location which once again gives the state an opportunity to promote the state as a place to live after completing their education at a community college

Figure 15 shows that with the exception of 31-35 year-olds there is a steady increase in the percent of those who lean toward staying in Iowa as the students age increases indicating that the older the student is the more likely they are to stay in Iowa after graduation

Figure 15 Future Plans by Age Range (Community Colleges) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Unsure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 16 Future Plans by State of Origin (Community College)

Additionally there were 64 percent out-of-state and 11 percent international students who responded to the community college survey Over half (515) of the out-ofshystate students and 917 percent of the international students lean toward staying or are unsure of where they will reside after graduation (Figure 16)

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International

12

Figure 17 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting

(Community College) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Urban Suburban Rural

Studying the population settings in which the students would like to reside indicates that a community college studentrsquos decision to stay in the state is impacted by the studentsrsquo desired population setting Students who want to live in a rural setting appear to be more likely to stay in the state (607) than those who would choose a suburban (508) or urban (456) setting (Figure 17)

Figure 18 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Community College)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Offer attractive benefits 474 846 105 49 Interest me personally 533 843 109 48 Offer career advancement 472 832 108 60 Provide competitive wages 394 824 116 60 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 517 679 234 87

Nearly two-fifths (394) of community college students believe that Iowa provides competitive wages However over half (533) agree that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them Students are influenced by job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (846) career advancement (832) and competitive wages (824) (Figure 18)

Figure 19 Entertainment in Iowa (Community College)

Iowa Has (an) Attractive I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 380 721 217 62 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc) 651 667 252 81 Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 617 639 277 84 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc) 434 629 299 72 Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 437 588 327 85 Commercial centersdistricts 401 551 350 99 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations 404 514 381 105 Sports teamseventsvenues 376 510 388 102 Organized recreation leagues 389 447 425 128 Golf courses country clubs resorts 400 380 482 138

13

On the previous page Figure 19 depicts that less than two-fifths (380) of community college students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teams cultural attractions night life commercial centers or socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations

Community college students responded that they would be influenced by outdoor recreation (667) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (639) cultural attractions (629) attractive night life (588) commercial centers (551) and sports teamsevents venues (510) Golf coursescountry clubsresorts was the least influential feature less than two-fifths (380) of respondents would be influenced by that feature

Figure 20 shows that 792 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities in which they would consider raising a family Over three-fourths (760) would be attracted to raising a family in Iowa Community college students are most attracted to cleansafe communities (883) low crime rate (852) strong education systems (837) easily accessible medical care networks (828) and living near family friends (813)

ldquoI think Iowa is a great place Although I think we have always been a little behind the rest of the country when it comes to advancement in laws life views and ideas I feel that if we dont start changing things to better Iowans lives Iowas population will just dwindlerdquo - 23 year-old Des Moines Area Community College student

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 746 884 84 32 Low crime rate 609 854 111 35 Strong education system 636 838 124 38 Medical care network that is easily accessible 627 828 135 37 Living near familyfriends 730 814 148 38 Short amp safe daily commutes 659 808 153 39 Suitable roads amp highways 598 792 172 36 Communities I would consider raising a family 793 760 177 63 Weather I enjoy 306 572 362 66 Diverse communities 524 531 397 72

Community college students agree that Iowa does provide cleansafe communities (746) living near familyfriends (730) short safe daily commutes (659) strong education systems (636) and easily accessible medical care networks (627)

Features that respondents least agreed were featured in Iowa are weather the respondent enjoys (306) diverse communities (524) and suitable roads and highways (598) Slightly less than two-fifths (397) of community college respondents stated that diverse communities would not influence their decision to stay in Iowa

14

Figure 21 demonstrates that most community college students are influenced by affordable cost of living (877) affordable housing (864) and affordable education (849) However they do not agree that Iowa provides affordable options Less than two-fifths (365) agree Iowa offers affordable travel options 392 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates less than half (458) agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care and only 476 percent agree Iowa has affordable housing

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 568 877 92 31 Affordable tax rate 392 778 162 60 Affordable housing 476 864 102 34 Affordable travel options 365 672 262 66 Affordable medical care 458 833 127 40 Affordable education 616 849 111 40

Figure 22 shows that students at Iowarsquos community colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in the personal services industry lean most towards staying in Iowa (679) manufacturing (667) transportationpublic utilities (625) financeinsurancereal estate (576) computer information technology (576) education (568) general business (565) social services (562) legal (551) and healthcare (544) professionals are also among those that lean more toward staying in Iowa after graduation

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward Staying Lean Against Staying Not Sure

Personal Services 679 107 214 Manufacturing 667 119 214 TransportationPublic Utilities 625 125 250 Computer Information Technology 576 142 282 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 576 102 322 Education 568 155 277 Social Services 562 123 315 General Business Administration 555 149 286 Legal 551 102 347 Healthcare 544 151 305 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 530 197 273 Construction 524 95 381 Public AdministrationGovernment 500 125 375 WholesaleRetail Trade 485 182 333 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 455 152 394 Other 454 216 330 Entertainment amp Recreation 426 241 333 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 333 179 487

15

Respondents who are interested in the entertainment amp recreation industry lean most against staying in Iowa (241) followed by agriculturenatural resourcesenvironment (197) wholesaleretail trade (182) communicationsjournalismpublic relations (179) education (155) active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (152) healthcare (151) and general business (149) professionals are also among those that lean more against staying in Iowa after graduation

ldquoI am graduating with a degree in culinary arts in a couple months and the bottom line is that there are very few opportunities in Iowa to make a name for myself There arent very many good restaurants hotels or resorts so Im forced to look outside the staterdquo - 25 year-old Indian Hills Community College student

With Iowarsquos aging population the state is going to have a large demand for healthcare professionals in the years to come Community college students interested in future employment in healthcare that are unsure about or lean against staying in Iowa are most attracted to cleansafe communities (809) easily accessible medical network (801) jobs that offer attractive benefits (787) low crime rate (778) affordable medical care (776) affordable housing (770) affordable education (769) jobs that provide competitive wages (765) job opportunities in their field (756) and strong educations systems (754)

Additional Community College Statistics

Marital Status

Many respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (659) while 73 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 494 percent lean toward staying while 191 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 120 percent of community college respondents are currently participatinghave participated in an internship 15 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowarsquos community colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs and some are even working full-time jobs 525 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 541 percent of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 609 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

16

Regent University Results

The following data is based on the responses of regent university students which comprises 424 percent of all college student survey responses The majority of respondents were female (586) overall both genders lean toward staying in the state after graduation rather than leaving the state Over one-third of males (339) and females (355) plan to stay in the state Notably approximately one-third of each gender were unsure of their decision at the time of the survey (339 male 327 female)

Analysis was also done by age group for the regent university section to see if this was a factor in the decision to stay in Iowa Figure 23 illustrates that age is an inconsistent variable for predicting studentsrsquo decisions to remain in Iowa

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent Universities) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 24 indicates that Iowa natives are more likely to stay in the state than those from other states they also represent 700 of all regent university student respondents While the majority (349) of regent university students lean toward staying in the state there are 332 percent that are unsure

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent Universities)

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International

17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent Universities)

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Urban Suburban Rural

Studying the population settings in which the students would like to reside indicates that a regent university studentrsquos decision to stay in the state has much to do with population setting Students who want to live in a rural setting appear to be much more likely to stay in the state (547) than those who prefer a suburban (289) or urban (182) setting (Figure 25)

ldquoI am really interested in finding a job in north central Iowa so that my kids and I can remain close to the social support of my family I am concerned about the job losses in that area paired with the concentration of work in the Des Moines Area Not everyone is happy with having to leave their smaller communities behindrdquo - 32 year-old Iowa State University student

Nearly three-fifths (596) of regent university students believe that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them (Figure 26) and just over half (520) believe that Iowa offers competitive wages These students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (867) career advancement (859) and competitive wages (856)

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent Universities)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 596 887 93 20 Offer attractive benefits 605 867 106 27 Offer career advancement 614 859 116 25 Provide competitive wages 520 856 118 26 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 594 600 356 44

Only 361 percent of regent university students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 27 on the next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions commercial centers an attractive night life or socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations

Regent university students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (686) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (630) attractive night life (619) cultural attractions (619) and commercial centers (557) which are similar interests to community college students

18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent Universities)

Iowa Has (an) Attractive I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 361 754 214 32 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc)

667 686 274 40

Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 612 630 328 42 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc)

380 619 340 41

Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 436 619 341 40 Commercial centersdistricts 372 557 397 46 Sports teamseventsvenues 314 509 437 54 Socialethnicreligious professional organizations

339 459 483 58

Organized recreation leagues 427 424 515 61 Golf courses country clubs resorts 432 346 581 73

ldquoIowa can be expensive and there are not enough opportunities for entertainment (ie sports music nightlife) Things like mini-golf go-carts cheaper movie theaters a local zoo or a professional sports team would create more opportunities for things to do in Iowardquo - 30 year-old University of Iowa student

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent Universities)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Communities I would consider raising a family 794 753 216 31 Diverse communities 290 393 565 42 Strong education system 722 848 129 23 Medical care network that is easily accessible 718 798 168 34 Clean safe communities 864 894 89 16 Low crime rate 803 856 127 16 Short amp safe daily commutes 757 794 183 23 Suitable roads amp highways 705 736 243 21 Living near familyfriends 670 775 206 19 Weather I enjoy 394 526 438 36

Figure 28 shows that 795 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities where they would consider raising a family about three-fourths (751) of regent university students would be influenced by an environment conducive to raising a family Regent university students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (894) low crime rate (856) strong education systems (849) easily accessible medical care networks (799) and short safe daily commutes (795)

Regent university students agree Iowa has cleansafe communities (865) low crime rate (804) short safe daily commutes (758) and strong education systems (725) which matches in theory to what they are looking for regarding quality of life when choosing a place to reside after graduating

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are diverse communities (361) attractive weather (291) and proximity to family amp friends (188)

19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent Universities)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 770 844 123 33 Affordable housing 703 834 133 33 Affordable education 675 804 162 34 Affordable medical care 555 753 200 47 Affordable tax rate 541 690 256 54 Affordable travel options 450 633 324 43

Figure 29 demonstrates that most regent university students are influenced by affordable cost of living (844) affordable housing (834) and affordable education (804) Less than half (450) agree Iowa offers affordable travel options 541 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates 555 percent agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care and 675 percent agree Iowa has affordable education

Figure 30 Future Employment Interests (Regent Universities)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 570 166 265 Social Services 488 256 256 WholesaleRetail Trade 421 263 316 Personal Services 410 289 301 Education 408 272 321 General Business Administration 370 290 340 Manufacturing 369 262 369 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 348 348 304 Construction 328 379 293 Healthcare 322 285 393 TransportationPublic Utilities 314 286 400 Public AdministrationGovernment 298 309 393 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 235 367 400 Other 230 451 319 Computer Information Technology 224 382 394 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 209 361 430 Entertainment amp Recreation 205 466 329 Legal 143 531 327

Figure 30 shows that students at Iowarsquos regent universities are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in agricultural (570) social services (488) wholesaleretail trade (421) personal services (410) and education (408) professions lean most towards staying in Iowa respondents who are interested in legal (531) entertainmentrecreation (466) computer technology (382) construction (379) or active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (367) professions lean the most against staying in Iowa after graduation

20

Additional Regent University Statistics

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience Nearly two-fifths (394) of regent university respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 24 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Marital Status

Many respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (444) although 267 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 341 percent lean toward staying while 324 percent lean against staying

Employment Status

Of course not all students at regent universities are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 336 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 360 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 341 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

21

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Private College Results

The majority of private college students responding to the statewide survey (430) lean toward staying in Iowa after graduation however over one-third (348) are unsure of their plans after college and the remaining 222 percent are planning on leaving the state once they have graduated

Over two-fifths (433) of the male private college students plan to stay in Iowa following graduation while 428 percent of the female students lean toward making Iowa their home after graduation

Analysis by age group was also done to see if this is a factor in the studentsrsquo decision to stay in Iowa Figure 31 illustrates that age is an inconsistent variable for determining studentsrsquo decision to remain in Iowa However it is worth noting that 430 percent of all the private college students responding to the survey still plan to stay in the state

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private Colleges) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin

(Private Colleges)

Private college students 100

were asked to identify their 90

state of origin in order to 80

70 distinguish how likely they

60

were to stay in Iowa after 50

graduation based on 40

whether they are an Iowa 30

native from another state 20

or an international student 10

Figure 32 indicates that 0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International Iowa natives are more likely to stay in Iowa than those from other states however 313 percent of Iowa natives are unsure about staying in the state

22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private Colleges)

100

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Survey results in Figure 3390 show that students preferring

80 a rural setting are more likely

70 to stay in the state Over half

60 (542) of those desiring to

50 live in rural areas lean toward

40 staying in the state while 11630 percent lean against staying20 342 percent are not sure10

0 Urban Suburban Rural

Over two-fifths (414) of students preferring a suburban setting lean toward staying while less than one-fifth (194) lean against staying in Iowa 392 percent are not sure Over one-third (345) of the student respondents desiring an urban setting lean toward staying in the state while 338 percent lean against staying less than one-third (317) are unsure

Figure 34 indicates that private colleges represent the highest percentage (602) of all the collegiate groups when it comes to believing that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them However only 426 percent believe that Iowa offers competitive wages

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 602 887 80 33 Offer attractive benefits 547 868 89 43 Offer career advancement 543 865 94 41 Provide competitive wages 426 860 105 35 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 583 626 311 63

Private college students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (868) career advancement (865) and competitive wages (860)

Only 379 percent of private college students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 35 on next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions night life or commercial centersdistricts Most private college students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (703) cultural attractions (693) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (692) attractive night life (643) and attractive sports teamseventsvenues (584)

ldquoI would like to see Iowa acquire a professional sport team any sport would work ie NBA NFL MLB etc It would create several jobs in all levels generate revenue for the state and bring people into the state to experience the great atmosphere that Iowa offersrdquo - 39 year-old Saint Ambrose University

23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has (an) Attractivehellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 381 783 182 35 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc) 607 702 249 49 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc) 411 692 262 47 Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 614 690 268 42 Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 457 641 322 37 Sports teamseventsvenues 353 582 360 58 Commercial centersdistricts 370 576 368 56 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations 386 560 379 61 Organized recreation leagues 421 497 427 77 Golf courses country clubs resorts 430 389 520 91

Figure 36 below shows that 782 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities in which they would consider raising a family Nearly four-fifths (784) would be attracted to communities where they would consider raising a family Private college students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (888) low crime rate (882) strong education systems (873) easily accessible medical care networks (847) and short safe daily commutes (802)

Private college students agree that Iowa does have cleansafe communities (806) shortsafe daily commutes (723) easily accessible medical care networks (707) and strong education systems (702)

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 805 888 92 20 Low crime rate 654 882 99 20 Strong education system 701 873 108 20 Medical care network that is easily accessible 706 846 127 26 Short amp safe daily commutes 722 801 171 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 781 783 168 48 Living near familyfriends 698 780 193 26 Suitable roads amp highways 681 747 220 33 Weather I enjoy 370 532 433 35 Diverse communities 365 471 463 66

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are attractive weather (344) diverse communities (319) and proximity to their friends amp family (168) However only 471 percent of private respondents stated that diverse communities would influence their decision to remain in Iowa after completing their education

Figure 37 (on the next page) demonstrates that most private college students are attracted to affordable cost of living (914) and most agree that Iowa provides affordable options (830) Slightly more than half (517) agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care 522 percent agree Iowa offers affordable travel options and 621 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates but 719 percent agree that Iowa has affordable housing which is higher than other student perceptions

24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 670 903 64 33 Affordable housing 569 880 82 38 Affordable education 594 852 106 42 Affordable medical care 509 843 115 42 Affordable tax rate 479 742 192 66 Affordable travel options 427 660 282 58

ldquoMoved here from Cincinnati Ohio three years ago My wife and I both love living in Dubuque There is much to do the town is clean and relatively quiet We enjoy all there is to do here and prefer here to Cincinnatirdquo - 46 year-old Loras College student

Figure 38 shows that students at Iowarsquos private colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in construction professions lean most towards staying in Iowa (800) which is not representative of the college student population as a whole Respondents who are interested in legal careers lean most toward leaving Iowa (500)

In addition to aspiring construction professionals those with interests in agriculture natural resourcesenvironmental (650) financeinsurancereal estate (524) and manufacturing (500) careers are among those that lean more toward staying in Iowa after graduating from a private college

Aspiring active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (429) entertainment amp recreation (350) and public administrationgovernment (300) professionals are among those that more heavily lean toward leaving the state after completing their education

Figure 38 Future Employment Interests (Private Colleges)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

Construction 800 00 200 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 650 50 300 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 524 119 357 General Business Administration 508 115 377 Manufacturing 500 286 214 Education 477 227 295 Public AdministrationGovernment 448 310 241 Healthcare 420 221 359 Other 409 273 318 Computer Information Technology 389 278 333 Social Services 368 298 333 Personal Services 342 184 474 Entertainment amp Recreation 300 350 350 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 296 296 407 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 214 429 357 Legal 188 500 313 TransportationPublic Utilities WholesaleRetail Trade Insufficient survey datarefused

25

Additional Private College Statistics

Marital Status

Respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (689) while 180 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 393 percent lean toward staying while 234 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 276 percent of private college respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 21 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowa colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 430 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 419 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 483 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

26

5

10

15

20

25

Index of Charts and Tables

Figure 1 College Respondents 1

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) 3

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide) 3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide) 4

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide) 4

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide) 5

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Figure 9 Future Employment Interests (Statewide) 6

Figure 10 Field of Study (CertificationTwo-year Degree) 7

Figure 11 Field of Study (Four-year Degree) 8

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post GraduateProfessional) 9

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education 10

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Figure 15 Future Plans by Age Range (Community College) 12

Figure 16 Future Plans by State of Origin (Community College) 12

Figure 17 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Community College) 13

Figure 18 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Community College) 13

Figure 19 Entertainment in Iowa (Community College) 14

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College) 14

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College) 15

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent University) 17

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent University) 17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent University) 18

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent University) 18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent University) 19

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent University) 19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent University) 20

Figure 30 Future Employment Interest (Regent University)

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private College) 22

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin (Private College) 22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private College) 23

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private College) 23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private College) 24

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private College) 24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private College)

Figure 38 Future Employment Interest (Private College) 25

27

Methodology

The Iowa College Student Survey and The Iowa College Student Analysis are produced by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau in cooperation with Iowarsquos colleges and the Office of the Governor of Iowa

In February 2013 The College Student Survey was sent to registrar offices of community colleges state universities and private institutions across the state of Iowa The survey was then distributed electronically to the student population by college representatives The window for responses extended from February 2013 through June 2013 There were 5074 responses received

The responses were collected by IWD Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau and SPSSreg was used to recode and formulate the received data into reportable measurements Methods of analysis in SPSSreg were frequency analysis cross tabulations and multiple response cross tabulation The analysis does not weigh the importance of each variable against one another but instead represents how many respondents chose that particular feature For example

ldquoRespondents seeking a two-year degree or certification in health occupations that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most influenced by cleansafe communities (868)helliprdquo

The majority (868) represents the number of respondents who identified themselves as interested in a two-year degree or certification in health occupations who donrsquot lean toward staying in Iowa that indicated cleansafe communities would influence their decision to stay in Iowa after graduation

IWD does not imply that a particular feature is more important than any other feature rather that a certain percentage of the respondents replied that one feature either is or is not featured in the state of Iowa and if that feature attracts does not attract or if they have no opinion on that feature

28

29

Iowa Workforce Development Communications amp Labor Market Information Division

Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau 1000 E Grand Avenue Des Moines Iowa 50319

(515) 281-4896 wwwiowaworkforceorg

Community College Results

The following data is based on the responses of community college students which comprises 351 percent of all college student survey responses The majority of respondents were female (701) but both genders lean toward staying in the state after graduation Over half of males (536) and over half of females (555) plan to stay in the state Notably nearly one-third of each gender were unsure of their decision at the time of the survey (301 male 300 female)

Analysis was also done by age group for the community college section to see if age was a factor in the decision to stay in Iowa Figure 15 illustrates that the majority of each age category either leans toward staying in Iowa or are unsure of their future location which once again gives the state an opportunity to promote the state as a place to live after completing their education at a community college

Figure 15 shows that with the exception of 31-35 year-olds there is a steady increase in the percent of those who lean toward staying in Iowa as the students age increases indicating that the older the student is the more likely they are to stay in Iowa after graduation

Figure 15 Future Plans by Age Range (Community Colleges) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Unsure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 16 Future Plans by State of Origin (Community College)

Additionally there were 64 percent out-of-state and 11 percent international students who responded to the community college survey Over half (515) of the out-ofshystate students and 917 percent of the international students lean toward staying or are unsure of where they will reside after graduation (Figure 16)

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International

12

Figure 17 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting

(Community College) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Urban Suburban Rural

Studying the population settings in which the students would like to reside indicates that a community college studentrsquos decision to stay in the state is impacted by the studentsrsquo desired population setting Students who want to live in a rural setting appear to be more likely to stay in the state (607) than those who would choose a suburban (508) or urban (456) setting (Figure 17)

Figure 18 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Community College)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Offer attractive benefits 474 846 105 49 Interest me personally 533 843 109 48 Offer career advancement 472 832 108 60 Provide competitive wages 394 824 116 60 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 517 679 234 87

Nearly two-fifths (394) of community college students believe that Iowa provides competitive wages However over half (533) agree that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them Students are influenced by job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (846) career advancement (832) and competitive wages (824) (Figure 18)

Figure 19 Entertainment in Iowa (Community College)

Iowa Has (an) Attractive I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 380 721 217 62 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc) 651 667 252 81 Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 617 639 277 84 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc) 434 629 299 72 Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 437 588 327 85 Commercial centersdistricts 401 551 350 99 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations 404 514 381 105 Sports teamseventsvenues 376 510 388 102 Organized recreation leagues 389 447 425 128 Golf courses country clubs resorts 400 380 482 138

13

On the previous page Figure 19 depicts that less than two-fifths (380) of community college students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teams cultural attractions night life commercial centers or socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations

Community college students responded that they would be influenced by outdoor recreation (667) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (639) cultural attractions (629) attractive night life (588) commercial centers (551) and sports teamsevents venues (510) Golf coursescountry clubsresorts was the least influential feature less than two-fifths (380) of respondents would be influenced by that feature

Figure 20 shows that 792 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities in which they would consider raising a family Over three-fourths (760) would be attracted to raising a family in Iowa Community college students are most attracted to cleansafe communities (883) low crime rate (852) strong education systems (837) easily accessible medical care networks (828) and living near family friends (813)

ldquoI think Iowa is a great place Although I think we have always been a little behind the rest of the country when it comes to advancement in laws life views and ideas I feel that if we dont start changing things to better Iowans lives Iowas population will just dwindlerdquo - 23 year-old Des Moines Area Community College student

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 746 884 84 32 Low crime rate 609 854 111 35 Strong education system 636 838 124 38 Medical care network that is easily accessible 627 828 135 37 Living near familyfriends 730 814 148 38 Short amp safe daily commutes 659 808 153 39 Suitable roads amp highways 598 792 172 36 Communities I would consider raising a family 793 760 177 63 Weather I enjoy 306 572 362 66 Diverse communities 524 531 397 72

Community college students agree that Iowa does provide cleansafe communities (746) living near familyfriends (730) short safe daily commutes (659) strong education systems (636) and easily accessible medical care networks (627)

Features that respondents least agreed were featured in Iowa are weather the respondent enjoys (306) diverse communities (524) and suitable roads and highways (598) Slightly less than two-fifths (397) of community college respondents stated that diverse communities would not influence their decision to stay in Iowa

14

Figure 21 demonstrates that most community college students are influenced by affordable cost of living (877) affordable housing (864) and affordable education (849) However they do not agree that Iowa provides affordable options Less than two-fifths (365) agree Iowa offers affordable travel options 392 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates less than half (458) agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care and only 476 percent agree Iowa has affordable housing

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 568 877 92 31 Affordable tax rate 392 778 162 60 Affordable housing 476 864 102 34 Affordable travel options 365 672 262 66 Affordable medical care 458 833 127 40 Affordable education 616 849 111 40

Figure 22 shows that students at Iowarsquos community colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in the personal services industry lean most towards staying in Iowa (679) manufacturing (667) transportationpublic utilities (625) financeinsurancereal estate (576) computer information technology (576) education (568) general business (565) social services (562) legal (551) and healthcare (544) professionals are also among those that lean more toward staying in Iowa after graduation

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward Staying Lean Against Staying Not Sure

Personal Services 679 107 214 Manufacturing 667 119 214 TransportationPublic Utilities 625 125 250 Computer Information Technology 576 142 282 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 576 102 322 Education 568 155 277 Social Services 562 123 315 General Business Administration 555 149 286 Legal 551 102 347 Healthcare 544 151 305 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 530 197 273 Construction 524 95 381 Public AdministrationGovernment 500 125 375 WholesaleRetail Trade 485 182 333 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 455 152 394 Other 454 216 330 Entertainment amp Recreation 426 241 333 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 333 179 487

15

Respondents who are interested in the entertainment amp recreation industry lean most against staying in Iowa (241) followed by agriculturenatural resourcesenvironment (197) wholesaleretail trade (182) communicationsjournalismpublic relations (179) education (155) active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (152) healthcare (151) and general business (149) professionals are also among those that lean more against staying in Iowa after graduation

ldquoI am graduating with a degree in culinary arts in a couple months and the bottom line is that there are very few opportunities in Iowa to make a name for myself There arent very many good restaurants hotels or resorts so Im forced to look outside the staterdquo - 25 year-old Indian Hills Community College student

With Iowarsquos aging population the state is going to have a large demand for healthcare professionals in the years to come Community college students interested in future employment in healthcare that are unsure about or lean against staying in Iowa are most attracted to cleansafe communities (809) easily accessible medical network (801) jobs that offer attractive benefits (787) low crime rate (778) affordable medical care (776) affordable housing (770) affordable education (769) jobs that provide competitive wages (765) job opportunities in their field (756) and strong educations systems (754)

Additional Community College Statistics

Marital Status

Many respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (659) while 73 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 494 percent lean toward staying while 191 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 120 percent of community college respondents are currently participatinghave participated in an internship 15 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowarsquos community colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs and some are even working full-time jobs 525 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 541 percent of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 609 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

16

Regent University Results

The following data is based on the responses of regent university students which comprises 424 percent of all college student survey responses The majority of respondents were female (586) overall both genders lean toward staying in the state after graduation rather than leaving the state Over one-third of males (339) and females (355) plan to stay in the state Notably approximately one-third of each gender were unsure of their decision at the time of the survey (339 male 327 female)

Analysis was also done by age group for the regent university section to see if this was a factor in the decision to stay in Iowa Figure 23 illustrates that age is an inconsistent variable for predicting studentsrsquo decisions to remain in Iowa

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent Universities) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 24 indicates that Iowa natives are more likely to stay in the state than those from other states they also represent 700 of all regent university student respondents While the majority (349) of regent university students lean toward staying in the state there are 332 percent that are unsure

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent Universities)

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International

17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent Universities)

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Urban Suburban Rural

Studying the population settings in which the students would like to reside indicates that a regent university studentrsquos decision to stay in the state has much to do with population setting Students who want to live in a rural setting appear to be much more likely to stay in the state (547) than those who prefer a suburban (289) or urban (182) setting (Figure 25)

ldquoI am really interested in finding a job in north central Iowa so that my kids and I can remain close to the social support of my family I am concerned about the job losses in that area paired with the concentration of work in the Des Moines Area Not everyone is happy with having to leave their smaller communities behindrdquo - 32 year-old Iowa State University student

Nearly three-fifths (596) of regent university students believe that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them (Figure 26) and just over half (520) believe that Iowa offers competitive wages These students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (867) career advancement (859) and competitive wages (856)

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent Universities)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 596 887 93 20 Offer attractive benefits 605 867 106 27 Offer career advancement 614 859 116 25 Provide competitive wages 520 856 118 26 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 594 600 356 44

Only 361 percent of regent university students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 27 on the next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions commercial centers an attractive night life or socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations

Regent university students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (686) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (630) attractive night life (619) cultural attractions (619) and commercial centers (557) which are similar interests to community college students

18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent Universities)

Iowa Has (an) Attractive I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 361 754 214 32 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc)

667 686 274 40

Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 612 630 328 42 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc)

380 619 340 41

Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 436 619 341 40 Commercial centersdistricts 372 557 397 46 Sports teamseventsvenues 314 509 437 54 Socialethnicreligious professional organizations

339 459 483 58

Organized recreation leagues 427 424 515 61 Golf courses country clubs resorts 432 346 581 73

ldquoIowa can be expensive and there are not enough opportunities for entertainment (ie sports music nightlife) Things like mini-golf go-carts cheaper movie theaters a local zoo or a professional sports team would create more opportunities for things to do in Iowardquo - 30 year-old University of Iowa student

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent Universities)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Communities I would consider raising a family 794 753 216 31 Diverse communities 290 393 565 42 Strong education system 722 848 129 23 Medical care network that is easily accessible 718 798 168 34 Clean safe communities 864 894 89 16 Low crime rate 803 856 127 16 Short amp safe daily commutes 757 794 183 23 Suitable roads amp highways 705 736 243 21 Living near familyfriends 670 775 206 19 Weather I enjoy 394 526 438 36

Figure 28 shows that 795 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities where they would consider raising a family about three-fourths (751) of regent university students would be influenced by an environment conducive to raising a family Regent university students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (894) low crime rate (856) strong education systems (849) easily accessible medical care networks (799) and short safe daily commutes (795)

Regent university students agree Iowa has cleansafe communities (865) low crime rate (804) short safe daily commutes (758) and strong education systems (725) which matches in theory to what they are looking for regarding quality of life when choosing a place to reside after graduating

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are diverse communities (361) attractive weather (291) and proximity to family amp friends (188)

19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent Universities)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 770 844 123 33 Affordable housing 703 834 133 33 Affordable education 675 804 162 34 Affordable medical care 555 753 200 47 Affordable tax rate 541 690 256 54 Affordable travel options 450 633 324 43

Figure 29 demonstrates that most regent university students are influenced by affordable cost of living (844) affordable housing (834) and affordable education (804) Less than half (450) agree Iowa offers affordable travel options 541 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates 555 percent agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care and 675 percent agree Iowa has affordable education

Figure 30 Future Employment Interests (Regent Universities)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 570 166 265 Social Services 488 256 256 WholesaleRetail Trade 421 263 316 Personal Services 410 289 301 Education 408 272 321 General Business Administration 370 290 340 Manufacturing 369 262 369 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 348 348 304 Construction 328 379 293 Healthcare 322 285 393 TransportationPublic Utilities 314 286 400 Public AdministrationGovernment 298 309 393 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 235 367 400 Other 230 451 319 Computer Information Technology 224 382 394 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 209 361 430 Entertainment amp Recreation 205 466 329 Legal 143 531 327

Figure 30 shows that students at Iowarsquos regent universities are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in agricultural (570) social services (488) wholesaleretail trade (421) personal services (410) and education (408) professions lean most towards staying in Iowa respondents who are interested in legal (531) entertainmentrecreation (466) computer technology (382) construction (379) or active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (367) professions lean the most against staying in Iowa after graduation

20

Additional Regent University Statistics

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience Nearly two-fifths (394) of regent university respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 24 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Marital Status

Many respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (444) although 267 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 341 percent lean toward staying while 324 percent lean against staying

Employment Status

Of course not all students at regent universities are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 336 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 360 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 341 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

21

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Private College Results

The majority of private college students responding to the statewide survey (430) lean toward staying in Iowa after graduation however over one-third (348) are unsure of their plans after college and the remaining 222 percent are planning on leaving the state once they have graduated

Over two-fifths (433) of the male private college students plan to stay in Iowa following graduation while 428 percent of the female students lean toward making Iowa their home after graduation

Analysis by age group was also done to see if this is a factor in the studentsrsquo decision to stay in Iowa Figure 31 illustrates that age is an inconsistent variable for determining studentsrsquo decision to remain in Iowa However it is worth noting that 430 percent of all the private college students responding to the survey still plan to stay in the state

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private Colleges) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin

(Private Colleges)

Private college students 100

were asked to identify their 90

state of origin in order to 80

70 distinguish how likely they

60

were to stay in Iowa after 50

graduation based on 40

whether they are an Iowa 30

native from another state 20

or an international student 10

Figure 32 indicates that 0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International Iowa natives are more likely to stay in Iowa than those from other states however 313 percent of Iowa natives are unsure about staying in the state

22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private Colleges)

100

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Survey results in Figure 3390 show that students preferring

80 a rural setting are more likely

70 to stay in the state Over half

60 (542) of those desiring to

50 live in rural areas lean toward

40 staying in the state while 11630 percent lean against staying20 342 percent are not sure10

0 Urban Suburban Rural

Over two-fifths (414) of students preferring a suburban setting lean toward staying while less than one-fifth (194) lean against staying in Iowa 392 percent are not sure Over one-third (345) of the student respondents desiring an urban setting lean toward staying in the state while 338 percent lean against staying less than one-third (317) are unsure

Figure 34 indicates that private colleges represent the highest percentage (602) of all the collegiate groups when it comes to believing that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them However only 426 percent believe that Iowa offers competitive wages

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 602 887 80 33 Offer attractive benefits 547 868 89 43 Offer career advancement 543 865 94 41 Provide competitive wages 426 860 105 35 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 583 626 311 63

Private college students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (868) career advancement (865) and competitive wages (860)

Only 379 percent of private college students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 35 on next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions night life or commercial centersdistricts Most private college students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (703) cultural attractions (693) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (692) attractive night life (643) and attractive sports teamseventsvenues (584)

ldquoI would like to see Iowa acquire a professional sport team any sport would work ie NBA NFL MLB etc It would create several jobs in all levels generate revenue for the state and bring people into the state to experience the great atmosphere that Iowa offersrdquo - 39 year-old Saint Ambrose University

23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has (an) Attractivehellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 381 783 182 35 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc) 607 702 249 49 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc) 411 692 262 47 Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 614 690 268 42 Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 457 641 322 37 Sports teamseventsvenues 353 582 360 58 Commercial centersdistricts 370 576 368 56 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations 386 560 379 61 Organized recreation leagues 421 497 427 77 Golf courses country clubs resorts 430 389 520 91

Figure 36 below shows that 782 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities in which they would consider raising a family Nearly four-fifths (784) would be attracted to communities where they would consider raising a family Private college students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (888) low crime rate (882) strong education systems (873) easily accessible medical care networks (847) and short safe daily commutes (802)

Private college students agree that Iowa does have cleansafe communities (806) shortsafe daily commutes (723) easily accessible medical care networks (707) and strong education systems (702)

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 805 888 92 20 Low crime rate 654 882 99 20 Strong education system 701 873 108 20 Medical care network that is easily accessible 706 846 127 26 Short amp safe daily commutes 722 801 171 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 781 783 168 48 Living near familyfriends 698 780 193 26 Suitable roads amp highways 681 747 220 33 Weather I enjoy 370 532 433 35 Diverse communities 365 471 463 66

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are attractive weather (344) diverse communities (319) and proximity to their friends amp family (168) However only 471 percent of private respondents stated that diverse communities would influence their decision to remain in Iowa after completing their education

Figure 37 (on the next page) demonstrates that most private college students are attracted to affordable cost of living (914) and most agree that Iowa provides affordable options (830) Slightly more than half (517) agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care 522 percent agree Iowa offers affordable travel options and 621 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates but 719 percent agree that Iowa has affordable housing which is higher than other student perceptions

24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 670 903 64 33 Affordable housing 569 880 82 38 Affordable education 594 852 106 42 Affordable medical care 509 843 115 42 Affordable tax rate 479 742 192 66 Affordable travel options 427 660 282 58

ldquoMoved here from Cincinnati Ohio three years ago My wife and I both love living in Dubuque There is much to do the town is clean and relatively quiet We enjoy all there is to do here and prefer here to Cincinnatirdquo - 46 year-old Loras College student

Figure 38 shows that students at Iowarsquos private colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in construction professions lean most towards staying in Iowa (800) which is not representative of the college student population as a whole Respondents who are interested in legal careers lean most toward leaving Iowa (500)

In addition to aspiring construction professionals those with interests in agriculture natural resourcesenvironmental (650) financeinsurancereal estate (524) and manufacturing (500) careers are among those that lean more toward staying in Iowa after graduating from a private college

Aspiring active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (429) entertainment amp recreation (350) and public administrationgovernment (300) professionals are among those that more heavily lean toward leaving the state after completing their education

Figure 38 Future Employment Interests (Private Colleges)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

Construction 800 00 200 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 650 50 300 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 524 119 357 General Business Administration 508 115 377 Manufacturing 500 286 214 Education 477 227 295 Public AdministrationGovernment 448 310 241 Healthcare 420 221 359 Other 409 273 318 Computer Information Technology 389 278 333 Social Services 368 298 333 Personal Services 342 184 474 Entertainment amp Recreation 300 350 350 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 296 296 407 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 214 429 357 Legal 188 500 313 TransportationPublic Utilities WholesaleRetail Trade Insufficient survey datarefused

25

Additional Private College Statistics

Marital Status

Respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (689) while 180 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 393 percent lean toward staying while 234 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 276 percent of private college respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 21 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowa colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 430 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 419 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 483 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

26

5

10

15

20

25

Index of Charts and Tables

Figure 1 College Respondents 1

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) 3

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide) 3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide) 4

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide) 4

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide) 5

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Figure 9 Future Employment Interests (Statewide) 6

Figure 10 Field of Study (CertificationTwo-year Degree) 7

Figure 11 Field of Study (Four-year Degree) 8

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post GraduateProfessional) 9

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education 10

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Figure 15 Future Plans by Age Range (Community College) 12

Figure 16 Future Plans by State of Origin (Community College) 12

Figure 17 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Community College) 13

Figure 18 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Community College) 13

Figure 19 Entertainment in Iowa (Community College) 14

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College) 14

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College) 15

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent University) 17

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent University) 17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent University) 18

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent University) 18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent University) 19

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent University) 19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent University) 20

Figure 30 Future Employment Interest (Regent University)

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private College) 22

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin (Private College) 22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private College) 23

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private College) 23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private College) 24

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private College) 24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private College)

Figure 38 Future Employment Interest (Private College) 25

27

Methodology

The Iowa College Student Survey and The Iowa College Student Analysis are produced by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau in cooperation with Iowarsquos colleges and the Office of the Governor of Iowa

In February 2013 The College Student Survey was sent to registrar offices of community colleges state universities and private institutions across the state of Iowa The survey was then distributed electronically to the student population by college representatives The window for responses extended from February 2013 through June 2013 There were 5074 responses received

The responses were collected by IWD Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau and SPSSreg was used to recode and formulate the received data into reportable measurements Methods of analysis in SPSSreg were frequency analysis cross tabulations and multiple response cross tabulation The analysis does not weigh the importance of each variable against one another but instead represents how many respondents chose that particular feature For example

ldquoRespondents seeking a two-year degree or certification in health occupations that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most influenced by cleansafe communities (868)helliprdquo

The majority (868) represents the number of respondents who identified themselves as interested in a two-year degree or certification in health occupations who donrsquot lean toward staying in Iowa that indicated cleansafe communities would influence their decision to stay in Iowa after graduation

IWD does not imply that a particular feature is more important than any other feature rather that a certain percentage of the respondents replied that one feature either is or is not featured in the state of Iowa and if that feature attracts does not attract or if they have no opinion on that feature

28

29

Iowa Workforce Development Communications amp Labor Market Information Division

Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau 1000 E Grand Avenue Des Moines Iowa 50319

(515) 281-4896 wwwiowaworkforceorg

Figure 17 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting

(Community College) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Urban Suburban Rural

Studying the population settings in which the students would like to reside indicates that a community college studentrsquos decision to stay in the state is impacted by the studentsrsquo desired population setting Students who want to live in a rural setting appear to be more likely to stay in the state (607) than those who would choose a suburban (508) or urban (456) setting (Figure 17)

Figure 18 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Community College)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Offer attractive benefits 474 846 105 49 Interest me personally 533 843 109 48 Offer career advancement 472 832 108 60 Provide competitive wages 394 824 116 60 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 517 679 234 87

Nearly two-fifths (394) of community college students believe that Iowa provides competitive wages However over half (533) agree that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them Students are influenced by job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (846) career advancement (832) and competitive wages (824) (Figure 18)

Figure 19 Entertainment in Iowa (Community College)

Iowa Has (an) Attractive I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 380 721 217 62 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc) 651 667 252 81 Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 617 639 277 84 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc) 434 629 299 72 Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 437 588 327 85 Commercial centersdistricts 401 551 350 99 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations 404 514 381 105 Sports teamseventsvenues 376 510 388 102 Organized recreation leagues 389 447 425 128 Golf courses country clubs resorts 400 380 482 138

13

On the previous page Figure 19 depicts that less than two-fifths (380) of community college students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teams cultural attractions night life commercial centers or socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations

Community college students responded that they would be influenced by outdoor recreation (667) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (639) cultural attractions (629) attractive night life (588) commercial centers (551) and sports teamsevents venues (510) Golf coursescountry clubsresorts was the least influential feature less than two-fifths (380) of respondents would be influenced by that feature

Figure 20 shows that 792 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities in which they would consider raising a family Over three-fourths (760) would be attracted to raising a family in Iowa Community college students are most attracted to cleansafe communities (883) low crime rate (852) strong education systems (837) easily accessible medical care networks (828) and living near family friends (813)

ldquoI think Iowa is a great place Although I think we have always been a little behind the rest of the country when it comes to advancement in laws life views and ideas I feel that if we dont start changing things to better Iowans lives Iowas population will just dwindlerdquo - 23 year-old Des Moines Area Community College student

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 746 884 84 32 Low crime rate 609 854 111 35 Strong education system 636 838 124 38 Medical care network that is easily accessible 627 828 135 37 Living near familyfriends 730 814 148 38 Short amp safe daily commutes 659 808 153 39 Suitable roads amp highways 598 792 172 36 Communities I would consider raising a family 793 760 177 63 Weather I enjoy 306 572 362 66 Diverse communities 524 531 397 72

Community college students agree that Iowa does provide cleansafe communities (746) living near familyfriends (730) short safe daily commutes (659) strong education systems (636) and easily accessible medical care networks (627)

Features that respondents least agreed were featured in Iowa are weather the respondent enjoys (306) diverse communities (524) and suitable roads and highways (598) Slightly less than two-fifths (397) of community college respondents stated that diverse communities would not influence their decision to stay in Iowa

14

Figure 21 demonstrates that most community college students are influenced by affordable cost of living (877) affordable housing (864) and affordable education (849) However they do not agree that Iowa provides affordable options Less than two-fifths (365) agree Iowa offers affordable travel options 392 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates less than half (458) agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care and only 476 percent agree Iowa has affordable housing

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 568 877 92 31 Affordable tax rate 392 778 162 60 Affordable housing 476 864 102 34 Affordable travel options 365 672 262 66 Affordable medical care 458 833 127 40 Affordable education 616 849 111 40

Figure 22 shows that students at Iowarsquos community colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in the personal services industry lean most towards staying in Iowa (679) manufacturing (667) transportationpublic utilities (625) financeinsurancereal estate (576) computer information technology (576) education (568) general business (565) social services (562) legal (551) and healthcare (544) professionals are also among those that lean more toward staying in Iowa after graduation

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward Staying Lean Against Staying Not Sure

Personal Services 679 107 214 Manufacturing 667 119 214 TransportationPublic Utilities 625 125 250 Computer Information Technology 576 142 282 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 576 102 322 Education 568 155 277 Social Services 562 123 315 General Business Administration 555 149 286 Legal 551 102 347 Healthcare 544 151 305 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 530 197 273 Construction 524 95 381 Public AdministrationGovernment 500 125 375 WholesaleRetail Trade 485 182 333 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 455 152 394 Other 454 216 330 Entertainment amp Recreation 426 241 333 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 333 179 487

15

Respondents who are interested in the entertainment amp recreation industry lean most against staying in Iowa (241) followed by agriculturenatural resourcesenvironment (197) wholesaleretail trade (182) communicationsjournalismpublic relations (179) education (155) active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (152) healthcare (151) and general business (149) professionals are also among those that lean more against staying in Iowa after graduation

ldquoI am graduating with a degree in culinary arts in a couple months and the bottom line is that there are very few opportunities in Iowa to make a name for myself There arent very many good restaurants hotels or resorts so Im forced to look outside the staterdquo - 25 year-old Indian Hills Community College student

With Iowarsquos aging population the state is going to have a large demand for healthcare professionals in the years to come Community college students interested in future employment in healthcare that are unsure about or lean against staying in Iowa are most attracted to cleansafe communities (809) easily accessible medical network (801) jobs that offer attractive benefits (787) low crime rate (778) affordable medical care (776) affordable housing (770) affordable education (769) jobs that provide competitive wages (765) job opportunities in their field (756) and strong educations systems (754)

Additional Community College Statistics

Marital Status

Many respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (659) while 73 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 494 percent lean toward staying while 191 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 120 percent of community college respondents are currently participatinghave participated in an internship 15 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowarsquos community colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs and some are even working full-time jobs 525 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 541 percent of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 609 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

16

Regent University Results

The following data is based on the responses of regent university students which comprises 424 percent of all college student survey responses The majority of respondents were female (586) overall both genders lean toward staying in the state after graduation rather than leaving the state Over one-third of males (339) and females (355) plan to stay in the state Notably approximately one-third of each gender were unsure of their decision at the time of the survey (339 male 327 female)

Analysis was also done by age group for the regent university section to see if this was a factor in the decision to stay in Iowa Figure 23 illustrates that age is an inconsistent variable for predicting studentsrsquo decisions to remain in Iowa

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent Universities) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 24 indicates that Iowa natives are more likely to stay in the state than those from other states they also represent 700 of all regent university student respondents While the majority (349) of regent university students lean toward staying in the state there are 332 percent that are unsure

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent Universities)

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International

17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent Universities)

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Urban Suburban Rural

Studying the population settings in which the students would like to reside indicates that a regent university studentrsquos decision to stay in the state has much to do with population setting Students who want to live in a rural setting appear to be much more likely to stay in the state (547) than those who prefer a suburban (289) or urban (182) setting (Figure 25)

ldquoI am really interested in finding a job in north central Iowa so that my kids and I can remain close to the social support of my family I am concerned about the job losses in that area paired with the concentration of work in the Des Moines Area Not everyone is happy with having to leave their smaller communities behindrdquo - 32 year-old Iowa State University student

Nearly three-fifths (596) of regent university students believe that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them (Figure 26) and just over half (520) believe that Iowa offers competitive wages These students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (867) career advancement (859) and competitive wages (856)

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent Universities)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 596 887 93 20 Offer attractive benefits 605 867 106 27 Offer career advancement 614 859 116 25 Provide competitive wages 520 856 118 26 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 594 600 356 44

Only 361 percent of regent university students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 27 on the next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions commercial centers an attractive night life or socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations

Regent university students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (686) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (630) attractive night life (619) cultural attractions (619) and commercial centers (557) which are similar interests to community college students

18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent Universities)

Iowa Has (an) Attractive I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 361 754 214 32 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc)

667 686 274 40

Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 612 630 328 42 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc)

380 619 340 41

Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 436 619 341 40 Commercial centersdistricts 372 557 397 46 Sports teamseventsvenues 314 509 437 54 Socialethnicreligious professional organizations

339 459 483 58

Organized recreation leagues 427 424 515 61 Golf courses country clubs resorts 432 346 581 73

ldquoIowa can be expensive and there are not enough opportunities for entertainment (ie sports music nightlife) Things like mini-golf go-carts cheaper movie theaters a local zoo or a professional sports team would create more opportunities for things to do in Iowardquo - 30 year-old University of Iowa student

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent Universities)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Communities I would consider raising a family 794 753 216 31 Diverse communities 290 393 565 42 Strong education system 722 848 129 23 Medical care network that is easily accessible 718 798 168 34 Clean safe communities 864 894 89 16 Low crime rate 803 856 127 16 Short amp safe daily commutes 757 794 183 23 Suitable roads amp highways 705 736 243 21 Living near familyfriends 670 775 206 19 Weather I enjoy 394 526 438 36

Figure 28 shows that 795 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities where they would consider raising a family about three-fourths (751) of regent university students would be influenced by an environment conducive to raising a family Regent university students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (894) low crime rate (856) strong education systems (849) easily accessible medical care networks (799) and short safe daily commutes (795)

Regent university students agree Iowa has cleansafe communities (865) low crime rate (804) short safe daily commutes (758) and strong education systems (725) which matches in theory to what they are looking for regarding quality of life when choosing a place to reside after graduating

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are diverse communities (361) attractive weather (291) and proximity to family amp friends (188)

19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent Universities)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 770 844 123 33 Affordable housing 703 834 133 33 Affordable education 675 804 162 34 Affordable medical care 555 753 200 47 Affordable tax rate 541 690 256 54 Affordable travel options 450 633 324 43

Figure 29 demonstrates that most regent university students are influenced by affordable cost of living (844) affordable housing (834) and affordable education (804) Less than half (450) agree Iowa offers affordable travel options 541 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates 555 percent agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care and 675 percent agree Iowa has affordable education

Figure 30 Future Employment Interests (Regent Universities)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 570 166 265 Social Services 488 256 256 WholesaleRetail Trade 421 263 316 Personal Services 410 289 301 Education 408 272 321 General Business Administration 370 290 340 Manufacturing 369 262 369 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 348 348 304 Construction 328 379 293 Healthcare 322 285 393 TransportationPublic Utilities 314 286 400 Public AdministrationGovernment 298 309 393 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 235 367 400 Other 230 451 319 Computer Information Technology 224 382 394 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 209 361 430 Entertainment amp Recreation 205 466 329 Legal 143 531 327

Figure 30 shows that students at Iowarsquos regent universities are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in agricultural (570) social services (488) wholesaleretail trade (421) personal services (410) and education (408) professions lean most towards staying in Iowa respondents who are interested in legal (531) entertainmentrecreation (466) computer technology (382) construction (379) or active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (367) professions lean the most against staying in Iowa after graduation

20

Additional Regent University Statistics

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience Nearly two-fifths (394) of regent university respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 24 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Marital Status

Many respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (444) although 267 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 341 percent lean toward staying while 324 percent lean against staying

Employment Status

Of course not all students at regent universities are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 336 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 360 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 341 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

21

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Private College Results

The majority of private college students responding to the statewide survey (430) lean toward staying in Iowa after graduation however over one-third (348) are unsure of their plans after college and the remaining 222 percent are planning on leaving the state once they have graduated

Over two-fifths (433) of the male private college students plan to stay in Iowa following graduation while 428 percent of the female students lean toward making Iowa their home after graduation

Analysis by age group was also done to see if this is a factor in the studentsrsquo decision to stay in Iowa Figure 31 illustrates that age is an inconsistent variable for determining studentsrsquo decision to remain in Iowa However it is worth noting that 430 percent of all the private college students responding to the survey still plan to stay in the state

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private Colleges) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin

(Private Colleges)

Private college students 100

were asked to identify their 90

state of origin in order to 80

70 distinguish how likely they

60

were to stay in Iowa after 50

graduation based on 40

whether they are an Iowa 30

native from another state 20

or an international student 10

Figure 32 indicates that 0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International Iowa natives are more likely to stay in Iowa than those from other states however 313 percent of Iowa natives are unsure about staying in the state

22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private Colleges)

100

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Survey results in Figure 3390 show that students preferring

80 a rural setting are more likely

70 to stay in the state Over half

60 (542) of those desiring to

50 live in rural areas lean toward

40 staying in the state while 11630 percent lean against staying20 342 percent are not sure10

0 Urban Suburban Rural

Over two-fifths (414) of students preferring a suburban setting lean toward staying while less than one-fifth (194) lean against staying in Iowa 392 percent are not sure Over one-third (345) of the student respondents desiring an urban setting lean toward staying in the state while 338 percent lean against staying less than one-third (317) are unsure

Figure 34 indicates that private colleges represent the highest percentage (602) of all the collegiate groups when it comes to believing that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them However only 426 percent believe that Iowa offers competitive wages

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 602 887 80 33 Offer attractive benefits 547 868 89 43 Offer career advancement 543 865 94 41 Provide competitive wages 426 860 105 35 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 583 626 311 63

Private college students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (868) career advancement (865) and competitive wages (860)

Only 379 percent of private college students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 35 on next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions night life or commercial centersdistricts Most private college students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (703) cultural attractions (693) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (692) attractive night life (643) and attractive sports teamseventsvenues (584)

ldquoI would like to see Iowa acquire a professional sport team any sport would work ie NBA NFL MLB etc It would create several jobs in all levels generate revenue for the state and bring people into the state to experience the great atmosphere that Iowa offersrdquo - 39 year-old Saint Ambrose University

23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has (an) Attractivehellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 381 783 182 35 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc) 607 702 249 49 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc) 411 692 262 47 Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 614 690 268 42 Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 457 641 322 37 Sports teamseventsvenues 353 582 360 58 Commercial centersdistricts 370 576 368 56 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations 386 560 379 61 Organized recreation leagues 421 497 427 77 Golf courses country clubs resorts 430 389 520 91

Figure 36 below shows that 782 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities in which they would consider raising a family Nearly four-fifths (784) would be attracted to communities where they would consider raising a family Private college students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (888) low crime rate (882) strong education systems (873) easily accessible medical care networks (847) and short safe daily commutes (802)

Private college students agree that Iowa does have cleansafe communities (806) shortsafe daily commutes (723) easily accessible medical care networks (707) and strong education systems (702)

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 805 888 92 20 Low crime rate 654 882 99 20 Strong education system 701 873 108 20 Medical care network that is easily accessible 706 846 127 26 Short amp safe daily commutes 722 801 171 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 781 783 168 48 Living near familyfriends 698 780 193 26 Suitable roads amp highways 681 747 220 33 Weather I enjoy 370 532 433 35 Diverse communities 365 471 463 66

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are attractive weather (344) diverse communities (319) and proximity to their friends amp family (168) However only 471 percent of private respondents stated that diverse communities would influence their decision to remain in Iowa after completing their education

Figure 37 (on the next page) demonstrates that most private college students are attracted to affordable cost of living (914) and most agree that Iowa provides affordable options (830) Slightly more than half (517) agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care 522 percent agree Iowa offers affordable travel options and 621 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates but 719 percent agree that Iowa has affordable housing which is higher than other student perceptions

24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 670 903 64 33 Affordable housing 569 880 82 38 Affordable education 594 852 106 42 Affordable medical care 509 843 115 42 Affordable tax rate 479 742 192 66 Affordable travel options 427 660 282 58

ldquoMoved here from Cincinnati Ohio three years ago My wife and I both love living in Dubuque There is much to do the town is clean and relatively quiet We enjoy all there is to do here and prefer here to Cincinnatirdquo - 46 year-old Loras College student

Figure 38 shows that students at Iowarsquos private colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in construction professions lean most towards staying in Iowa (800) which is not representative of the college student population as a whole Respondents who are interested in legal careers lean most toward leaving Iowa (500)

In addition to aspiring construction professionals those with interests in agriculture natural resourcesenvironmental (650) financeinsurancereal estate (524) and manufacturing (500) careers are among those that lean more toward staying in Iowa after graduating from a private college

Aspiring active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (429) entertainment amp recreation (350) and public administrationgovernment (300) professionals are among those that more heavily lean toward leaving the state after completing their education

Figure 38 Future Employment Interests (Private Colleges)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

Construction 800 00 200 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 650 50 300 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 524 119 357 General Business Administration 508 115 377 Manufacturing 500 286 214 Education 477 227 295 Public AdministrationGovernment 448 310 241 Healthcare 420 221 359 Other 409 273 318 Computer Information Technology 389 278 333 Social Services 368 298 333 Personal Services 342 184 474 Entertainment amp Recreation 300 350 350 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 296 296 407 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 214 429 357 Legal 188 500 313 TransportationPublic Utilities WholesaleRetail Trade Insufficient survey datarefused

25

Additional Private College Statistics

Marital Status

Respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (689) while 180 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 393 percent lean toward staying while 234 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 276 percent of private college respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 21 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowa colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 430 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 419 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 483 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

26

5

10

15

20

25

Index of Charts and Tables

Figure 1 College Respondents 1

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) 3

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide) 3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide) 4

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide) 4

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide) 5

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Figure 9 Future Employment Interests (Statewide) 6

Figure 10 Field of Study (CertificationTwo-year Degree) 7

Figure 11 Field of Study (Four-year Degree) 8

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post GraduateProfessional) 9

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education 10

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Figure 15 Future Plans by Age Range (Community College) 12

Figure 16 Future Plans by State of Origin (Community College) 12

Figure 17 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Community College) 13

Figure 18 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Community College) 13

Figure 19 Entertainment in Iowa (Community College) 14

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College) 14

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College) 15

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent University) 17

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent University) 17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent University) 18

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent University) 18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent University) 19

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent University) 19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent University) 20

Figure 30 Future Employment Interest (Regent University)

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private College) 22

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin (Private College) 22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private College) 23

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private College) 23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private College) 24

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private College) 24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private College)

Figure 38 Future Employment Interest (Private College) 25

27

Methodology

The Iowa College Student Survey and The Iowa College Student Analysis are produced by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau in cooperation with Iowarsquos colleges and the Office of the Governor of Iowa

In February 2013 The College Student Survey was sent to registrar offices of community colleges state universities and private institutions across the state of Iowa The survey was then distributed electronically to the student population by college representatives The window for responses extended from February 2013 through June 2013 There were 5074 responses received

The responses were collected by IWD Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau and SPSSreg was used to recode and formulate the received data into reportable measurements Methods of analysis in SPSSreg were frequency analysis cross tabulations and multiple response cross tabulation The analysis does not weigh the importance of each variable against one another but instead represents how many respondents chose that particular feature For example

ldquoRespondents seeking a two-year degree or certification in health occupations that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most influenced by cleansafe communities (868)helliprdquo

The majority (868) represents the number of respondents who identified themselves as interested in a two-year degree or certification in health occupations who donrsquot lean toward staying in Iowa that indicated cleansafe communities would influence their decision to stay in Iowa after graduation

IWD does not imply that a particular feature is more important than any other feature rather that a certain percentage of the respondents replied that one feature either is or is not featured in the state of Iowa and if that feature attracts does not attract or if they have no opinion on that feature

28

29

Iowa Workforce Development Communications amp Labor Market Information Division

Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau 1000 E Grand Avenue Des Moines Iowa 50319

(515) 281-4896 wwwiowaworkforceorg

On the previous page Figure 19 depicts that less than two-fifths (380) of community college students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teams cultural attractions night life commercial centers or socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations

Community college students responded that they would be influenced by outdoor recreation (667) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (639) cultural attractions (629) attractive night life (588) commercial centers (551) and sports teamsevents venues (510) Golf coursescountry clubsresorts was the least influential feature less than two-fifths (380) of respondents would be influenced by that feature

Figure 20 shows that 792 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities in which they would consider raising a family Over three-fourths (760) would be attracted to raising a family in Iowa Community college students are most attracted to cleansafe communities (883) low crime rate (852) strong education systems (837) easily accessible medical care networks (828) and living near family friends (813)

ldquoI think Iowa is a great place Although I think we have always been a little behind the rest of the country when it comes to advancement in laws life views and ideas I feel that if we dont start changing things to better Iowans lives Iowas population will just dwindlerdquo - 23 year-old Des Moines Area Community College student

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 746 884 84 32 Low crime rate 609 854 111 35 Strong education system 636 838 124 38 Medical care network that is easily accessible 627 828 135 37 Living near familyfriends 730 814 148 38 Short amp safe daily commutes 659 808 153 39 Suitable roads amp highways 598 792 172 36 Communities I would consider raising a family 793 760 177 63 Weather I enjoy 306 572 362 66 Diverse communities 524 531 397 72

Community college students agree that Iowa does provide cleansafe communities (746) living near familyfriends (730) short safe daily commutes (659) strong education systems (636) and easily accessible medical care networks (627)

Features that respondents least agreed were featured in Iowa are weather the respondent enjoys (306) diverse communities (524) and suitable roads and highways (598) Slightly less than two-fifths (397) of community college respondents stated that diverse communities would not influence their decision to stay in Iowa

14

Figure 21 demonstrates that most community college students are influenced by affordable cost of living (877) affordable housing (864) and affordable education (849) However they do not agree that Iowa provides affordable options Less than two-fifths (365) agree Iowa offers affordable travel options 392 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates less than half (458) agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care and only 476 percent agree Iowa has affordable housing

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 568 877 92 31 Affordable tax rate 392 778 162 60 Affordable housing 476 864 102 34 Affordable travel options 365 672 262 66 Affordable medical care 458 833 127 40 Affordable education 616 849 111 40

Figure 22 shows that students at Iowarsquos community colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in the personal services industry lean most towards staying in Iowa (679) manufacturing (667) transportationpublic utilities (625) financeinsurancereal estate (576) computer information technology (576) education (568) general business (565) social services (562) legal (551) and healthcare (544) professionals are also among those that lean more toward staying in Iowa after graduation

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward Staying Lean Against Staying Not Sure

Personal Services 679 107 214 Manufacturing 667 119 214 TransportationPublic Utilities 625 125 250 Computer Information Technology 576 142 282 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 576 102 322 Education 568 155 277 Social Services 562 123 315 General Business Administration 555 149 286 Legal 551 102 347 Healthcare 544 151 305 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 530 197 273 Construction 524 95 381 Public AdministrationGovernment 500 125 375 WholesaleRetail Trade 485 182 333 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 455 152 394 Other 454 216 330 Entertainment amp Recreation 426 241 333 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 333 179 487

15

Respondents who are interested in the entertainment amp recreation industry lean most against staying in Iowa (241) followed by agriculturenatural resourcesenvironment (197) wholesaleretail trade (182) communicationsjournalismpublic relations (179) education (155) active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (152) healthcare (151) and general business (149) professionals are also among those that lean more against staying in Iowa after graduation

ldquoI am graduating with a degree in culinary arts in a couple months and the bottom line is that there are very few opportunities in Iowa to make a name for myself There arent very many good restaurants hotels or resorts so Im forced to look outside the staterdquo - 25 year-old Indian Hills Community College student

With Iowarsquos aging population the state is going to have a large demand for healthcare professionals in the years to come Community college students interested in future employment in healthcare that are unsure about or lean against staying in Iowa are most attracted to cleansafe communities (809) easily accessible medical network (801) jobs that offer attractive benefits (787) low crime rate (778) affordable medical care (776) affordable housing (770) affordable education (769) jobs that provide competitive wages (765) job opportunities in their field (756) and strong educations systems (754)

Additional Community College Statistics

Marital Status

Many respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (659) while 73 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 494 percent lean toward staying while 191 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 120 percent of community college respondents are currently participatinghave participated in an internship 15 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowarsquos community colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs and some are even working full-time jobs 525 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 541 percent of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 609 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

16

Regent University Results

The following data is based on the responses of regent university students which comprises 424 percent of all college student survey responses The majority of respondents were female (586) overall both genders lean toward staying in the state after graduation rather than leaving the state Over one-third of males (339) and females (355) plan to stay in the state Notably approximately one-third of each gender were unsure of their decision at the time of the survey (339 male 327 female)

Analysis was also done by age group for the regent university section to see if this was a factor in the decision to stay in Iowa Figure 23 illustrates that age is an inconsistent variable for predicting studentsrsquo decisions to remain in Iowa

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent Universities) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 24 indicates that Iowa natives are more likely to stay in the state than those from other states they also represent 700 of all regent university student respondents While the majority (349) of regent university students lean toward staying in the state there are 332 percent that are unsure

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent Universities)

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International

17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent Universities)

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Urban Suburban Rural

Studying the population settings in which the students would like to reside indicates that a regent university studentrsquos decision to stay in the state has much to do with population setting Students who want to live in a rural setting appear to be much more likely to stay in the state (547) than those who prefer a suburban (289) or urban (182) setting (Figure 25)

ldquoI am really interested in finding a job in north central Iowa so that my kids and I can remain close to the social support of my family I am concerned about the job losses in that area paired with the concentration of work in the Des Moines Area Not everyone is happy with having to leave their smaller communities behindrdquo - 32 year-old Iowa State University student

Nearly three-fifths (596) of regent university students believe that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them (Figure 26) and just over half (520) believe that Iowa offers competitive wages These students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (867) career advancement (859) and competitive wages (856)

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent Universities)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 596 887 93 20 Offer attractive benefits 605 867 106 27 Offer career advancement 614 859 116 25 Provide competitive wages 520 856 118 26 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 594 600 356 44

Only 361 percent of regent university students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 27 on the next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions commercial centers an attractive night life or socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations

Regent university students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (686) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (630) attractive night life (619) cultural attractions (619) and commercial centers (557) which are similar interests to community college students

18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent Universities)

Iowa Has (an) Attractive I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 361 754 214 32 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc)

667 686 274 40

Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 612 630 328 42 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc)

380 619 340 41

Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 436 619 341 40 Commercial centersdistricts 372 557 397 46 Sports teamseventsvenues 314 509 437 54 Socialethnicreligious professional organizations

339 459 483 58

Organized recreation leagues 427 424 515 61 Golf courses country clubs resorts 432 346 581 73

ldquoIowa can be expensive and there are not enough opportunities for entertainment (ie sports music nightlife) Things like mini-golf go-carts cheaper movie theaters a local zoo or a professional sports team would create more opportunities for things to do in Iowardquo - 30 year-old University of Iowa student

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent Universities)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Communities I would consider raising a family 794 753 216 31 Diverse communities 290 393 565 42 Strong education system 722 848 129 23 Medical care network that is easily accessible 718 798 168 34 Clean safe communities 864 894 89 16 Low crime rate 803 856 127 16 Short amp safe daily commutes 757 794 183 23 Suitable roads amp highways 705 736 243 21 Living near familyfriends 670 775 206 19 Weather I enjoy 394 526 438 36

Figure 28 shows that 795 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities where they would consider raising a family about three-fourths (751) of regent university students would be influenced by an environment conducive to raising a family Regent university students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (894) low crime rate (856) strong education systems (849) easily accessible medical care networks (799) and short safe daily commutes (795)

Regent university students agree Iowa has cleansafe communities (865) low crime rate (804) short safe daily commutes (758) and strong education systems (725) which matches in theory to what they are looking for regarding quality of life when choosing a place to reside after graduating

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are diverse communities (361) attractive weather (291) and proximity to family amp friends (188)

19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent Universities)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 770 844 123 33 Affordable housing 703 834 133 33 Affordable education 675 804 162 34 Affordable medical care 555 753 200 47 Affordable tax rate 541 690 256 54 Affordable travel options 450 633 324 43

Figure 29 demonstrates that most regent university students are influenced by affordable cost of living (844) affordable housing (834) and affordable education (804) Less than half (450) agree Iowa offers affordable travel options 541 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates 555 percent agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care and 675 percent agree Iowa has affordable education

Figure 30 Future Employment Interests (Regent Universities)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 570 166 265 Social Services 488 256 256 WholesaleRetail Trade 421 263 316 Personal Services 410 289 301 Education 408 272 321 General Business Administration 370 290 340 Manufacturing 369 262 369 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 348 348 304 Construction 328 379 293 Healthcare 322 285 393 TransportationPublic Utilities 314 286 400 Public AdministrationGovernment 298 309 393 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 235 367 400 Other 230 451 319 Computer Information Technology 224 382 394 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 209 361 430 Entertainment amp Recreation 205 466 329 Legal 143 531 327

Figure 30 shows that students at Iowarsquos regent universities are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in agricultural (570) social services (488) wholesaleretail trade (421) personal services (410) and education (408) professions lean most towards staying in Iowa respondents who are interested in legal (531) entertainmentrecreation (466) computer technology (382) construction (379) or active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (367) professions lean the most against staying in Iowa after graduation

20

Additional Regent University Statistics

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience Nearly two-fifths (394) of regent university respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 24 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Marital Status

Many respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (444) although 267 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 341 percent lean toward staying while 324 percent lean against staying

Employment Status

Of course not all students at regent universities are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 336 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 360 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 341 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

21

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Private College Results

The majority of private college students responding to the statewide survey (430) lean toward staying in Iowa after graduation however over one-third (348) are unsure of their plans after college and the remaining 222 percent are planning on leaving the state once they have graduated

Over two-fifths (433) of the male private college students plan to stay in Iowa following graduation while 428 percent of the female students lean toward making Iowa their home after graduation

Analysis by age group was also done to see if this is a factor in the studentsrsquo decision to stay in Iowa Figure 31 illustrates that age is an inconsistent variable for determining studentsrsquo decision to remain in Iowa However it is worth noting that 430 percent of all the private college students responding to the survey still plan to stay in the state

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private Colleges) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin

(Private Colleges)

Private college students 100

were asked to identify their 90

state of origin in order to 80

70 distinguish how likely they

60

were to stay in Iowa after 50

graduation based on 40

whether they are an Iowa 30

native from another state 20

or an international student 10

Figure 32 indicates that 0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International Iowa natives are more likely to stay in Iowa than those from other states however 313 percent of Iowa natives are unsure about staying in the state

22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private Colleges)

100

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Survey results in Figure 3390 show that students preferring

80 a rural setting are more likely

70 to stay in the state Over half

60 (542) of those desiring to

50 live in rural areas lean toward

40 staying in the state while 11630 percent lean against staying20 342 percent are not sure10

0 Urban Suburban Rural

Over two-fifths (414) of students preferring a suburban setting lean toward staying while less than one-fifth (194) lean against staying in Iowa 392 percent are not sure Over one-third (345) of the student respondents desiring an urban setting lean toward staying in the state while 338 percent lean against staying less than one-third (317) are unsure

Figure 34 indicates that private colleges represent the highest percentage (602) of all the collegiate groups when it comes to believing that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them However only 426 percent believe that Iowa offers competitive wages

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 602 887 80 33 Offer attractive benefits 547 868 89 43 Offer career advancement 543 865 94 41 Provide competitive wages 426 860 105 35 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 583 626 311 63

Private college students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (868) career advancement (865) and competitive wages (860)

Only 379 percent of private college students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 35 on next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions night life or commercial centersdistricts Most private college students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (703) cultural attractions (693) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (692) attractive night life (643) and attractive sports teamseventsvenues (584)

ldquoI would like to see Iowa acquire a professional sport team any sport would work ie NBA NFL MLB etc It would create several jobs in all levels generate revenue for the state and bring people into the state to experience the great atmosphere that Iowa offersrdquo - 39 year-old Saint Ambrose University

23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has (an) Attractivehellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 381 783 182 35 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc) 607 702 249 49 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc) 411 692 262 47 Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 614 690 268 42 Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 457 641 322 37 Sports teamseventsvenues 353 582 360 58 Commercial centersdistricts 370 576 368 56 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations 386 560 379 61 Organized recreation leagues 421 497 427 77 Golf courses country clubs resorts 430 389 520 91

Figure 36 below shows that 782 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities in which they would consider raising a family Nearly four-fifths (784) would be attracted to communities where they would consider raising a family Private college students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (888) low crime rate (882) strong education systems (873) easily accessible medical care networks (847) and short safe daily commutes (802)

Private college students agree that Iowa does have cleansafe communities (806) shortsafe daily commutes (723) easily accessible medical care networks (707) and strong education systems (702)

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 805 888 92 20 Low crime rate 654 882 99 20 Strong education system 701 873 108 20 Medical care network that is easily accessible 706 846 127 26 Short amp safe daily commutes 722 801 171 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 781 783 168 48 Living near familyfriends 698 780 193 26 Suitable roads amp highways 681 747 220 33 Weather I enjoy 370 532 433 35 Diverse communities 365 471 463 66

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are attractive weather (344) diverse communities (319) and proximity to their friends amp family (168) However only 471 percent of private respondents stated that diverse communities would influence their decision to remain in Iowa after completing their education

Figure 37 (on the next page) demonstrates that most private college students are attracted to affordable cost of living (914) and most agree that Iowa provides affordable options (830) Slightly more than half (517) agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care 522 percent agree Iowa offers affordable travel options and 621 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates but 719 percent agree that Iowa has affordable housing which is higher than other student perceptions

24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 670 903 64 33 Affordable housing 569 880 82 38 Affordable education 594 852 106 42 Affordable medical care 509 843 115 42 Affordable tax rate 479 742 192 66 Affordable travel options 427 660 282 58

ldquoMoved here from Cincinnati Ohio three years ago My wife and I both love living in Dubuque There is much to do the town is clean and relatively quiet We enjoy all there is to do here and prefer here to Cincinnatirdquo - 46 year-old Loras College student

Figure 38 shows that students at Iowarsquos private colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in construction professions lean most towards staying in Iowa (800) which is not representative of the college student population as a whole Respondents who are interested in legal careers lean most toward leaving Iowa (500)

In addition to aspiring construction professionals those with interests in agriculture natural resourcesenvironmental (650) financeinsurancereal estate (524) and manufacturing (500) careers are among those that lean more toward staying in Iowa after graduating from a private college

Aspiring active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (429) entertainment amp recreation (350) and public administrationgovernment (300) professionals are among those that more heavily lean toward leaving the state after completing their education

Figure 38 Future Employment Interests (Private Colleges)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

Construction 800 00 200 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 650 50 300 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 524 119 357 General Business Administration 508 115 377 Manufacturing 500 286 214 Education 477 227 295 Public AdministrationGovernment 448 310 241 Healthcare 420 221 359 Other 409 273 318 Computer Information Technology 389 278 333 Social Services 368 298 333 Personal Services 342 184 474 Entertainment amp Recreation 300 350 350 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 296 296 407 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 214 429 357 Legal 188 500 313 TransportationPublic Utilities WholesaleRetail Trade Insufficient survey datarefused

25

Additional Private College Statistics

Marital Status

Respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (689) while 180 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 393 percent lean toward staying while 234 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 276 percent of private college respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 21 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowa colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 430 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 419 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 483 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

26

5

10

15

20

25

Index of Charts and Tables

Figure 1 College Respondents 1

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) 3

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide) 3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide) 4

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide) 4

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide) 5

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Figure 9 Future Employment Interests (Statewide) 6

Figure 10 Field of Study (CertificationTwo-year Degree) 7

Figure 11 Field of Study (Four-year Degree) 8

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post GraduateProfessional) 9

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education 10

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Figure 15 Future Plans by Age Range (Community College) 12

Figure 16 Future Plans by State of Origin (Community College) 12

Figure 17 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Community College) 13

Figure 18 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Community College) 13

Figure 19 Entertainment in Iowa (Community College) 14

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College) 14

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College) 15

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent University) 17

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent University) 17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent University) 18

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent University) 18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent University) 19

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent University) 19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent University) 20

Figure 30 Future Employment Interest (Regent University)

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private College) 22

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin (Private College) 22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private College) 23

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private College) 23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private College) 24

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private College) 24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private College)

Figure 38 Future Employment Interest (Private College) 25

27

Methodology

The Iowa College Student Survey and The Iowa College Student Analysis are produced by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau in cooperation with Iowarsquos colleges and the Office of the Governor of Iowa

In February 2013 The College Student Survey was sent to registrar offices of community colleges state universities and private institutions across the state of Iowa The survey was then distributed electronically to the student population by college representatives The window for responses extended from February 2013 through June 2013 There were 5074 responses received

The responses were collected by IWD Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau and SPSSreg was used to recode and formulate the received data into reportable measurements Methods of analysis in SPSSreg were frequency analysis cross tabulations and multiple response cross tabulation The analysis does not weigh the importance of each variable against one another but instead represents how many respondents chose that particular feature For example

ldquoRespondents seeking a two-year degree or certification in health occupations that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most influenced by cleansafe communities (868)helliprdquo

The majority (868) represents the number of respondents who identified themselves as interested in a two-year degree or certification in health occupations who donrsquot lean toward staying in Iowa that indicated cleansafe communities would influence their decision to stay in Iowa after graduation

IWD does not imply that a particular feature is more important than any other feature rather that a certain percentage of the respondents replied that one feature either is or is not featured in the state of Iowa and if that feature attracts does not attract or if they have no opinion on that feature

28

29

Iowa Workforce Development Communications amp Labor Market Information Division

Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau 1000 E Grand Avenue Des Moines Iowa 50319

(515) 281-4896 wwwiowaworkforceorg

Figure 21 demonstrates that most community college students are influenced by affordable cost of living (877) affordable housing (864) and affordable education (849) However they do not agree that Iowa provides affordable options Less than two-fifths (365) agree Iowa offers affordable travel options 392 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates less than half (458) agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care and only 476 percent agree Iowa has affordable housing

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 568 877 92 31 Affordable tax rate 392 778 162 60 Affordable housing 476 864 102 34 Affordable travel options 365 672 262 66 Affordable medical care 458 833 127 40 Affordable education 616 849 111 40

Figure 22 shows that students at Iowarsquos community colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in the personal services industry lean most towards staying in Iowa (679) manufacturing (667) transportationpublic utilities (625) financeinsurancereal estate (576) computer information technology (576) education (568) general business (565) social services (562) legal (551) and healthcare (544) professionals are also among those that lean more toward staying in Iowa after graduation

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward Staying Lean Against Staying Not Sure

Personal Services 679 107 214 Manufacturing 667 119 214 TransportationPublic Utilities 625 125 250 Computer Information Technology 576 142 282 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 576 102 322 Education 568 155 277 Social Services 562 123 315 General Business Administration 555 149 286 Legal 551 102 347 Healthcare 544 151 305 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 530 197 273 Construction 524 95 381 Public AdministrationGovernment 500 125 375 WholesaleRetail Trade 485 182 333 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 455 152 394 Other 454 216 330 Entertainment amp Recreation 426 241 333 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 333 179 487

15

Respondents who are interested in the entertainment amp recreation industry lean most against staying in Iowa (241) followed by agriculturenatural resourcesenvironment (197) wholesaleretail trade (182) communicationsjournalismpublic relations (179) education (155) active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (152) healthcare (151) and general business (149) professionals are also among those that lean more against staying in Iowa after graduation

ldquoI am graduating with a degree in culinary arts in a couple months and the bottom line is that there are very few opportunities in Iowa to make a name for myself There arent very many good restaurants hotels or resorts so Im forced to look outside the staterdquo - 25 year-old Indian Hills Community College student

With Iowarsquos aging population the state is going to have a large demand for healthcare professionals in the years to come Community college students interested in future employment in healthcare that are unsure about or lean against staying in Iowa are most attracted to cleansafe communities (809) easily accessible medical network (801) jobs that offer attractive benefits (787) low crime rate (778) affordable medical care (776) affordable housing (770) affordable education (769) jobs that provide competitive wages (765) job opportunities in their field (756) and strong educations systems (754)

Additional Community College Statistics

Marital Status

Many respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (659) while 73 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 494 percent lean toward staying while 191 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 120 percent of community college respondents are currently participatinghave participated in an internship 15 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowarsquos community colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs and some are even working full-time jobs 525 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 541 percent of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 609 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

16

Regent University Results

The following data is based on the responses of regent university students which comprises 424 percent of all college student survey responses The majority of respondents were female (586) overall both genders lean toward staying in the state after graduation rather than leaving the state Over one-third of males (339) and females (355) plan to stay in the state Notably approximately one-third of each gender were unsure of their decision at the time of the survey (339 male 327 female)

Analysis was also done by age group for the regent university section to see if this was a factor in the decision to stay in Iowa Figure 23 illustrates that age is an inconsistent variable for predicting studentsrsquo decisions to remain in Iowa

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent Universities) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 24 indicates that Iowa natives are more likely to stay in the state than those from other states they also represent 700 of all regent university student respondents While the majority (349) of regent university students lean toward staying in the state there are 332 percent that are unsure

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent Universities)

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International

17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent Universities)

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Urban Suburban Rural

Studying the population settings in which the students would like to reside indicates that a regent university studentrsquos decision to stay in the state has much to do with population setting Students who want to live in a rural setting appear to be much more likely to stay in the state (547) than those who prefer a suburban (289) or urban (182) setting (Figure 25)

ldquoI am really interested in finding a job in north central Iowa so that my kids and I can remain close to the social support of my family I am concerned about the job losses in that area paired with the concentration of work in the Des Moines Area Not everyone is happy with having to leave their smaller communities behindrdquo - 32 year-old Iowa State University student

Nearly three-fifths (596) of regent university students believe that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them (Figure 26) and just over half (520) believe that Iowa offers competitive wages These students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (867) career advancement (859) and competitive wages (856)

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent Universities)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 596 887 93 20 Offer attractive benefits 605 867 106 27 Offer career advancement 614 859 116 25 Provide competitive wages 520 856 118 26 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 594 600 356 44

Only 361 percent of regent university students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 27 on the next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions commercial centers an attractive night life or socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations

Regent university students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (686) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (630) attractive night life (619) cultural attractions (619) and commercial centers (557) which are similar interests to community college students

18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent Universities)

Iowa Has (an) Attractive I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 361 754 214 32 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc)

667 686 274 40

Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 612 630 328 42 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc)

380 619 340 41

Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 436 619 341 40 Commercial centersdistricts 372 557 397 46 Sports teamseventsvenues 314 509 437 54 Socialethnicreligious professional organizations

339 459 483 58

Organized recreation leagues 427 424 515 61 Golf courses country clubs resorts 432 346 581 73

ldquoIowa can be expensive and there are not enough opportunities for entertainment (ie sports music nightlife) Things like mini-golf go-carts cheaper movie theaters a local zoo or a professional sports team would create more opportunities for things to do in Iowardquo - 30 year-old University of Iowa student

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent Universities)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Communities I would consider raising a family 794 753 216 31 Diverse communities 290 393 565 42 Strong education system 722 848 129 23 Medical care network that is easily accessible 718 798 168 34 Clean safe communities 864 894 89 16 Low crime rate 803 856 127 16 Short amp safe daily commutes 757 794 183 23 Suitable roads amp highways 705 736 243 21 Living near familyfriends 670 775 206 19 Weather I enjoy 394 526 438 36

Figure 28 shows that 795 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities where they would consider raising a family about three-fourths (751) of regent university students would be influenced by an environment conducive to raising a family Regent university students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (894) low crime rate (856) strong education systems (849) easily accessible medical care networks (799) and short safe daily commutes (795)

Regent university students agree Iowa has cleansafe communities (865) low crime rate (804) short safe daily commutes (758) and strong education systems (725) which matches in theory to what they are looking for regarding quality of life when choosing a place to reside after graduating

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are diverse communities (361) attractive weather (291) and proximity to family amp friends (188)

19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent Universities)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 770 844 123 33 Affordable housing 703 834 133 33 Affordable education 675 804 162 34 Affordable medical care 555 753 200 47 Affordable tax rate 541 690 256 54 Affordable travel options 450 633 324 43

Figure 29 demonstrates that most regent university students are influenced by affordable cost of living (844) affordable housing (834) and affordable education (804) Less than half (450) agree Iowa offers affordable travel options 541 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates 555 percent agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care and 675 percent agree Iowa has affordable education

Figure 30 Future Employment Interests (Regent Universities)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 570 166 265 Social Services 488 256 256 WholesaleRetail Trade 421 263 316 Personal Services 410 289 301 Education 408 272 321 General Business Administration 370 290 340 Manufacturing 369 262 369 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 348 348 304 Construction 328 379 293 Healthcare 322 285 393 TransportationPublic Utilities 314 286 400 Public AdministrationGovernment 298 309 393 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 235 367 400 Other 230 451 319 Computer Information Technology 224 382 394 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 209 361 430 Entertainment amp Recreation 205 466 329 Legal 143 531 327

Figure 30 shows that students at Iowarsquos regent universities are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in agricultural (570) social services (488) wholesaleretail trade (421) personal services (410) and education (408) professions lean most towards staying in Iowa respondents who are interested in legal (531) entertainmentrecreation (466) computer technology (382) construction (379) or active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (367) professions lean the most against staying in Iowa after graduation

20

Additional Regent University Statistics

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience Nearly two-fifths (394) of regent university respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 24 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Marital Status

Many respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (444) although 267 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 341 percent lean toward staying while 324 percent lean against staying

Employment Status

Of course not all students at regent universities are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 336 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 360 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 341 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

21

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Private College Results

The majority of private college students responding to the statewide survey (430) lean toward staying in Iowa after graduation however over one-third (348) are unsure of their plans after college and the remaining 222 percent are planning on leaving the state once they have graduated

Over two-fifths (433) of the male private college students plan to stay in Iowa following graduation while 428 percent of the female students lean toward making Iowa their home after graduation

Analysis by age group was also done to see if this is a factor in the studentsrsquo decision to stay in Iowa Figure 31 illustrates that age is an inconsistent variable for determining studentsrsquo decision to remain in Iowa However it is worth noting that 430 percent of all the private college students responding to the survey still plan to stay in the state

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private Colleges) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin

(Private Colleges)

Private college students 100

were asked to identify their 90

state of origin in order to 80

70 distinguish how likely they

60

were to stay in Iowa after 50

graduation based on 40

whether they are an Iowa 30

native from another state 20

or an international student 10

Figure 32 indicates that 0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International Iowa natives are more likely to stay in Iowa than those from other states however 313 percent of Iowa natives are unsure about staying in the state

22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private Colleges)

100

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Survey results in Figure 3390 show that students preferring

80 a rural setting are more likely

70 to stay in the state Over half

60 (542) of those desiring to

50 live in rural areas lean toward

40 staying in the state while 11630 percent lean against staying20 342 percent are not sure10

0 Urban Suburban Rural

Over two-fifths (414) of students preferring a suburban setting lean toward staying while less than one-fifth (194) lean against staying in Iowa 392 percent are not sure Over one-third (345) of the student respondents desiring an urban setting lean toward staying in the state while 338 percent lean against staying less than one-third (317) are unsure

Figure 34 indicates that private colleges represent the highest percentage (602) of all the collegiate groups when it comes to believing that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them However only 426 percent believe that Iowa offers competitive wages

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 602 887 80 33 Offer attractive benefits 547 868 89 43 Offer career advancement 543 865 94 41 Provide competitive wages 426 860 105 35 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 583 626 311 63

Private college students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (868) career advancement (865) and competitive wages (860)

Only 379 percent of private college students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 35 on next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions night life or commercial centersdistricts Most private college students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (703) cultural attractions (693) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (692) attractive night life (643) and attractive sports teamseventsvenues (584)

ldquoI would like to see Iowa acquire a professional sport team any sport would work ie NBA NFL MLB etc It would create several jobs in all levels generate revenue for the state and bring people into the state to experience the great atmosphere that Iowa offersrdquo - 39 year-old Saint Ambrose University

23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has (an) Attractivehellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 381 783 182 35 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc) 607 702 249 49 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc) 411 692 262 47 Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 614 690 268 42 Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 457 641 322 37 Sports teamseventsvenues 353 582 360 58 Commercial centersdistricts 370 576 368 56 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations 386 560 379 61 Organized recreation leagues 421 497 427 77 Golf courses country clubs resorts 430 389 520 91

Figure 36 below shows that 782 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities in which they would consider raising a family Nearly four-fifths (784) would be attracted to communities where they would consider raising a family Private college students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (888) low crime rate (882) strong education systems (873) easily accessible medical care networks (847) and short safe daily commutes (802)

Private college students agree that Iowa does have cleansafe communities (806) shortsafe daily commutes (723) easily accessible medical care networks (707) and strong education systems (702)

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 805 888 92 20 Low crime rate 654 882 99 20 Strong education system 701 873 108 20 Medical care network that is easily accessible 706 846 127 26 Short amp safe daily commutes 722 801 171 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 781 783 168 48 Living near familyfriends 698 780 193 26 Suitable roads amp highways 681 747 220 33 Weather I enjoy 370 532 433 35 Diverse communities 365 471 463 66

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are attractive weather (344) diverse communities (319) and proximity to their friends amp family (168) However only 471 percent of private respondents stated that diverse communities would influence their decision to remain in Iowa after completing their education

Figure 37 (on the next page) demonstrates that most private college students are attracted to affordable cost of living (914) and most agree that Iowa provides affordable options (830) Slightly more than half (517) agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care 522 percent agree Iowa offers affordable travel options and 621 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates but 719 percent agree that Iowa has affordable housing which is higher than other student perceptions

24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 670 903 64 33 Affordable housing 569 880 82 38 Affordable education 594 852 106 42 Affordable medical care 509 843 115 42 Affordable tax rate 479 742 192 66 Affordable travel options 427 660 282 58

ldquoMoved here from Cincinnati Ohio three years ago My wife and I both love living in Dubuque There is much to do the town is clean and relatively quiet We enjoy all there is to do here and prefer here to Cincinnatirdquo - 46 year-old Loras College student

Figure 38 shows that students at Iowarsquos private colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in construction professions lean most towards staying in Iowa (800) which is not representative of the college student population as a whole Respondents who are interested in legal careers lean most toward leaving Iowa (500)

In addition to aspiring construction professionals those with interests in agriculture natural resourcesenvironmental (650) financeinsurancereal estate (524) and manufacturing (500) careers are among those that lean more toward staying in Iowa after graduating from a private college

Aspiring active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (429) entertainment amp recreation (350) and public administrationgovernment (300) professionals are among those that more heavily lean toward leaving the state after completing their education

Figure 38 Future Employment Interests (Private Colleges)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

Construction 800 00 200 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 650 50 300 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 524 119 357 General Business Administration 508 115 377 Manufacturing 500 286 214 Education 477 227 295 Public AdministrationGovernment 448 310 241 Healthcare 420 221 359 Other 409 273 318 Computer Information Technology 389 278 333 Social Services 368 298 333 Personal Services 342 184 474 Entertainment amp Recreation 300 350 350 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 296 296 407 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 214 429 357 Legal 188 500 313 TransportationPublic Utilities WholesaleRetail Trade Insufficient survey datarefused

25

Additional Private College Statistics

Marital Status

Respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (689) while 180 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 393 percent lean toward staying while 234 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 276 percent of private college respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 21 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowa colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 430 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 419 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 483 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

26

5

10

15

20

25

Index of Charts and Tables

Figure 1 College Respondents 1

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) 3

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide) 3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide) 4

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide) 4

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide) 5

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Figure 9 Future Employment Interests (Statewide) 6

Figure 10 Field of Study (CertificationTwo-year Degree) 7

Figure 11 Field of Study (Four-year Degree) 8

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post GraduateProfessional) 9

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education 10

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Figure 15 Future Plans by Age Range (Community College) 12

Figure 16 Future Plans by State of Origin (Community College) 12

Figure 17 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Community College) 13

Figure 18 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Community College) 13

Figure 19 Entertainment in Iowa (Community College) 14

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College) 14

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College) 15

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent University) 17

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent University) 17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent University) 18

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent University) 18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent University) 19

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent University) 19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent University) 20

Figure 30 Future Employment Interest (Regent University)

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private College) 22

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin (Private College) 22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private College) 23

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private College) 23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private College) 24

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private College) 24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private College)

Figure 38 Future Employment Interest (Private College) 25

27

Methodology

The Iowa College Student Survey and The Iowa College Student Analysis are produced by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau in cooperation with Iowarsquos colleges and the Office of the Governor of Iowa

In February 2013 The College Student Survey was sent to registrar offices of community colleges state universities and private institutions across the state of Iowa The survey was then distributed electronically to the student population by college representatives The window for responses extended from February 2013 through June 2013 There were 5074 responses received

The responses were collected by IWD Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau and SPSSreg was used to recode and formulate the received data into reportable measurements Methods of analysis in SPSSreg were frequency analysis cross tabulations and multiple response cross tabulation The analysis does not weigh the importance of each variable against one another but instead represents how many respondents chose that particular feature For example

ldquoRespondents seeking a two-year degree or certification in health occupations that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most influenced by cleansafe communities (868)helliprdquo

The majority (868) represents the number of respondents who identified themselves as interested in a two-year degree or certification in health occupations who donrsquot lean toward staying in Iowa that indicated cleansafe communities would influence their decision to stay in Iowa after graduation

IWD does not imply that a particular feature is more important than any other feature rather that a certain percentage of the respondents replied that one feature either is or is not featured in the state of Iowa and if that feature attracts does not attract or if they have no opinion on that feature

28

29

Iowa Workforce Development Communications amp Labor Market Information Division

Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau 1000 E Grand Avenue Des Moines Iowa 50319

(515) 281-4896 wwwiowaworkforceorg

Respondents who are interested in the entertainment amp recreation industry lean most against staying in Iowa (241) followed by agriculturenatural resourcesenvironment (197) wholesaleretail trade (182) communicationsjournalismpublic relations (179) education (155) active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (152) healthcare (151) and general business (149) professionals are also among those that lean more against staying in Iowa after graduation

ldquoI am graduating with a degree in culinary arts in a couple months and the bottom line is that there are very few opportunities in Iowa to make a name for myself There arent very many good restaurants hotels or resorts so Im forced to look outside the staterdquo - 25 year-old Indian Hills Community College student

With Iowarsquos aging population the state is going to have a large demand for healthcare professionals in the years to come Community college students interested in future employment in healthcare that are unsure about or lean against staying in Iowa are most attracted to cleansafe communities (809) easily accessible medical network (801) jobs that offer attractive benefits (787) low crime rate (778) affordable medical care (776) affordable housing (770) affordable education (769) jobs that provide competitive wages (765) job opportunities in their field (756) and strong educations systems (754)

Additional Community College Statistics

Marital Status

Many respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (659) while 73 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 494 percent lean toward staying while 191 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 120 percent of community college respondents are currently participatinghave participated in an internship 15 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowarsquos community colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs and some are even working full-time jobs 525 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 541 percent of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 609 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

16

Regent University Results

The following data is based on the responses of regent university students which comprises 424 percent of all college student survey responses The majority of respondents were female (586) overall both genders lean toward staying in the state after graduation rather than leaving the state Over one-third of males (339) and females (355) plan to stay in the state Notably approximately one-third of each gender were unsure of their decision at the time of the survey (339 male 327 female)

Analysis was also done by age group for the regent university section to see if this was a factor in the decision to stay in Iowa Figure 23 illustrates that age is an inconsistent variable for predicting studentsrsquo decisions to remain in Iowa

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent Universities) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 24 indicates that Iowa natives are more likely to stay in the state than those from other states they also represent 700 of all regent university student respondents While the majority (349) of regent university students lean toward staying in the state there are 332 percent that are unsure

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent Universities)

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International

17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent Universities)

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Urban Suburban Rural

Studying the population settings in which the students would like to reside indicates that a regent university studentrsquos decision to stay in the state has much to do with population setting Students who want to live in a rural setting appear to be much more likely to stay in the state (547) than those who prefer a suburban (289) or urban (182) setting (Figure 25)

ldquoI am really interested in finding a job in north central Iowa so that my kids and I can remain close to the social support of my family I am concerned about the job losses in that area paired with the concentration of work in the Des Moines Area Not everyone is happy with having to leave their smaller communities behindrdquo - 32 year-old Iowa State University student

Nearly three-fifths (596) of regent university students believe that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them (Figure 26) and just over half (520) believe that Iowa offers competitive wages These students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (867) career advancement (859) and competitive wages (856)

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent Universities)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 596 887 93 20 Offer attractive benefits 605 867 106 27 Offer career advancement 614 859 116 25 Provide competitive wages 520 856 118 26 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 594 600 356 44

Only 361 percent of regent university students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 27 on the next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions commercial centers an attractive night life or socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations

Regent university students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (686) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (630) attractive night life (619) cultural attractions (619) and commercial centers (557) which are similar interests to community college students

18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent Universities)

Iowa Has (an) Attractive I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 361 754 214 32 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc)

667 686 274 40

Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 612 630 328 42 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc)

380 619 340 41

Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 436 619 341 40 Commercial centersdistricts 372 557 397 46 Sports teamseventsvenues 314 509 437 54 Socialethnicreligious professional organizations

339 459 483 58

Organized recreation leagues 427 424 515 61 Golf courses country clubs resorts 432 346 581 73

ldquoIowa can be expensive and there are not enough opportunities for entertainment (ie sports music nightlife) Things like mini-golf go-carts cheaper movie theaters a local zoo or a professional sports team would create more opportunities for things to do in Iowardquo - 30 year-old University of Iowa student

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent Universities)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Communities I would consider raising a family 794 753 216 31 Diverse communities 290 393 565 42 Strong education system 722 848 129 23 Medical care network that is easily accessible 718 798 168 34 Clean safe communities 864 894 89 16 Low crime rate 803 856 127 16 Short amp safe daily commutes 757 794 183 23 Suitable roads amp highways 705 736 243 21 Living near familyfriends 670 775 206 19 Weather I enjoy 394 526 438 36

Figure 28 shows that 795 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities where they would consider raising a family about three-fourths (751) of regent university students would be influenced by an environment conducive to raising a family Regent university students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (894) low crime rate (856) strong education systems (849) easily accessible medical care networks (799) and short safe daily commutes (795)

Regent university students agree Iowa has cleansafe communities (865) low crime rate (804) short safe daily commutes (758) and strong education systems (725) which matches in theory to what they are looking for regarding quality of life when choosing a place to reside after graduating

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are diverse communities (361) attractive weather (291) and proximity to family amp friends (188)

19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent Universities)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 770 844 123 33 Affordable housing 703 834 133 33 Affordable education 675 804 162 34 Affordable medical care 555 753 200 47 Affordable tax rate 541 690 256 54 Affordable travel options 450 633 324 43

Figure 29 demonstrates that most regent university students are influenced by affordable cost of living (844) affordable housing (834) and affordable education (804) Less than half (450) agree Iowa offers affordable travel options 541 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates 555 percent agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care and 675 percent agree Iowa has affordable education

Figure 30 Future Employment Interests (Regent Universities)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 570 166 265 Social Services 488 256 256 WholesaleRetail Trade 421 263 316 Personal Services 410 289 301 Education 408 272 321 General Business Administration 370 290 340 Manufacturing 369 262 369 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 348 348 304 Construction 328 379 293 Healthcare 322 285 393 TransportationPublic Utilities 314 286 400 Public AdministrationGovernment 298 309 393 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 235 367 400 Other 230 451 319 Computer Information Technology 224 382 394 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 209 361 430 Entertainment amp Recreation 205 466 329 Legal 143 531 327

Figure 30 shows that students at Iowarsquos regent universities are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in agricultural (570) social services (488) wholesaleretail trade (421) personal services (410) and education (408) professions lean most towards staying in Iowa respondents who are interested in legal (531) entertainmentrecreation (466) computer technology (382) construction (379) or active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (367) professions lean the most against staying in Iowa after graduation

20

Additional Regent University Statistics

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience Nearly two-fifths (394) of regent university respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 24 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Marital Status

Many respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (444) although 267 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 341 percent lean toward staying while 324 percent lean against staying

Employment Status

Of course not all students at regent universities are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 336 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 360 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 341 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

21

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Private College Results

The majority of private college students responding to the statewide survey (430) lean toward staying in Iowa after graduation however over one-third (348) are unsure of their plans after college and the remaining 222 percent are planning on leaving the state once they have graduated

Over two-fifths (433) of the male private college students plan to stay in Iowa following graduation while 428 percent of the female students lean toward making Iowa their home after graduation

Analysis by age group was also done to see if this is a factor in the studentsrsquo decision to stay in Iowa Figure 31 illustrates that age is an inconsistent variable for determining studentsrsquo decision to remain in Iowa However it is worth noting that 430 percent of all the private college students responding to the survey still plan to stay in the state

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private Colleges) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin

(Private Colleges)

Private college students 100

were asked to identify their 90

state of origin in order to 80

70 distinguish how likely they

60

were to stay in Iowa after 50

graduation based on 40

whether they are an Iowa 30

native from another state 20

or an international student 10

Figure 32 indicates that 0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International Iowa natives are more likely to stay in Iowa than those from other states however 313 percent of Iowa natives are unsure about staying in the state

22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private Colleges)

100

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Survey results in Figure 3390 show that students preferring

80 a rural setting are more likely

70 to stay in the state Over half

60 (542) of those desiring to

50 live in rural areas lean toward

40 staying in the state while 11630 percent lean against staying20 342 percent are not sure10

0 Urban Suburban Rural

Over two-fifths (414) of students preferring a suburban setting lean toward staying while less than one-fifth (194) lean against staying in Iowa 392 percent are not sure Over one-third (345) of the student respondents desiring an urban setting lean toward staying in the state while 338 percent lean against staying less than one-third (317) are unsure

Figure 34 indicates that private colleges represent the highest percentage (602) of all the collegiate groups when it comes to believing that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them However only 426 percent believe that Iowa offers competitive wages

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 602 887 80 33 Offer attractive benefits 547 868 89 43 Offer career advancement 543 865 94 41 Provide competitive wages 426 860 105 35 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 583 626 311 63

Private college students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (868) career advancement (865) and competitive wages (860)

Only 379 percent of private college students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 35 on next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions night life or commercial centersdistricts Most private college students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (703) cultural attractions (693) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (692) attractive night life (643) and attractive sports teamseventsvenues (584)

ldquoI would like to see Iowa acquire a professional sport team any sport would work ie NBA NFL MLB etc It would create several jobs in all levels generate revenue for the state and bring people into the state to experience the great atmosphere that Iowa offersrdquo - 39 year-old Saint Ambrose University

23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has (an) Attractivehellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 381 783 182 35 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc) 607 702 249 49 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc) 411 692 262 47 Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 614 690 268 42 Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 457 641 322 37 Sports teamseventsvenues 353 582 360 58 Commercial centersdistricts 370 576 368 56 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations 386 560 379 61 Organized recreation leagues 421 497 427 77 Golf courses country clubs resorts 430 389 520 91

Figure 36 below shows that 782 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities in which they would consider raising a family Nearly four-fifths (784) would be attracted to communities where they would consider raising a family Private college students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (888) low crime rate (882) strong education systems (873) easily accessible medical care networks (847) and short safe daily commutes (802)

Private college students agree that Iowa does have cleansafe communities (806) shortsafe daily commutes (723) easily accessible medical care networks (707) and strong education systems (702)

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 805 888 92 20 Low crime rate 654 882 99 20 Strong education system 701 873 108 20 Medical care network that is easily accessible 706 846 127 26 Short amp safe daily commutes 722 801 171 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 781 783 168 48 Living near familyfriends 698 780 193 26 Suitable roads amp highways 681 747 220 33 Weather I enjoy 370 532 433 35 Diverse communities 365 471 463 66

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are attractive weather (344) diverse communities (319) and proximity to their friends amp family (168) However only 471 percent of private respondents stated that diverse communities would influence their decision to remain in Iowa after completing their education

Figure 37 (on the next page) demonstrates that most private college students are attracted to affordable cost of living (914) and most agree that Iowa provides affordable options (830) Slightly more than half (517) agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care 522 percent agree Iowa offers affordable travel options and 621 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates but 719 percent agree that Iowa has affordable housing which is higher than other student perceptions

24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 670 903 64 33 Affordable housing 569 880 82 38 Affordable education 594 852 106 42 Affordable medical care 509 843 115 42 Affordable tax rate 479 742 192 66 Affordable travel options 427 660 282 58

ldquoMoved here from Cincinnati Ohio three years ago My wife and I both love living in Dubuque There is much to do the town is clean and relatively quiet We enjoy all there is to do here and prefer here to Cincinnatirdquo - 46 year-old Loras College student

Figure 38 shows that students at Iowarsquos private colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in construction professions lean most towards staying in Iowa (800) which is not representative of the college student population as a whole Respondents who are interested in legal careers lean most toward leaving Iowa (500)

In addition to aspiring construction professionals those with interests in agriculture natural resourcesenvironmental (650) financeinsurancereal estate (524) and manufacturing (500) careers are among those that lean more toward staying in Iowa after graduating from a private college

Aspiring active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (429) entertainment amp recreation (350) and public administrationgovernment (300) professionals are among those that more heavily lean toward leaving the state after completing their education

Figure 38 Future Employment Interests (Private Colleges)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

Construction 800 00 200 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 650 50 300 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 524 119 357 General Business Administration 508 115 377 Manufacturing 500 286 214 Education 477 227 295 Public AdministrationGovernment 448 310 241 Healthcare 420 221 359 Other 409 273 318 Computer Information Technology 389 278 333 Social Services 368 298 333 Personal Services 342 184 474 Entertainment amp Recreation 300 350 350 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 296 296 407 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 214 429 357 Legal 188 500 313 TransportationPublic Utilities WholesaleRetail Trade Insufficient survey datarefused

25

Additional Private College Statistics

Marital Status

Respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (689) while 180 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 393 percent lean toward staying while 234 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 276 percent of private college respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 21 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowa colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 430 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 419 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 483 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

26

5

10

15

20

25

Index of Charts and Tables

Figure 1 College Respondents 1

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) 3

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide) 3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide) 4

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide) 4

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide) 5

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Figure 9 Future Employment Interests (Statewide) 6

Figure 10 Field of Study (CertificationTwo-year Degree) 7

Figure 11 Field of Study (Four-year Degree) 8

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post GraduateProfessional) 9

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education 10

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Figure 15 Future Plans by Age Range (Community College) 12

Figure 16 Future Plans by State of Origin (Community College) 12

Figure 17 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Community College) 13

Figure 18 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Community College) 13

Figure 19 Entertainment in Iowa (Community College) 14

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College) 14

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College) 15

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent University) 17

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent University) 17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent University) 18

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent University) 18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent University) 19

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent University) 19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent University) 20

Figure 30 Future Employment Interest (Regent University)

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private College) 22

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin (Private College) 22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private College) 23

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private College) 23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private College) 24

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private College) 24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private College)

Figure 38 Future Employment Interest (Private College) 25

27

Methodology

The Iowa College Student Survey and The Iowa College Student Analysis are produced by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau in cooperation with Iowarsquos colleges and the Office of the Governor of Iowa

In February 2013 The College Student Survey was sent to registrar offices of community colleges state universities and private institutions across the state of Iowa The survey was then distributed electronically to the student population by college representatives The window for responses extended from February 2013 through June 2013 There were 5074 responses received

The responses were collected by IWD Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau and SPSSreg was used to recode and formulate the received data into reportable measurements Methods of analysis in SPSSreg were frequency analysis cross tabulations and multiple response cross tabulation The analysis does not weigh the importance of each variable against one another but instead represents how many respondents chose that particular feature For example

ldquoRespondents seeking a two-year degree or certification in health occupations that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most influenced by cleansafe communities (868)helliprdquo

The majority (868) represents the number of respondents who identified themselves as interested in a two-year degree or certification in health occupations who donrsquot lean toward staying in Iowa that indicated cleansafe communities would influence their decision to stay in Iowa after graduation

IWD does not imply that a particular feature is more important than any other feature rather that a certain percentage of the respondents replied that one feature either is or is not featured in the state of Iowa and if that feature attracts does not attract or if they have no opinion on that feature

28

29

Iowa Workforce Development Communications amp Labor Market Information Division

Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau 1000 E Grand Avenue Des Moines Iowa 50319

(515) 281-4896 wwwiowaworkforceorg

Regent University Results

The following data is based on the responses of regent university students which comprises 424 percent of all college student survey responses The majority of respondents were female (586) overall both genders lean toward staying in the state after graduation rather than leaving the state Over one-third of males (339) and females (355) plan to stay in the state Notably approximately one-third of each gender were unsure of their decision at the time of the survey (339 male 327 female)

Analysis was also done by age group for the regent university section to see if this was a factor in the decision to stay in Iowa Figure 23 illustrates that age is an inconsistent variable for predicting studentsrsquo decisions to remain in Iowa

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent Universities) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 24 indicates that Iowa natives are more likely to stay in the state than those from other states they also represent 700 of all regent university student respondents While the majority (349) of regent university students lean toward staying in the state there are 332 percent that are unsure

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent Universities)

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International

17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent Universities)

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Urban Suburban Rural

Studying the population settings in which the students would like to reside indicates that a regent university studentrsquos decision to stay in the state has much to do with population setting Students who want to live in a rural setting appear to be much more likely to stay in the state (547) than those who prefer a suburban (289) or urban (182) setting (Figure 25)

ldquoI am really interested in finding a job in north central Iowa so that my kids and I can remain close to the social support of my family I am concerned about the job losses in that area paired with the concentration of work in the Des Moines Area Not everyone is happy with having to leave their smaller communities behindrdquo - 32 year-old Iowa State University student

Nearly three-fifths (596) of regent university students believe that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them (Figure 26) and just over half (520) believe that Iowa offers competitive wages These students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (867) career advancement (859) and competitive wages (856)

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent Universities)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 596 887 93 20 Offer attractive benefits 605 867 106 27 Offer career advancement 614 859 116 25 Provide competitive wages 520 856 118 26 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 594 600 356 44

Only 361 percent of regent university students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 27 on the next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions commercial centers an attractive night life or socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations

Regent university students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (686) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (630) attractive night life (619) cultural attractions (619) and commercial centers (557) which are similar interests to community college students

18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent Universities)

Iowa Has (an) Attractive I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 361 754 214 32 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc)

667 686 274 40

Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 612 630 328 42 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc)

380 619 340 41

Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 436 619 341 40 Commercial centersdistricts 372 557 397 46 Sports teamseventsvenues 314 509 437 54 Socialethnicreligious professional organizations

339 459 483 58

Organized recreation leagues 427 424 515 61 Golf courses country clubs resorts 432 346 581 73

ldquoIowa can be expensive and there are not enough opportunities for entertainment (ie sports music nightlife) Things like mini-golf go-carts cheaper movie theaters a local zoo or a professional sports team would create more opportunities for things to do in Iowardquo - 30 year-old University of Iowa student

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent Universities)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Communities I would consider raising a family 794 753 216 31 Diverse communities 290 393 565 42 Strong education system 722 848 129 23 Medical care network that is easily accessible 718 798 168 34 Clean safe communities 864 894 89 16 Low crime rate 803 856 127 16 Short amp safe daily commutes 757 794 183 23 Suitable roads amp highways 705 736 243 21 Living near familyfriends 670 775 206 19 Weather I enjoy 394 526 438 36

Figure 28 shows that 795 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities where they would consider raising a family about three-fourths (751) of regent university students would be influenced by an environment conducive to raising a family Regent university students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (894) low crime rate (856) strong education systems (849) easily accessible medical care networks (799) and short safe daily commutes (795)

Regent university students agree Iowa has cleansafe communities (865) low crime rate (804) short safe daily commutes (758) and strong education systems (725) which matches in theory to what they are looking for regarding quality of life when choosing a place to reside after graduating

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are diverse communities (361) attractive weather (291) and proximity to family amp friends (188)

19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent Universities)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 770 844 123 33 Affordable housing 703 834 133 33 Affordable education 675 804 162 34 Affordable medical care 555 753 200 47 Affordable tax rate 541 690 256 54 Affordable travel options 450 633 324 43

Figure 29 demonstrates that most regent university students are influenced by affordable cost of living (844) affordable housing (834) and affordable education (804) Less than half (450) agree Iowa offers affordable travel options 541 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates 555 percent agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care and 675 percent agree Iowa has affordable education

Figure 30 Future Employment Interests (Regent Universities)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 570 166 265 Social Services 488 256 256 WholesaleRetail Trade 421 263 316 Personal Services 410 289 301 Education 408 272 321 General Business Administration 370 290 340 Manufacturing 369 262 369 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 348 348 304 Construction 328 379 293 Healthcare 322 285 393 TransportationPublic Utilities 314 286 400 Public AdministrationGovernment 298 309 393 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 235 367 400 Other 230 451 319 Computer Information Technology 224 382 394 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 209 361 430 Entertainment amp Recreation 205 466 329 Legal 143 531 327

Figure 30 shows that students at Iowarsquos regent universities are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in agricultural (570) social services (488) wholesaleretail trade (421) personal services (410) and education (408) professions lean most towards staying in Iowa respondents who are interested in legal (531) entertainmentrecreation (466) computer technology (382) construction (379) or active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (367) professions lean the most against staying in Iowa after graduation

20

Additional Regent University Statistics

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience Nearly two-fifths (394) of regent university respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 24 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Marital Status

Many respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (444) although 267 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 341 percent lean toward staying while 324 percent lean against staying

Employment Status

Of course not all students at regent universities are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 336 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 360 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 341 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

21

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Private College Results

The majority of private college students responding to the statewide survey (430) lean toward staying in Iowa after graduation however over one-third (348) are unsure of their plans after college and the remaining 222 percent are planning on leaving the state once they have graduated

Over two-fifths (433) of the male private college students plan to stay in Iowa following graduation while 428 percent of the female students lean toward making Iowa their home after graduation

Analysis by age group was also done to see if this is a factor in the studentsrsquo decision to stay in Iowa Figure 31 illustrates that age is an inconsistent variable for determining studentsrsquo decision to remain in Iowa However it is worth noting that 430 percent of all the private college students responding to the survey still plan to stay in the state

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private Colleges) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin

(Private Colleges)

Private college students 100

were asked to identify their 90

state of origin in order to 80

70 distinguish how likely they

60

were to stay in Iowa after 50

graduation based on 40

whether they are an Iowa 30

native from another state 20

or an international student 10

Figure 32 indicates that 0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International Iowa natives are more likely to stay in Iowa than those from other states however 313 percent of Iowa natives are unsure about staying in the state

22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private Colleges)

100

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Survey results in Figure 3390 show that students preferring

80 a rural setting are more likely

70 to stay in the state Over half

60 (542) of those desiring to

50 live in rural areas lean toward

40 staying in the state while 11630 percent lean against staying20 342 percent are not sure10

0 Urban Suburban Rural

Over two-fifths (414) of students preferring a suburban setting lean toward staying while less than one-fifth (194) lean against staying in Iowa 392 percent are not sure Over one-third (345) of the student respondents desiring an urban setting lean toward staying in the state while 338 percent lean against staying less than one-third (317) are unsure

Figure 34 indicates that private colleges represent the highest percentage (602) of all the collegiate groups when it comes to believing that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them However only 426 percent believe that Iowa offers competitive wages

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 602 887 80 33 Offer attractive benefits 547 868 89 43 Offer career advancement 543 865 94 41 Provide competitive wages 426 860 105 35 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 583 626 311 63

Private college students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (868) career advancement (865) and competitive wages (860)

Only 379 percent of private college students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 35 on next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions night life or commercial centersdistricts Most private college students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (703) cultural attractions (693) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (692) attractive night life (643) and attractive sports teamseventsvenues (584)

ldquoI would like to see Iowa acquire a professional sport team any sport would work ie NBA NFL MLB etc It would create several jobs in all levels generate revenue for the state and bring people into the state to experience the great atmosphere that Iowa offersrdquo - 39 year-old Saint Ambrose University

23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has (an) Attractivehellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 381 783 182 35 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc) 607 702 249 49 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc) 411 692 262 47 Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 614 690 268 42 Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 457 641 322 37 Sports teamseventsvenues 353 582 360 58 Commercial centersdistricts 370 576 368 56 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations 386 560 379 61 Organized recreation leagues 421 497 427 77 Golf courses country clubs resorts 430 389 520 91

Figure 36 below shows that 782 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities in which they would consider raising a family Nearly four-fifths (784) would be attracted to communities where they would consider raising a family Private college students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (888) low crime rate (882) strong education systems (873) easily accessible medical care networks (847) and short safe daily commutes (802)

Private college students agree that Iowa does have cleansafe communities (806) shortsafe daily commutes (723) easily accessible medical care networks (707) and strong education systems (702)

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 805 888 92 20 Low crime rate 654 882 99 20 Strong education system 701 873 108 20 Medical care network that is easily accessible 706 846 127 26 Short amp safe daily commutes 722 801 171 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 781 783 168 48 Living near familyfriends 698 780 193 26 Suitable roads amp highways 681 747 220 33 Weather I enjoy 370 532 433 35 Diverse communities 365 471 463 66

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are attractive weather (344) diverse communities (319) and proximity to their friends amp family (168) However only 471 percent of private respondents stated that diverse communities would influence their decision to remain in Iowa after completing their education

Figure 37 (on the next page) demonstrates that most private college students are attracted to affordable cost of living (914) and most agree that Iowa provides affordable options (830) Slightly more than half (517) agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care 522 percent agree Iowa offers affordable travel options and 621 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates but 719 percent agree that Iowa has affordable housing which is higher than other student perceptions

24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 670 903 64 33 Affordable housing 569 880 82 38 Affordable education 594 852 106 42 Affordable medical care 509 843 115 42 Affordable tax rate 479 742 192 66 Affordable travel options 427 660 282 58

ldquoMoved here from Cincinnati Ohio three years ago My wife and I both love living in Dubuque There is much to do the town is clean and relatively quiet We enjoy all there is to do here and prefer here to Cincinnatirdquo - 46 year-old Loras College student

Figure 38 shows that students at Iowarsquos private colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in construction professions lean most towards staying in Iowa (800) which is not representative of the college student population as a whole Respondents who are interested in legal careers lean most toward leaving Iowa (500)

In addition to aspiring construction professionals those with interests in agriculture natural resourcesenvironmental (650) financeinsurancereal estate (524) and manufacturing (500) careers are among those that lean more toward staying in Iowa after graduating from a private college

Aspiring active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (429) entertainment amp recreation (350) and public administrationgovernment (300) professionals are among those that more heavily lean toward leaving the state after completing their education

Figure 38 Future Employment Interests (Private Colleges)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

Construction 800 00 200 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 650 50 300 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 524 119 357 General Business Administration 508 115 377 Manufacturing 500 286 214 Education 477 227 295 Public AdministrationGovernment 448 310 241 Healthcare 420 221 359 Other 409 273 318 Computer Information Technology 389 278 333 Social Services 368 298 333 Personal Services 342 184 474 Entertainment amp Recreation 300 350 350 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 296 296 407 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 214 429 357 Legal 188 500 313 TransportationPublic Utilities WholesaleRetail Trade Insufficient survey datarefused

25

Additional Private College Statistics

Marital Status

Respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (689) while 180 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 393 percent lean toward staying while 234 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 276 percent of private college respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 21 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowa colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 430 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 419 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 483 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

26

5

10

15

20

25

Index of Charts and Tables

Figure 1 College Respondents 1

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) 3

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide) 3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide) 4

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide) 4

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide) 5

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Figure 9 Future Employment Interests (Statewide) 6

Figure 10 Field of Study (CertificationTwo-year Degree) 7

Figure 11 Field of Study (Four-year Degree) 8

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post GraduateProfessional) 9

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education 10

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Figure 15 Future Plans by Age Range (Community College) 12

Figure 16 Future Plans by State of Origin (Community College) 12

Figure 17 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Community College) 13

Figure 18 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Community College) 13

Figure 19 Entertainment in Iowa (Community College) 14

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College) 14

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College) 15

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent University) 17

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent University) 17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent University) 18

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent University) 18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent University) 19

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent University) 19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent University) 20

Figure 30 Future Employment Interest (Regent University)

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private College) 22

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin (Private College) 22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private College) 23

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private College) 23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private College) 24

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private College) 24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private College)

Figure 38 Future Employment Interest (Private College) 25

27

Methodology

The Iowa College Student Survey and The Iowa College Student Analysis are produced by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau in cooperation with Iowarsquos colleges and the Office of the Governor of Iowa

In February 2013 The College Student Survey was sent to registrar offices of community colleges state universities and private institutions across the state of Iowa The survey was then distributed electronically to the student population by college representatives The window for responses extended from February 2013 through June 2013 There were 5074 responses received

The responses were collected by IWD Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau and SPSSreg was used to recode and formulate the received data into reportable measurements Methods of analysis in SPSSreg were frequency analysis cross tabulations and multiple response cross tabulation The analysis does not weigh the importance of each variable against one another but instead represents how many respondents chose that particular feature For example

ldquoRespondents seeking a two-year degree or certification in health occupations that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most influenced by cleansafe communities (868)helliprdquo

The majority (868) represents the number of respondents who identified themselves as interested in a two-year degree or certification in health occupations who donrsquot lean toward staying in Iowa that indicated cleansafe communities would influence their decision to stay in Iowa after graduation

IWD does not imply that a particular feature is more important than any other feature rather that a certain percentage of the respondents replied that one feature either is or is not featured in the state of Iowa and if that feature attracts does not attract or if they have no opinion on that feature

28

29

Iowa Workforce Development Communications amp Labor Market Information Division

Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau 1000 E Grand Avenue Des Moines Iowa 50319

(515) 281-4896 wwwiowaworkforceorg

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent Universities)

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Urban Suburban Rural

Studying the population settings in which the students would like to reside indicates that a regent university studentrsquos decision to stay in the state has much to do with population setting Students who want to live in a rural setting appear to be much more likely to stay in the state (547) than those who prefer a suburban (289) or urban (182) setting (Figure 25)

ldquoI am really interested in finding a job in north central Iowa so that my kids and I can remain close to the social support of my family I am concerned about the job losses in that area paired with the concentration of work in the Des Moines Area Not everyone is happy with having to leave their smaller communities behindrdquo - 32 year-old Iowa State University student

Nearly three-fifths (596) of regent university students believe that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them (Figure 26) and just over half (520) believe that Iowa offers competitive wages These students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (867) career advancement (859) and competitive wages (856)

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent Universities)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 596 887 93 20 Offer attractive benefits 605 867 106 27 Offer career advancement 614 859 116 25 Provide competitive wages 520 856 118 26 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 594 600 356 44

Only 361 percent of regent university students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 27 on the next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions commercial centers an attractive night life or socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations

Regent university students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (686) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (630) attractive night life (619) cultural attractions (619) and commercial centers (557) which are similar interests to community college students

18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent Universities)

Iowa Has (an) Attractive I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 361 754 214 32 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc)

667 686 274 40

Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 612 630 328 42 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc)

380 619 340 41

Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 436 619 341 40 Commercial centersdistricts 372 557 397 46 Sports teamseventsvenues 314 509 437 54 Socialethnicreligious professional organizations

339 459 483 58

Organized recreation leagues 427 424 515 61 Golf courses country clubs resorts 432 346 581 73

ldquoIowa can be expensive and there are not enough opportunities for entertainment (ie sports music nightlife) Things like mini-golf go-carts cheaper movie theaters a local zoo or a professional sports team would create more opportunities for things to do in Iowardquo - 30 year-old University of Iowa student

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent Universities)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Communities I would consider raising a family 794 753 216 31 Diverse communities 290 393 565 42 Strong education system 722 848 129 23 Medical care network that is easily accessible 718 798 168 34 Clean safe communities 864 894 89 16 Low crime rate 803 856 127 16 Short amp safe daily commutes 757 794 183 23 Suitable roads amp highways 705 736 243 21 Living near familyfriends 670 775 206 19 Weather I enjoy 394 526 438 36

Figure 28 shows that 795 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities where they would consider raising a family about three-fourths (751) of regent university students would be influenced by an environment conducive to raising a family Regent university students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (894) low crime rate (856) strong education systems (849) easily accessible medical care networks (799) and short safe daily commutes (795)

Regent university students agree Iowa has cleansafe communities (865) low crime rate (804) short safe daily commutes (758) and strong education systems (725) which matches in theory to what they are looking for regarding quality of life when choosing a place to reside after graduating

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are diverse communities (361) attractive weather (291) and proximity to family amp friends (188)

19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent Universities)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 770 844 123 33 Affordable housing 703 834 133 33 Affordable education 675 804 162 34 Affordable medical care 555 753 200 47 Affordable tax rate 541 690 256 54 Affordable travel options 450 633 324 43

Figure 29 demonstrates that most regent university students are influenced by affordable cost of living (844) affordable housing (834) and affordable education (804) Less than half (450) agree Iowa offers affordable travel options 541 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates 555 percent agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care and 675 percent agree Iowa has affordable education

Figure 30 Future Employment Interests (Regent Universities)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 570 166 265 Social Services 488 256 256 WholesaleRetail Trade 421 263 316 Personal Services 410 289 301 Education 408 272 321 General Business Administration 370 290 340 Manufacturing 369 262 369 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 348 348 304 Construction 328 379 293 Healthcare 322 285 393 TransportationPublic Utilities 314 286 400 Public AdministrationGovernment 298 309 393 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 235 367 400 Other 230 451 319 Computer Information Technology 224 382 394 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 209 361 430 Entertainment amp Recreation 205 466 329 Legal 143 531 327

Figure 30 shows that students at Iowarsquos regent universities are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in agricultural (570) social services (488) wholesaleretail trade (421) personal services (410) and education (408) professions lean most towards staying in Iowa respondents who are interested in legal (531) entertainmentrecreation (466) computer technology (382) construction (379) or active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (367) professions lean the most against staying in Iowa after graduation

20

Additional Regent University Statistics

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience Nearly two-fifths (394) of regent university respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 24 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Marital Status

Many respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (444) although 267 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 341 percent lean toward staying while 324 percent lean against staying

Employment Status

Of course not all students at regent universities are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 336 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 360 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 341 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

21

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Private College Results

The majority of private college students responding to the statewide survey (430) lean toward staying in Iowa after graduation however over one-third (348) are unsure of their plans after college and the remaining 222 percent are planning on leaving the state once they have graduated

Over two-fifths (433) of the male private college students plan to stay in Iowa following graduation while 428 percent of the female students lean toward making Iowa their home after graduation

Analysis by age group was also done to see if this is a factor in the studentsrsquo decision to stay in Iowa Figure 31 illustrates that age is an inconsistent variable for determining studentsrsquo decision to remain in Iowa However it is worth noting that 430 percent of all the private college students responding to the survey still plan to stay in the state

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private Colleges) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin

(Private Colleges)

Private college students 100

were asked to identify their 90

state of origin in order to 80

70 distinguish how likely they

60

were to stay in Iowa after 50

graduation based on 40

whether they are an Iowa 30

native from another state 20

or an international student 10

Figure 32 indicates that 0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International Iowa natives are more likely to stay in Iowa than those from other states however 313 percent of Iowa natives are unsure about staying in the state

22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private Colleges)

100

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Survey results in Figure 3390 show that students preferring

80 a rural setting are more likely

70 to stay in the state Over half

60 (542) of those desiring to

50 live in rural areas lean toward

40 staying in the state while 11630 percent lean against staying20 342 percent are not sure10

0 Urban Suburban Rural

Over two-fifths (414) of students preferring a suburban setting lean toward staying while less than one-fifth (194) lean against staying in Iowa 392 percent are not sure Over one-third (345) of the student respondents desiring an urban setting lean toward staying in the state while 338 percent lean against staying less than one-third (317) are unsure

Figure 34 indicates that private colleges represent the highest percentage (602) of all the collegiate groups when it comes to believing that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them However only 426 percent believe that Iowa offers competitive wages

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 602 887 80 33 Offer attractive benefits 547 868 89 43 Offer career advancement 543 865 94 41 Provide competitive wages 426 860 105 35 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 583 626 311 63

Private college students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (868) career advancement (865) and competitive wages (860)

Only 379 percent of private college students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 35 on next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions night life or commercial centersdistricts Most private college students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (703) cultural attractions (693) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (692) attractive night life (643) and attractive sports teamseventsvenues (584)

ldquoI would like to see Iowa acquire a professional sport team any sport would work ie NBA NFL MLB etc It would create several jobs in all levels generate revenue for the state and bring people into the state to experience the great atmosphere that Iowa offersrdquo - 39 year-old Saint Ambrose University

23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has (an) Attractivehellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 381 783 182 35 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc) 607 702 249 49 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc) 411 692 262 47 Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 614 690 268 42 Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 457 641 322 37 Sports teamseventsvenues 353 582 360 58 Commercial centersdistricts 370 576 368 56 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations 386 560 379 61 Organized recreation leagues 421 497 427 77 Golf courses country clubs resorts 430 389 520 91

Figure 36 below shows that 782 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities in which they would consider raising a family Nearly four-fifths (784) would be attracted to communities where they would consider raising a family Private college students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (888) low crime rate (882) strong education systems (873) easily accessible medical care networks (847) and short safe daily commutes (802)

Private college students agree that Iowa does have cleansafe communities (806) shortsafe daily commutes (723) easily accessible medical care networks (707) and strong education systems (702)

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 805 888 92 20 Low crime rate 654 882 99 20 Strong education system 701 873 108 20 Medical care network that is easily accessible 706 846 127 26 Short amp safe daily commutes 722 801 171 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 781 783 168 48 Living near familyfriends 698 780 193 26 Suitable roads amp highways 681 747 220 33 Weather I enjoy 370 532 433 35 Diverse communities 365 471 463 66

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are attractive weather (344) diverse communities (319) and proximity to their friends amp family (168) However only 471 percent of private respondents stated that diverse communities would influence their decision to remain in Iowa after completing their education

Figure 37 (on the next page) demonstrates that most private college students are attracted to affordable cost of living (914) and most agree that Iowa provides affordable options (830) Slightly more than half (517) agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care 522 percent agree Iowa offers affordable travel options and 621 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates but 719 percent agree that Iowa has affordable housing which is higher than other student perceptions

24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 670 903 64 33 Affordable housing 569 880 82 38 Affordable education 594 852 106 42 Affordable medical care 509 843 115 42 Affordable tax rate 479 742 192 66 Affordable travel options 427 660 282 58

ldquoMoved here from Cincinnati Ohio three years ago My wife and I both love living in Dubuque There is much to do the town is clean and relatively quiet We enjoy all there is to do here and prefer here to Cincinnatirdquo - 46 year-old Loras College student

Figure 38 shows that students at Iowarsquos private colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in construction professions lean most towards staying in Iowa (800) which is not representative of the college student population as a whole Respondents who are interested in legal careers lean most toward leaving Iowa (500)

In addition to aspiring construction professionals those with interests in agriculture natural resourcesenvironmental (650) financeinsurancereal estate (524) and manufacturing (500) careers are among those that lean more toward staying in Iowa after graduating from a private college

Aspiring active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (429) entertainment amp recreation (350) and public administrationgovernment (300) professionals are among those that more heavily lean toward leaving the state after completing their education

Figure 38 Future Employment Interests (Private Colleges)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

Construction 800 00 200 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 650 50 300 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 524 119 357 General Business Administration 508 115 377 Manufacturing 500 286 214 Education 477 227 295 Public AdministrationGovernment 448 310 241 Healthcare 420 221 359 Other 409 273 318 Computer Information Technology 389 278 333 Social Services 368 298 333 Personal Services 342 184 474 Entertainment amp Recreation 300 350 350 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 296 296 407 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 214 429 357 Legal 188 500 313 TransportationPublic Utilities WholesaleRetail Trade Insufficient survey datarefused

25

Additional Private College Statistics

Marital Status

Respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (689) while 180 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 393 percent lean toward staying while 234 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 276 percent of private college respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 21 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowa colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 430 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 419 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 483 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

26

5

10

15

20

25

Index of Charts and Tables

Figure 1 College Respondents 1

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) 3

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide) 3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide) 4

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide) 4

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide) 5

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Figure 9 Future Employment Interests (Statewide) 6

Figure 10 Field of Study (CertificationTwo-year Degree) 7

Figure 11 Field of Study (Four-year Degree) 8

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post GraduateProfessional) 9

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education 10

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Figure 15 Future Plans by Age Range (Community College) 12

Figure 16 Future Plans by State of Origin (Community College) 12

Figure 17 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Community College) 13

Figure 18 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Community College) 13

Figure 19 Entertainment in Iowa (Community College) 14

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College) 14

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College) 15

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent University) 17

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent University) 17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent University) 18

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent University) 18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent University) 19

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent University) 19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent University) 20

Figure 30 Future Employment Interest (Regent University)

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private College) 22

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin (Private College) 22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private College) 23

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private College) 23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private College) 24

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private College) 24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private College)

Figure 38 Future Employment Interest (Private College) 25

27

Methodology

The Iowa College Student Survey and The Iowa College Student Analysis are produced by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau in cooperation with Iowarsquos colleges and the Office of the Governor of Iowa

In February 2013 The College Student Survey was sent to registrar offices of community colleges state universities and private institutions across the state of Iowa The survey was then distributed electronically to the student population by college representatives The window for responses extended from February 2013 through June 2013 There were 5074 responses received

The responses were collected by IWD Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau and SPSSreg was used to recode and formulate the received data into reportable measurements Methods of analysis in SPSSreg were frequency analysis cross tabulations and multiple response cross tabulation The analysis does not weigh the importance of each variable against one another but instead represents how many respondents chose that particular feature For example

ldquoRespondents seeking a two-year degree or certification in health occupations that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most influenced by cleansafe communities (868)helliprdquo

The majority (868) represents the number of respondents who identified themselves as interested in a two-year degree or certification in health occupations who donrsquot lean toward staying in Iowa that indicated cleansafe communities would influence their decision to stay in Iowa after graduation

IWD does not imply that a particular feature is more important than any other feature rather that a certain percentage of the respondents replied that one feature either is or is not featured in the state of Iowa and if that feature attracts does not attract or if they have no opinion on that feature

28

29

Iowa Workforce Development Communications amp Labor Market Information Division

Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau 1000 E Grand Avenue Des Moines Iowa 50319

(515) 281-4896 wwwiowaworkforceorg

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent Universities)

Iowa Has (an) Attractive I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 361 754 214 32 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc)

667 686 274 40

Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 612 630 328 42 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc)

380 619 340 41

Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 436 619 341 40 Commercial centersdistricts 372 557 397 46 Sports teamseventsvenues 314 509 437 54 Socialethnicreligious professional organizations

339 459 483 58

Organized recreation leagues 427 424 515 61 Golf courses country clubs resorts 432 346 581 73

ldquoIowa can be expensive and there are not enough opportunities for entertainment (ie sports music nightlife) Things like mini-golf go-carts cheaper movie theaters a local zoo or a professional sports team would create more opportunities for things to do in Iowardquo - 30 year-old University of Iowa student

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent Universities)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Communities I would consider raising a family 794 753 216 31 Diverse communities 290 393 565 42 Strong education system 722 848 129 23 Medical care network that is easily accessible 718 798 168 34 Clean safe communities 864 894 89 16 Low crime rate 803 856 127 16 Short amp safe daily commutes 757 794 183 23 Suitable roads amp highways 705 736 243 21 Living near familyfriends 670 775 206 19 Weather I enjoy 394 526 438 36

Figure 28 shows that 795 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities where they would consider raising a family about three-fourths (751) of regent university students would be influenced by an environment conducive to raising a family Regent university students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (894) low crime rate (856) strong education systems (849) easily accessible medical care networks (799) and short safe daily commutes (795)

Regent university students agree Iowa has cleansafe communities (865) low crime rate (804) short safe daily commutes (758) and strong education systems (725) which matches in theory to what they are looking for regarding quality of life when choosing a place to reside after graduating

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are diverse communities (361) attractive weather (291) and proximity to family amp friends (188)

19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent Universities)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 770 844 123 33 Affordable housing 703 834 133 33 Affordable education 675 804 162 34 Affordable medical care 555 753 200 47 Affordable tax rate 541 690 256 54 Affordable travel options 450 633 324 43

Figure 29 demonstrates that most regent university students are influenced by affordable cost of living (844) affordable housing (834) and affordable education (804) Less than half (450) agree Iowa offers affordable travel options 541 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates 555 percent agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care and 675 percent agree Iowa has affordable education

Figure 30 Future Employment Interests (Regent Universities)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 570 166 265 Social Services 488 256 256 WholesaleRetail Trade 421 263 316 Personal Services 410 289 301 Education 408 272 321 General Business Administration 370 290 340 Manufacturing 369 262 369 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 348 348 304 Construction 328 379 293 Healthcare 322 285 393 TransportationPublic Utilities 314 286 400 Public AdministrationGovernment 298 309 393 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 235 367 400 Other 230 451 319 Computer Information Technology 224 382 394 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 209 361 430 Entertainment amp Recreation 205 466 329 Legal 143 531 327

Figure 30 shows that students at Iowarsquos regent universities are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in agricultural (570) social services (488) wholesaleretail trade (421) personal services (410) and education (408) professions lean most towards staying in Iowa respondents who are interested in legal (531) entertainmentrecreation (466) computer technology (382) construction (379) or active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (367) professions lean the most against staying in Iowa after graduation

20

Additional Regent University Statistics

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience Nearly two-fifths (394) of regent university respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 24 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Marital Status

Many respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (444) although 267 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 341 percent lean toward staying while 324 percent lean against staying

Employment Status

Of course not all students at regent universities are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 336 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 360 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 341 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

21

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Private College Results

The majority of private college students responding to the statewide survey (430) lean toward staying in Iowa after graduation however over one-third (348) are unsure of their plans after college and the remaining 222 percent are planning on leaving the state once they have graduated

Over two-fifths (433) of the male private college students plan to stay in Iowa following graduation while 428 percent of the female students lean toward making Iowa their home after graduation

Analysis by age group was also done to see if this is a factor in the studentsrsquo decision to stay in Iowa Figure 31 illustrates that age is an inconsistent variable for determining studentsrsquo decision to remain in Iowa However it is worth noting that 430 percent of all the private college students responding to the survey still plan to stay in the state

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private Colleges) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin

(Private Colleges)

Private college students 100

were asked to identify their 90

state of origin in order to 80

70 distinguish how likely they

60

were to stay in Iowa after 50

graduation based on 40

whether they are an Iowa 30

native from another state 20

or an international student 10

Figure 32 indicates that 0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International Iowa natives are more likely to stay in Iowa than those from other states however 313 percent of Iowa natives are unsure about staying in the state

22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private Colleges)

100

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Survey results in Figure 3390 show that students preferring

80 a rural setting are more likely

70 to stay in the state Over half

60 (542) of those desiring to

50 live in rural areas lean toward

40 staying in the state while 11630 percent lean against staying20 342 percent are not sure10

0 Urban Suburban Rural

Over two-fifths (414) of students preferring a suburban setting lean toward staying while less than one-fifth (194) lean against staying in Iowa 392 percent are not sure Over one-third (345) of the student respondents desiring an urban setting lean toward staying in the state while 338 percent lean against staying less than one-third (317) are unsure

Figure 34 indicates that private colleges represent the highest percentage (602) of all the collegiate groups when it comes to believing that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them However only 426 percent believe that Iowa offers competitive wages

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 602 887 80 33 Offer attractive benefits 547 868 89 43 Offer career advancement 543 865 94 41 Provide competitive wages 426 860 105 35 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 583 626 311 63

Private college students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (868) career advancement (865) and competitive wages (860)

Only 379 percent of private college students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 35 on next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions night life or commercial centersdistricts Most private college students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (703) cultural attractions (693) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (692) attractive night life (643) and attractive sports teamseventsvenues (584)

ldquoI would like to see Iowa acquire a professional sport team any sport would work ie NBA NFL MLB etc It would create several jobs in all levels generate revenue for the state and bring people into the state to experience the great atmosphere that Iowa offersrdquo - 39 year-old Saint Ambrose University

23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has (an) Attractivehellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 381 783 182 35 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc) 607 702 249 49 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc) 411 692 262 47 Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 614 690 268 42 Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 457 641 322 37 Sports teamseventsvenues 353 582 360 58 Commercial centersdistricts 370 576 368 56 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations 386 560 379 61 Organized recreation leagues 421 497 427 77 Golf courses country clubs resorts 430 389 520 91

Figure 36 below shows that 782 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities in which they would consider raising a family Nearly four-fifths (784) would be attracted to communities where they would consider raising a family Private college students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (888) low crime rate (882) strong education systems (873) easily accessible medical care networks (847) and short safe daily commutes (802)

Private college students agree that Iowa does have cleansafe communities (806) shortsafe daily commutes (723) easily accessible medical care networks (707) and strong education systems (702)

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 805 888 92 20 Low crime rate 654 882 99 20 Strong education system 701 873 108 20 Medical care network that is easily accessible 706 846 127 26 Short amp safe daily commutes 722 801 171 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 781 783 168 48 Living near familyfriends 698 780 193 26 Suitable roads amp highways 681 747 220 33 Weather I enjoy 370 532 433 35 Diverse communities 365 471 463 66

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are attractive weather (344) diverse communities (319) and proximity to their friends amp family (168) However only 471 percent of private respondents stated that diverse communities would influence their decision to remain in Iowa after completing their education

Figure 37 (on the next page) demonstrates that most private college students are attracted to affordable cost of living (914) and most agree that Iowa provides affordable options (830) Slightly more than half (517) agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care 522 percent agree Iowa offers affordable travel options and 621 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates but 719 percent agree that Iowa has affordable housing which is higher than other student perceptions

24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 670 903 64 33 Affordable housing 569 880 82 38 Affordable education 594 852 106 42 Affordable medical care 509 843 115 42 Affordable tax rate 479 742 192 66 Affordable travel options 427 660 282 58

ldquoMoved here from Cincinnati Ohio three years ago My wife and I both love living in Dubuque There is much to do the town is clean and relatively quiet We enjoy all there is to do here and prefer here to Cincinnatirdquo - 46 year-old Loras College student

Figure 38 shows that students at Iowarsquos private colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in construction professions lean most towards staying in Iowa (800) which is not representative of the college student population as a whole Respondents who are interested in legal careers lean most toward leaving Iowa (500)

In addition to aspiring construction professionals those with interests in agriculture natural resourcesenvironmental (650) financeinsurancereal estate (524) and manufacturing (500) careers are among those that lean more toward staying in Iowa after graduating from a private college

Aspiring active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (429) entertainment amp recreation (350) and public administrationgovernment (300) professionals are among those that more heavily lean toward leaving the state after completing their education

Figure 38 Future Employment Interests (Private Colleges)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

Construction 800 00 200 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 650 50 300 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 524 119 357 General Business Administration 508 115 377 Manufacturing 500 286 214 Education 477 227 295 Public AdministrationGovernment 448 310 241 Healthcare 420 221 359 Other 409 273 318 Computer Information Technology 389 278 333 Social Services 368 298 333 Personal Services 342 184 474 Entertainment amp Recreation 300 350 350 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 296 296 407 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 214 429 357 Legal 188 500 313 TransportationPublic Utilities WholesaleRetail Trade Insufficient survey datarefused

25

Additional Private College Statistics

Marital Status

Respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (689) while 180 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 393 percent lean toward staying while 234 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 276 percent of private college respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 21 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowa colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 430 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 419 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 483 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

26

5

10

15

20

25

Index of Charts and Tables

Figure 1 College Respondents 1

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) 3

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide) 3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide) 4

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide) 4

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide) 5

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Figure 9 Future Employment Interests (Statewide) 6

Figure 10 Field of Study (CertificationTwo-year Degree) 7

Figure 11 Field of Study (Four-year Degree) 8

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post GraduateProfessional) 9

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education 10

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Figure 15 Future Plans by Age Range (Community College) 12

Figure 16 Future Plans by State of Origin (Community College) 12

Figure 17 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Community College) 13

Figure 18 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Community College) 13

Figure 19 Entertainment in Iowa (Community College) 14

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College) 14

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College) 15

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent University) 17

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent University) 17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent University) 18

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent University) 18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent University) 19

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent University) 19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent University) 20

Figure 30 Future Employment Interest (Regent University)

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private College) 22

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin (Private College) 22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private College) 23

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private College) 23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private College) 24

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private College) 24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private College)

Figure 38 Future Employment Interest (Private College) 25

27

Methodology

The Iowa College Student Survey and The Iowa College Student Analysis are produced by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau in cooperation with Iowarsquos colleges and the Office of the Governor of Iowa

In February 2013 The College Student Survey was sent to registrar offices of community colleges state universities and private institutions across the state of Iowa The survey was then distributed electronically to the student population by college representatives The window for responses extended from February 2013 through June 2013 There were 5074 responses received

The responses were collected by IWD Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau and SPSSreg was used to recode and formulate the received data into reportable measurements Methods of analysis in SPSSreg were frequency analysis cross tabulations and multiple response cross tabulation The analysis does not weigh the importance of each variable against one another but instead represents how many respondents chose that particular feature For example

ldquoRespondents seeking a two-year degree or certification in health occupations that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most influenced by cleansafe communities (868)helliprdquo

The majority (868) represents the number of respondents who identified themselves as interested in a two-year degree or certification in health occupations who donrsquot lean toward staying in Iowa that indicated cleansafe communities would influence their decision to stay in Iowa after graduation

IWD does not imply that a particular feature is more important than any other feature rather that a certain percentage of the respondents replied that one feature either is or is not featured in the state of Iowa and if that feature attracts does not attract or if they have no opinion on that feature

28

29

Iowa Workforce Development Communications amp Labor Market Information Division

Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau 1000 E Grand Avenue Des Moines Iowa 50319

(515) 281-4896 wwwiowaworkforceorg

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent Universities)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa

Hashellip Would Influence

Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 770 844 123 33 Affordable housing 703 834 133 33 Affordable education 675 804 162 34 Affordable medical care 555 753 200 47 Affordable tax rate 541 690 256 54 Affordable travel options 450 633 324 43

Figure 29 demonstrates that most regent university students are influenced by affordable cost of living (844) affordable housing (834) and affordable education (804) Less than half (450) agree Iowa offers affordable travel options 541 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates 555 percent agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care and 675 percent agree Iowa has affordable education

Figure 30 Future Employment Interests (Regent Universities)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 570 166 265 Social Services 488 256 256 WholesaleRetail Trade 421 263 316 Personal Services 410 289 301 Education 408 272 321 General Business Administration 370 290 340 Manufacturing 369 262 369 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 348 348 304 Construction 328 379 293 Healthcare 322 285 393 TransportationPublic Utilities 314 286 400 Public AdministrationGovernment 298 309 393 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 235 367 400 Other 230 451 319 Computer Information Technology 224 382 394 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 209 361 430 Entertainment amp Recreation 205 466 329 Legal 143 531 327

Figure 30 shows that students at Iowarsquos regent universities are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in agricultural (570) social services (488) wholesaleretail trade (421) personal services (410) and education (408) professions lean most towards staying in Iowa respondents who are interested in legal (531) entertainmentrecreation (466) computer technology (382) construction (379) or active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (367) professions lean the most against staying in Iowa after graduation

20

Additional Regent University Statistics

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience Nearly two-fifths (394) of regent university respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 24 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Marital Status

Many respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (444) although 267 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 341 percent lean toward staying while 324 percent lean against staying

Employment Status

Of course not all students at regent universities are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 336 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 360 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 341 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

21

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Private College Results

The majority of private college students responding to the statewide survey (430) lean toward staying in Iowa after graduation however over one-third (348) are unsure of their plans after college and the remaining 222 percent are planning on leaving the state once they have graduated

Over two-fifths (433) of the male private college students plan to stay in Iowa following graduation while 428 percent of the female students lean toward making Iowa their home after graduation

Analysis by age group was also done to see if this is a factor in the studentsrsquo decision to stay in Iowa Figure 31 illustrates that age is an inconsistent variable for determining studentsrsquo decision to remain in Iowa However it is worth noting that 430 percent of all the private college students responding to the survey still plan to stay in the state

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private Colleges) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin

(Private Colleges)

Private college students 100

were asked to identify their 90

state of origin in order to 80

70 distinguish how likely they

60

were to stay in Iowa after 50

graduation based on 40

whether they are an Iowa 30

native from another state 20

or an international student 10

Figure 32 indicates that 0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International Iowa natives are more likely to stay in Iowa than those from other states however 313 percent of Iowa natives are unsure about staying in the state

22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private Colleges)

100

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Survey results in Figure 3390 show that students preferring

80 a rural setting are more likely

70 to stay in the state Over half

60 (542) of those desiring to

50 live in rural areas lean toward

40 staying in the state while 11630 percent lean against staying20 342 percent are not sure10

0 Urban Suburban Rural

Over two-fifths (414) of students preferring a suburban setting lean toward staying while less than one-fifth (194) lean against staying in Iowa 392 percent are not sure Over one-third (345) of the student respondents desiring an urban setting lean toward staying in the state while 338 percent lean against staying less than one-third (317) are unsure

Figure 34 indicates that private colleges represent the highest percentage (602) of all the collegiate groups when it comes to believing that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them However only 426 percent believe that Iowa offers competitive wages

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 602 887 80 33 Offer attractive benefits 547 868 89 43 Offer career advancement 543 865 94 41 Provide competitive wages 426 860 105 35 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 583 626 311 63

Private college students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (868) career advancement (865) and competitive wages (860)

Only 379 percent of private college students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 35 on next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions night life or commercial centersdistricts Most private college students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (703) cultural attractions (693) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (692) attractive night life (643) and attractive sports teamseventsvenues (584)

ldquoI would like to see Iowa acquire a professional sport team any sport would work ie NBA NFL MLB etc It would create several jobs in all levels generate revenue for the state and bring people into the state to experience the great atmosphere that Iowa offersrdquo - 39 year-old Saint Ambrose University

23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has (an) Attractivehellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 381 783 182 35 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc) 607 702 249 49 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc) 411 692 262 47 Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 614 690 268 42 Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 457 641 322 37 Sports teamseventsvenues 353 582 360 58 Commercial centersdistricts 370 576 368 56 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations 386 560 379 61 Organized recreation leagues 421 497 427 77 Golf courses country clubs resorts 430 389 520 91

Figure 36 below shows that 782 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities in which they would consider raising a family Nearly four-fifths (784) would be attracted to communities where they would consider raising a family Private college students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (888) low crime rate (882) strong education systems (873) easily accessible medical care networks (847) and short safe daily commutes (802)

Private college students agree that Iowa does have cleansafe communities (806) shortsafe daily commutes (723) easily accessible medical care networks (707) and strong education systems (702)

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 805 888 92 20 Low crime rate 654 882 99 20 Strong education system 701 873 108 20 Medical care network that is easily accessible 706 846 127 26 Short amp safe daily commutes 722 801 171 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 781 783 168 48 Living near familyfriends 698 780 193 26 Suitable roads amp highways 681 747 220 33 Weather I enjoy 370 532 433 35 Diverse communities 365 471 463 66

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are attractive weather (344) diverse communities (319) and proximity to their friends amp family (168) However only 471 percent of private respondents stated that diverse communities would influence their decision to remain in Iowa after completing their education

Figure 37 (on the next page) demonstrates that most private college students are attracted to affordable cost of living (914) and most agree that Iowa provides affordable options (830) Slightly more than half (517) agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care 522 percent agree Iowa offers affordable travel options and 621 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates but 719 percent agree that Iowa has affordable housing which is higher than other student perceptions

24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 670 903 64 33 Affordable housing 569 880 82 38 Affordable education 594 852 106 42 Affordable medical care 509 843 115 42 Affordable tax rate 479 742 192 66 Affordable travel options 427 660 282 58

ldquoMoved here from Cincinnati Ohio three years ago My wife and I both love living in Dubuque There is much to do the town is clean and relatively quiet We enjoy all there is to do here and prefer here to Cincinnatirdquo - 46 year-old Loras College student

Figure 38 shows that students at Iowarsquos private colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in construction professions lean most towards staying in Iowa (800) which is not representative of the college student population as a whole Respondents who are interested in legal careers lean most toward leaving Iowa (500)

In addition to aspiring construction professionals those with interests in agriculture natural resourcesenvironmental (650) financeinsurancereal estate (524) and manufacturing (500) careers are among those that lean more toward staying in Iowa after graduating from a private college

Aspiring active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (429) entertainment amp recreation (350) and public administrationgovernment (300) professionals are among those that more heavily lean toward leaving the state after completing their education

Figure 38 Future Employment Interests (Private Colleges)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

Construction 800 00 200 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 650 50 300 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 524 119 357 General Business Administration 508 115 377 Manufacturing 500 286 214 Education 477 227 295 Public AdministrationGovernment 448 310 241 Healthcare 420 221 359 Other 409 273 318 Computer Information Technology 389 278 333 Social Services 368 298 333 Personal Services 342 184 474 Entertainment amp Recreation 300 350 350 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 296 296 407 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 214 429 357 Legal 188 500 313 TransportationPublic Utilities WholesaleRetail Trade Insufficient survey datarefused

25

Additional Private College Statistics

Marital Status

Respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (689) while 180 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 393 percent lean toward staying while 234 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 276 percent of private college respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 21 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowa colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 430 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 419 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 483 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

26

5

10

15

20

25

Index of Charts and Tables

Figure 1 College Respondents 1

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) 3

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide) 3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide) 4

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide) 4

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide) 5

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Figure 9 Future Employment Interests (Statewide) 6

Figure 10 Field of Study (CertificationTwo-year Degree) 7

Figure 11 Field of Study (Four-year Degree) 8

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post GraduateProfessional) 9

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education 10

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Figure 15 Future Plans by Age Range (Community College) 12

Figure 16 Future Plans by State of Origin (Community College) 12

Figure 17 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Community College) 13

Figure 18 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Community College) 13

Figure 19 Entertainment in Iowa (Community College) 14

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College) 14

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College) 15

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent University) 17

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent University) 17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent University) 18

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent University) 18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent University) 19

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent University) 19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent University) 20

Figure 30 Future Employment Interest (Regent University)

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private College) 22

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin (Private College) 22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private College) 23

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private College) 23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private College) 24

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private College) 24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private College)

Figure 38 Future Employment Interest (Private College) 25

27

Methodology

The Iowa College Student Survey and The Iowa College Student Analysis are produced by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau in cooperation with Iowarsquos colleges and the Office of the Governor of Iowa

In February 2013 The College Student Survey was sent to registrar offices of community colleges state universities and private institutions across the state of Iowa The survey was then distributed electronically to the student population by college representatives The window for responses extended from February 2013 through June 2013 There were 5074 responses received

The responses were collected by IWD Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau and SPSSreg was used to recode and formulate the received data into reportable measurements Methods of analysis in SPSSreg were frequency analysis cross tabulations and multiple response cross tabulation The analysis does not weigh the importance of each variable against one another but instead represents how many respondents chose that particular feature For example

ldquoRespondents seeking a two-year degree or certification in health occupations that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most influenced by cleansafe communities (868)helliprdquo

The majority (868) represents the number of respondents who identified themselves as interested in a two-year degree or certification in health occupations who donrsquot lean toward staying in Iowa that indicated cleansafe communities would influence their decision to stay in Iowa after graduation

IWD does not imply that a particular feature is more important than any other feature rather that a certain percentage of the respondents replied that one feature either is or is not featured in the state of Iowa and if that feature attracts does not attract or if they have no opinion on that feature

28

29

Iowa Workforce Development Communications amp Labor Market Information Division

Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau 1000 E Grand Avenue Des Moines Iowa 50319

(515) 281-4896 wwwiowaworkforceorg

Additional Regent University Statistics

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience Nearly two-fifths (394) of regent university respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 24 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Marital Status

Many respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (444) although 267 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 341 percent lean toward staying while 324 percent lean against staying

Employment Status

Of course not all students at regent universities are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 336 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 360 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 341 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

21

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Private College Results

The majority of private college students responding to the statewide survey (430) lean toward staying in Iowa after graduation however over one-third (348) are unsure of their plans after college and the remaining 222 percent are planning on leaving the state once they have graduated

Over two-fifths (433) of the male private college students plan to stay in Iowa following graduation while 428 percent of the female students lean toward making Iowa their home after graduation

Analysis by age group was also done to see if this is a factor in the studentsrsquo decision to stay in Iowa Figure 31 illustrates that age is an inconsistent variable for determining studentsrsquo decision to remain in Iowa However it is worth noting that 430 percent of all the private college students responding to the survey still plan to stay in the state

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private Colleges) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin

(Private Colleges)

Private college students 100

were asked to identify their 90

state of origin in order to 80

70 distinguish how likely they

60

were to stay in Iowa after 50

graduation based on 40

whether they are an Iowa 30

native from another state 20

or an international student 10

Figure 32 indicates that 0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International Iowa natives are more likely to stay in Iowa than those from other states however 313 percent of Iowa natives are unsure about staying in the state

22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private Colleges)

100

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Survey results in Figure 3390 show that students preferring

80 a rural setting are more likely

70 to stay in the state Over half

60 (542) of those desiring to

50 live in rural areas lean toward

40 staying in the state while 11630 percent lean against staying20 342 percent are not sure10

0 Urban Suburban Rural

Over two-fifths (414) of students preferring a suburban setting lean toward staying while less than one-fifth (194) lean against staying in Iowa 392 percent are not sure Over one-third (345) of the student respondents desiring an urban setting lean toward staying in the state while 338 percent lean against staying less than one-third (317) are unsure

Figure 34 indicates that private colleges represent the highest percentage (602) of all the collegiate groups when it comes to believing that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them However only 426 percent believe that Iowa offers competitive wages

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 602 887 80 33 Offer attractive benefits 547 868 89 43 Offer career advancement 543 865 94 41 Provide competitive wages 426 860 105 35 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 583 626 311 63

Private college students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (868) career advancement (865) and competitive wages (860)

Only 379 percent of private college students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 35 on next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions night life or commercial centersdistricts Most private college students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (703) cultural attractions (693) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (692) attractive night life (643) and attractive sports teamseventsvenues (584)

ldquoI would like to see Iowa acquire a professional sport team any sport would work ie NBA NFL MLB etc It would create several jobs in all levels generate revenue for the state and bring people into the state to experience the great atmosphere that Iowa offersrdquo - 39 year-old Saint Ambrose University

23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has (an) Attractivehellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 381 783 182 35 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc) 607 702 249 49 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc) 411 692 262 47 Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 614 690 268 42 Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 457 641 322 37 Sports teamseventsvenues 353 582 360 58 Commercial centersdistricts 370 576 368 56 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations 386 560 379 61 Organized recreation leagues 421 497 427 77 Golf courses country clubs resorts 430 389 520 91

Figure 36 below shows that 782 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities in which they would consider raising a family Nearly four-fifths (784) would be attracted to communities where they would consider raising a family Private college students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (888) low crime rate (882) strong education systems (873) easily accessible medical care networks (847) and short safe daily commutes (802)

Private college students agree that Iowa does have cleansafe communities (806) shortsafe daily commutes (723) easily accessible medical care networks (707) and strong education systems (702)

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 805 888 92 20 Low crime rate 654 882 99 20 Strong education system 701 873 108 20 Medical care network that is easily accessible 706 846 127 26 Short amp safe daily commutes 722 801 171 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 781 783 168 48 Living near familyfriends 698 780 193 26 Suitable roads amp highways 681 747 220 33 Weather I enjoy 370 532 433 35 Diverse communities 365 471 463 66

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are attractive weather (344) diverse communities (319) and proximity to their friends amp family (168) However only 471 percent of private respondents stated that diverse communities would influence their decision to remain in Iowa after completing their education

Figure 37 (on the next page) demonstrates that most private college students are attracted to affordable cost of living (914) and most agree that Iowa provides affordable options (830) Slightly more than half (517) agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care 522 percent agree Iowa offers affordable travel options and 621 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates but 719 percent agree that Iowa has affordable housing which is higher than other student perceptions

24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 670 903 64 33 Affordable housing 569 880 82 38 Affordable education 594 852 106 42 Affordable medical care 509 843 115 42 Affordable tax rate 479 742 192 66 Affordable travel options 427 660 282 58

ldquoMoved here from Cincinnati Ohio three years ago My wife and I both love living in Dubuque There is much to do the town is clean and relatively quiet We enjoy all there is to do here and prefer here to Cincinnatirdquo - 46 year-old Loras College student

Figure 38 shows that students at Iowarsquos private colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in construction professions lean most towards staying in Iowa (800) which is not representative of the college student population as a whole Respondents who are interested in legal careers lean most toward leaving Iowa (500)

In addition to aspiring construction professionals those with interests in agriculture natural resourcesenvironmental (650) financeinsurancereal estate (524) and manufacturing (500) careers are among those that lean more toward staying in Iowa after graduating from a private college

Aspiring active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (429) entertainment amp recreation (350) and public administrationgovernment (300) professionals are among those that more heavily lean toward leaving the state after completing their education

Figure 38 Future Employment Interests (Private Colleges)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

Construction 800 00 200 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 650 50 300 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 524 119 357 General Business Administration 508 115 377 Manufacturing 500 286 214 Education 477 227 295 Public AdministrationGovernment 448 310 241 Healthcare 420 221 359 Other 409 273 318 Computer Information Technology 389 278 333 Social Services 368 298 333 Personal Services 342 184 474 Entertainment amp Recreation 300 350 350 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 296 296 407 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 214 429 357 Legal 188 500 313 TransportationPublic Utilities WholesaleRetail Trade Insufficient survey datarefused

25

Additional Private College Statistics

Marital Status

Respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (689) while 180 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 393 percent lean toward staying while 234 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 276 percent of private college respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 21 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowa colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 430 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 419 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 483 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

26

5

10

15

20

25

Index of Charts and Tables

Figure 1 College Respondents 1

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) 3

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide) 3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide) 4

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide) 4

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide) 5

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Figure 9 Future Employment Interests (Statewide) 6

Figure 10 Field of Study (CertificationTwo-year Degree) 7

Figure 11 Field of Study (Four-year Degree) 8

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post GraduateProfessional) 9

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education 10

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Figure 15 Future Plans by Age Range (Community College) 12

Figure 16 Future Plans by State of Origin (Community College) 12

Figure 17 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Community College) 13

Figure 18 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Community College) 13

Figure 19 Entertainment in Iowa (Community College) 14

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College) 14

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College) 15

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent University) 17

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent University) 17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent University) 18

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent University) 18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent University) 19

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent University) 19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent University) 20

Figure 30 Future Employment Interest (Regent University)

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private College) 22

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin (Private College) 22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private College) 23

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private College) 23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private College) 24

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private College) 24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private College)

Figure 38 Future Employment Interest (Private College) 25

27

Methodology

The Iowa College Student Survey and The Iowa College Student Analysis are produced by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau in cooperation with Iowarsquos colleges and the Office of the Governor of Iowa

In February 2013 The College Student Survey was sent to registrar offices of community colleges state universities and private institutions across the state of Iowa The survey was then distributed electronically to the student population by college representatives The window for responses extended from February 2013 through June 2013 There were 5074 responses received

The responses were collected by IWD Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau and SPSSreg was used to recode and formulate the received data into reportable measurements Methods of analysis in SPSSreg were frequency analysis cross tabulations and multiple response cross tabulation The analysis does not weigh the importance of each variable against one another but instead represents how many respondents chose that particular feature For example

ldquoRespondents seeking a two-year degree or certification in health occupations that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most influenced by cleansafe communities (868)helliprdquo

The majority (868) represents the number of respondents who identified themselves as interested in a two-year degree or certification in health occupations who donrsquot lean toward staying in Iowa that indicated cleansafe communities would influence their decision to stay in Iowa after graduation

IWD does not imply that a particular feature is more important than any other feature rather that a certain percentage of the respondents replied that one feature either is or is not featured in the state of Iowa and if that feature attracts does not attract or if they have no opinion on that feature

28

29

Iowa Workforce Development Communications amp Labor Market Information Division

Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau 1000 E Grand Avenue Des Moines Iowa 50319

(515) 281-4896 wwwiowaworkforceorg

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Private College Results

The majority of private college students responding to the statewide survey (430) lean toward staying in Iowa after graduation however over one-third (348) are unsure of their plans after college and the remaining 222 percent are planning on leaving the state once they have graduated

Over two-fifths (433) of the male private college students plan to stay in Iowa following graduation while 428 percent of the female students lean toward making Iowa their home after graduation

Analysis by age group was also done to see if this is a factor in the studentsrsquo decision to stay in Iowa Figure 31 illustrates that age is an inconsistent variable for determining studentsrsquo decision to remain in Iowa However it is worth noting that 430 percent of all the private college students responding to the survey still plan to stay in the state

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private Colleges) 100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41+

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin

(Private Colleges)

Private college students 100

were asked to identify their 90

state of origin in order to 80

70 distinguish how likely they

60

were to stay in Iowa after 50

graduation based on 40

whether they are an Iowa 30

native from another state 20

or an international student 10

Figure 32 indicates that 0

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Iowa Out of State International Iowa natives are more likely to stay in Iowa than those from other states however 313 percent of Iowa natives are unsure about staying in the state

22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private Colleges)

100

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Survey results in Figure 3390 show that students preferring

80 a rural setting are more likely

70 to stay in the state Over half

60 (542) of those desiring to

50 live in rural areas lean toward

40 staying in the state while 11630 percent lean against staying20 342 percent are not sure10

0 Urban Suburban Rural

Over two-fifths (414) of students preferring a suburban setting lean toward staying while less than one-fifth (194) lean against staying in Iowa 392 percent are not sure Over one-third (345) of the student respondents desiring an urban setting lean toward staying in the state while 338 percent lean against staying less than one-third (317) are unsure

Figure 34 indicates that private colleges represent the highest percentage (602) of all the collegiate groups when it comes to believing that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them However only 426 percent believe that Iowa offers competitive wages

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 602 887 80 33 Offer attractive benefits 547 868 89 43 Offer career advancement 543 865 94 41 Provide competitive wages 426 860 105 35 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 583 626 311 63

Private college students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (868) career advancement (865) and competitive wages (860)

Only 379 percent of private college students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 35 on next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions night life or commercial centersdistricts Most private college students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (703) cultural attractions (693) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (692) attractive night life (643) and attractive sports teamseventsvenues (584)

ldquoI would like to see Iowa acquire a professional sport team any sport would work ie NBA NFL MLB etc It would create several jobs in all levels generate revenue for the state and bring people into the state to experience the great atmosphere that Iowa offersrdquo - 39 year-old Saint Ambrose University

23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has (an) Attractivehellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 381 783 182 35 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc) 607 702 249 49 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc) 411 692 262 47 Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 614 690 268 42 Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 457 641 322 37 Sports teamseventsvenues 353 582 360 58 Commercial centersdistricts 370 576 368 56 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations 386 560 379 61 Organized recreation leagues 421 497 427 77 Golf courses country clubs resorts 430 389 520 91

Figure 36 below shows that 782 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities in which they would consider raising a family Nearly four-fifths (784) would be attracted to communities where they would consider raising a family Private college students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (888) low crime rate (882) strong education systems (873) easily accessible medical care networks (847) and short safe daily commutes (802)

Private college students agree that Iowa does have cleansafe communities (806) shortsafe daily commutes (723) easily accessible medical care networks (707) and strong education systems (702)

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 805 888 92 20 Low crime rate 654 882 99 20 Strong education system 701 873 108 20 Medical care network that is easily accessible 706 846 127 26 Short amp safe daily commutes 722 801 171 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 781 783 168 48 Living near familyfriends 698 780 193 26 Suitable roads amp highways 681 747 220 33 Weather I enjoy 370 532 433 35 Diverse communities 365 471 463 66

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are attractive weather (344) diverse communities (319) and proximity to their friends amp family (168) However only 471 percent of private respondents stated that diverse communities would influence their decision to remain in Iowa after completing their education

Figure 37 (on the next page) demonstrates that most private college students are attracted to affordable cost of living (914) and most agree that Iowa provides affordable options (830) Slightly more than half (517) agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care 522 percent agree Iowa offers affordable travel options and 621 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates but 719 percent agree that Iowa has affordable housing which is higher than other student perceptions

24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 670 903 64 33 Affordable housing 569 880 82 38 Affordable education 594 852 106 42 Affordable medical care 509 843 115 42 Affordable tax rate 479 742 192 66 Affordable travel options 427 660 282 58

ldquoMoved here from Cincinnati Ohio three years ago My wife and I both love living in Dubuque There is much to do the town is clean and relatively quiet We enjoy all there is to do here and prefer here to Cincinnatirdquo - 46 year-old Loras College student

Figure 38 shows that students at Iowarsquos private colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in construction professions lean most towards staying in Iowa (800) which is not representative of the college student population as a whole Respondents who are interested in legal careers lean most toward leaving Iowa (500)

In addition to aspiring construction professionals those with interests in agriculture natural resourcesenvironmental (650) financeinsurancereal estate (524) and manufacturing (500) careers are among those that lean more toward staying in Iowa after graduating from a private college

Aspiring active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (429) entertainment amp recreation (350) and public administrationgovernment (300) professionals are among those that more heavily lean toward leaving the state after completing their education

Figure 38 Future Employment Interests (Private Colleges)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

Construction 800 00 200 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 650 50 300 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 524 119 357 General Business Administration 508 115 377 Manufacturing 500 286 214 Education 477 227 295 Public AdministrationGovernment 448 310 241 Healthcare 420 221 359 Other 409 273 318 Computer Information Technology 389 278 333 Social Services 368 298 333 Personal Services 342 184 474 Entertainment amp Recreation 300 350 350 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 296 296 407 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 214 429 357 Legal 188 500 313 TransportationPublic Utilities WholesaleRetail Trade Insufficient survey datarefused

25

Additional Private College Statistics

Marital Status

Respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (689) while 180 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 393 percent lean toward staying while 234 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 276 percent of private college respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 21 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowa colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 430 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 419 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 483 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

26

5

10

15

20

25

Index of Charts and Tables

Figure 1 College Respondents 1

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) 3

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide) 3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide) 4

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide) 4

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide) 5

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Figure 9 Future Employment Interests (Statewide) 6

Figure 10 Field of Study (CertificationTwo-year Degree) 7

Figure 11 Field of Study (Four-year Degree) 8

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post GraduateProfessional) 9

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education 10

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Figure 15 Future Plans by Age Range (Community College) 12

Figure 16 Future Plans by State of Origin (Community College) 12

Figure 17 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Community College) 13

Figure 18 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Community College) 13

Figure 19 Entertainment in Iowa (Community College) 14

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College) 14

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College) 15

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent University) 17

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent University) 17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent University) 18

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent University) 18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent University) 19

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent University) 19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent University) 20

Figure 30 Future Employment Interest (Regent University)

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private College) 22

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin (Private College) 22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private College) 23

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private College) 23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private College) 24

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private College) 24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private College)

Figure 38 Future Employment Interest (Private College) 25

27

Methodology

The Iowa College Student Survey and The Iowa College Student Analysis are produced by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau in cooperation with Iowarsquos colleges and the Office of the Governor of Iowa

In February 2013 The College Student Survey was sent to registrar offices of community colleges state universities and private institutions across the state of Iowa The survey was then distributed electronically to the student population by college representatives The window for responses extended from February 2013 through June 2013 There were 5074 responses received

The responses were collected by IWD Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau and SPSSreg was used to recode and formulate the received data into reportable measurements Methods of analysis in SPSSreg were frequency analysis cross tabulations and multiple response cross tabulation The analysis does not weigh the importance of each variable against one another but instead represents how many respondents chose that particular feature For example

ldquoRespondents seeking a two-year degree or certification in health occupations that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most influenced by cleansafe communities (868)helliprdquo

The majority (868) represents the number of respondents who identified themselves as interested in a two-year degree or certification in health occupations who donrsquot lean toward staying in Iowa that indicated cleansafe communities would influence their decision to stay in Iowa after graduation

IWD does not imply that a particular feature is more important than any other feature rather that a certain percentage of the respondents replied that one feature either is or is not featured in the state of Iowa and if that feature attracts does not attract or if they have no opinion on that feature

28

29

Iowa Workforce Development Communications amp Labor Market Information Division

Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau 1000 E Grand Avenue Des Moines Iowa 50319

(515) 281-4896 wwwiowaworkforceorg

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private Colleges)

100

Not Sure

Lean Against Staying

Lean Toward Staying

Survey results in Figure 3390 show that students preferring

80 a rural setting are more likely

70 to stay in the state Over half

60 (542) of those desiring to

50 live in rural areas lean toward

40 staying in the state while 11630 percent lean against staying20 342 percent are not sure10

0 Urban Suburban Rural

Over two-fifths (414) of students preferring a suburban setting lean toward staying while less than one-fifth (194) lean against staying in Iowa 392 percent are not sure Over one-third (345) of the student respondents desiring an urban setting lean toward staying in the state while 338 percent lean against staying less than one-third (317) are unsure

Figure 34 indicates that private colleges represent the highest percentage (602) of all the collegiate groups when it comes to believing that Iowa has job opportunities that interest them However only 426 percent believe that Iowa offers competitive wages

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has Job Opportunities That I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Interest me personally 602 887 80 33 Offer attractive benefits 547 868 89 43 Offer career advancement 543 865 94 41 Provide competitive wages 426 860 105 35 Are in a variety of fields amp industries 583 626 311 63

Private college students are looking for job opportunities that offer attractive benefits (868) career advancement (865) and competitive wages (860)

Only 379 percent of private college students perceive Iowa as having entertainment options that interest them (Figure 35 on next page) They believe Iowa does not have attractive sports teamseventsvenues cultural attractions night life or commercial centersdistricts Most private college students responded that they would be influenced by attractive outdoor recreation (703) cultural attractions (693) fitnesshealth centersYMCAs (692) attractive night life (643) and attractive sports teamseventsvenues (584)

ldquoI would like to see Iowa acquire a professional sport team any sport would work ie NBA NFL MLB etc It would create several jobs in all levels generate revenue for the state and bring people into the state to experience the great atmosphere that Iowa offersrdquo - 39 year-old Saint Ambrose University

23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has (an) Attractivehellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 381 783 182 35 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc) 607 702 249 49 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc) 411 692 262 47 Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 614 690 268 42 Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 457 641 322 37 Sports teamseventsvenues 353 582 360 58 Commercial centersdistricts 370 576 368 56 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations 386 560 379 61 Organized recreation leagues 421 497 427 77 Golf courses country clubs resorts 430 389 520 91

Figure 36 below shows that 782 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities in which they would consider raising a family Nearly four-fifths (784) would be attracted to communities where they would consider raising a family Private college students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (888) low crime rate (882) strong education systems (873) easily accessible medical care networks (847) and short safe daily commutes (802)

Private college students agree that Iowa does have cleansafe communities (806) shortsafe daily commutes (723) easily accessible medical care networks (707) and strong education systems (702)

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 805 888 92 20 Low crime rate 654 882 99 20 Strong education system 701 873 108 20 Medical care network that is easily accessible 706 846 127 26 Short amp safe daily commutes 722 801 171 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 781 783 168 48 Living near familyfriends 698 780 193 26 Suitable roads amp highways 681 747 220 33 Weather I enjoy 370 532 433 35 Diverse communities 365 471 463 66

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are attractive weather (344) diverse communities (319) and proximity to their friends amp family (168) However only 471 percent of private respondents stated that diverse communities would influence their decision to remain in Iowa after completing their education

Figure 37 (on the next page) demonstrates that most private college students are attracted to affordable cost of living (914) and most agree that Iowa provides affordable options (830) Slightly more than half (517) agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care 522 percent agree Iowa offers affordable travel options and 621 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates but 719 percent agree that Iowa has affordable housing which is higher than other student perceptions

24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 670 903 64 33 Affordable housing 569 880 82 38 Affordable education 594 852 106 42 Affordable medical care 509 843 115 42 Affordable tax rate 479 742 192 66 Affordable travel options 427 660 282 58

ldquoMoved here from Cincinnati Ohio three years ago My wife and I both love living in Dubuque There is much to do the town is clean and relatively quiet We enjoy all there is to do here and prefer here to Cincinnatirdquo - 46 year-old Loras College student

Figure 38 shows that students at Iowarsquos private colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in construction professions lean most towards staying in Iowa (800) which is not representative of the college student population as a whole Respondents who are interested in legal careers lean most toward leaving Iowa (500)

In addition to aspiring construction professionals those with interests in agriculture natural resourcesenvironmental (650) financeinsurancereal estate (524) and manufacturing (500) careers are among those that lean more toward staying in Iowa after graduating from a private college

Aspiring active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (429) entertainment amp recreation (350) and public administrationgovernment (300) professionals are among those that more heavily lean toward leaving the state after completing their education

Figure 38 Future Employment Interests (Private Colleges)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

Construction 800 00 200 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 650 50 300 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 524 119 357 General Business Administration 508 115 377 Manufacturing 500 286 214 Education 477 227 295 Public AdministrationGovernment 448 310 241 Healthcare 420 221 359 Other 409 273 318 Computer Information Technology 389 278 333 Social Services 368 298 333 Personal Services 342 184 474 Entertainment amp Recreation 300 350 350 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 296 296 407 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 214 429 357 Legal 188 500 313 TransportationPublic Utilities WholesaleRetail Trade Insufficient survey datarefused

25

Additional Private College Statistics

Marital Status

Respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (689) while 180 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 393 percent lean toward staying while 234 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 276 percent of private college respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 21 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowa colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 430 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 419 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 483 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

26

5

10

15

20

25

Index of Charts and Tables

Figure 1 College Respondents 1

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) 3

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide) 3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide) 4

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide) 4

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide) 5

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Figure 9 Future Employment Interests (Statewide) 6

Figure 10 Field of Study (CertificationTwo-year Degree) 7

Figure 11 Field of Study (Four-year Degree) 8

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post GraduateProfessional) 9

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education 10

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Figure 15 Future Plans by Age Range (Community College) 12

Figure 16 Future Plans by State of Origin (Community College) 12

Figure 17 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Community College) 13

Figure 18 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Community College) 13

Figure 19 Entertainment in Iowa (Community College) 14

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College) 14

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College) 15

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent University) 17

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent University) 17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent University) 18

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent University) 18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent University) 19

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent University) 19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent University) 20

Figure 30 Future Employment Interest (Regent University)

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private College) 22

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin (Private College) 22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private College) 23

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private College) 23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private College) 24

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private College) 24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private College)

Figure 38 Future Employment Interest (Private College) 25

27

Methodology

The Iowa College Student Survey and The Iowa College Student Analysis are produced by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau in cooperation with Iowarsquos colleges and the Office of the Governor of Iowa

In February 2013 The College Student Survey was sent to registrar offices of community colleges state universities and private institutions across the state of Iowa The survey was then distributed electronically to the student population by college representatives The window for responses extended from February 2013 through June 2013 There were 5074 responses received

The responses were collected by IWD Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau and SPSSreg was used to recode and formulate the received data into reportable measurements Methods of analysis in SPSSreg were frequency analysis cross tabulations and multiple response cross tabulation The analysis does not weigh the importance of each variable against one another but instead represents how many respondents chose that particular feature For example

ldquoRespondents seeking a two-year degree or certification in health occupations that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most influenced by cleansafe communities (868)helliprdquo

The majority (868) represents the number of respondents who identified themselves as interested in a two-year degree or certification in health occupations who donrsquot lean toward staying in Iowa that indicated cleansafe communities would influence their decision to stay in Iowa after graduation

IWD does not imply that a particular feature is more important than any other feature rather that a certain percentage of the respondents replied that one feature either is or is not featured in the state of Iowa and if that feature attracts does not attract or if they have no opinion on that feature

28

29

Iowa Workforce Development Communications amp Labor Market Information Division

Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau 1000 E Grand Avenue Des Moines Iowa 50319

(515) 281-4896 wwwiowaworkforceorg

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private Colleges)

Iowa Has (an) Attractivehellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Entertainment options that interest me 381 783 182 35 Outdoor recreation (fishing camping hiking hunting etc) 607 702 249 49 Cultural attractions (museums theatres festivals etc) 411 692 262 47 Fitnesshealth centersYMCAs 614 690 268 42 Night life (coffee houses bars clubs etc) 457 641 322 37 Sports teamseventsvenues 353 582 360 58 Commercial centersdistricts 370 576 368 56 Socialethnicreligiousprofessional organizations 386 560 379 61 Organized recreation leagues 421 497 427 77 Golf courses country clubs resorts 430 389 520 91

Figure 36 below shows that 782 percent of respondents agree that Iowa has communities in which they would consider raising a family Nearly four-fifths (784) would be attracted to communities where they would consider raising a family Private college students are most influenced by cleansafe communities (888) low crime rate (882) strong education systems (873) easily accessible medical care networks (847) and short safe daily commutes (802)

Private college students agree that Iowa does have cleansafe communities (806) shortsafe daily commutes (723) easily accessible medical care networks (707) and strong education systems (702)

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Clean safe communities 805 888 92 20 Low crime rate 654 882 99 20 Strong education system 701 873 108 20 Medical care network that is easily accessible 706 846 127 26 Short amp safe daily commutes 722 801 171 28 Communities I would consider raising a family 781 783 168 48 Living near familyfriends 698 780 193 26 Suitable roads amp highways 681 747 220 33 Weather I enjoy 370 532 433 35 Diverse communities 365 471 463 66

Features that respondents most disagreed were featured in Iowa are attractive weather (344) diverse communities (319) and proximity to their friends amp family (168) However only 471 percent of private respondents stated that diverse communities would influence their decision to remain in Iowa after completing their education

Figure 37 (on the next page) demonstrates that most private college students are attracted to affordable cost of living (914) and most agree that Iowa provides affordable options (830) Slightly more than half (517) agree that Iowa offers affordable medical care 522 percent agree Iowa offers affordable travel options and 621 percent agree Iowa offers affordable tax rates but 719 percent agree that Iowa has affordable housing which is higher than other student perceptions

24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 670 903 64 33 Affordable housing 569 880 82 38 Affordable education 594 852 106 42 Affordable medical care 509 843 115 42 Affordable tax rate 479 742 192 66 Affordable travel options 427 660 282 58

ldquoMoved here from Cincinnati Ohio three years ago My wife and I both love living in Dubuque There is much to do the town is clean and relatively quiet We enjoy all there is to do here and prefer here to Cincinnatirdquo - 46 year-old Loras College student

Figure 38 shows that students at Iowarsquos private colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in construction professions lean most towards staying in Iowa (800) which is not representative of the college student population as a whole Respondents who are interested in legal careers lean most toward leaving Iowa (500)

In addition to aspiring construction professionals those with interests in agriculture natural resourcesenvironmental (650) financeinsurancereal estate (524) and manufacturing (500) careers are among those that lean more toward staying in Iowa after graduating from a private college

Aspiring active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (429) entertainment amp recreation (350) and public administrationgovernment (300) professionals are among those that more heavily lean toward leaving the state after completing their education

Figure 38 Future Employment Interests (Private Colleges)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

Construction 800 00 200 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 650 50 300 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 524 119 357 General Business Administration 508 115 377 Manufacturing 500 286 214 Education 477 227 295 Public AdministrationGovernment 448 310 241 Healthcare 420 221 359 Other 409 273 318 Computer Information Technology 389 278 333 Social Services 368 298 333 Personal Services 342 184 474 Entertainment amp Recreation 300 350 350 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 296 296 407 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 214 429 357 Legal 188 500 313 TransportationPublic Utilities WholesaleRetail Trade Insufficient survey datarefused

25

Additional Private College Statistics

Marital Status

Respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (689) while 180 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 393 percent lean toward staying while 234 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 276 percent of private college respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 21 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowa colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 430 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 419 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 483 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

26

5

10

15

20

25

Index of Charts and Tables

Figure 1 College Respondents 1

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) 3

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide) 3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide) 4

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide) 4

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide) 5

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Figure 9 Future Employment Interests (Statewide) 6

Figure 10 Field of Study (CertificationTwo-year Degree) 7

Figure 11 Field of Study (Four-year Degree) 8

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post GraduateProfessional) 9

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education 10

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Figure 15 Future Plans by Age Range (Community College) 12

Figure 16 Future Plans by State of Origin (Community College) 12

Figure 17 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Community College) 13

Figure 18 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Community College) 13

Figure 19 Entertainment in Iowa (Community College) 14

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College) 14

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College) 15

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent University) 17

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent University) 17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent University) 18

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent University) 18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent University) 19

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent University) 19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent University) 20

Figure 30 Future Employment Interest (Regent University)

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private College) 22

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin (Private College) 22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private College) 23

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private College) 23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private College) 24

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private College) 24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private College)

Figure 38 Future Employment Interest (Private College) 25

27

Methodology

The Iowa College Student Survey and The Iowa College Student Analysis are produced by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau in cooperation with Iowarsquos colleges and the Office of the Governor of Iowa

In February 2013 The College Student Survey was sent to registrar offices of community colleges state universities and private institutions across the state of Iowa The survey was then distributed electronically to the student population by college representatives The window for responses extended from February 2013 through June 2013 There were 5074 responses received

The responses were collected by IWD Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau and SPSSreg was used to recode and formulate the received data into reportable measurements Methods of analysis in SPSSreg were frequency analysis cross tabulations and multiple response cross tabulation The analysis does not weigh the importance of each variable against one another but instead represents how many respondents chose that particular feature For example

ldquoRespondents seeking a two-year degree or certification in health occupations that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most influenced by cleansafe communities (868)helliprdquo

The majority (868) represents the number of respondents who identified themselves as interested in a two-year degree or certification in health occupations who donrsquot lean toward staying in Iowa that indicated cleansafe communities would influence their decision to stay in Iowa after graduation

IWD does not imply that a particular feature is more important than any other feature rather that a certain percentage of the respondents replied that one feature either is or is not featured in the state of Iowa and if that feature attracts does not attract or if they have no opinion on that feature

28

29

Iowa Workforce Development Communications amp Labor Market Information Division

Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau 1000 E Grand Avenue Des Moines Iowa 50319

(515) 281-4896 wwwiowaworkforceorg

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private Colleges)

Iowa Hashellip I Agree Iowa Hashellip Would

Influence Would Not Influence

No Opinion

Affordable cost of living 670 903 64 33 Affordable housing 569 880 82 38 Affordable education 594 852 106 42 Affordable medical care 509 843 115 42 Affordable tax rate 479 742 192 66 Affordable travel options 427 660 282 58

ldquoMoved here from Cincinnati Ohio three years ago My wife and I both love living in Dubuque There is much to do the town is clean and relatively quiet We enjoy all there is to do here and prefer here to Cincinnatirdquo - 46 year-old Loras College student

Figure 38 shows that students at Iowarsquos private colleges are interested in a variety of industries Respondents who are interested in construction professions lean most towards staying in Iowa (800) which is not representative of the college student population as a whole Respondents who are interested in legal careers lean most toward leaving Iowa (500)

In addition to aspiring construction professionals those with interests in agriculture natural resourcesenvironmental (650) financeinsurancereal estate (524) and manufacturing (500) careers are among those that lean more toward staying in Iowa after graduating from a private college

Aspiring active militarylaw enforcementpublic safety (429) entertainment amp recreation (350) and public administrationgovernment (300) professionals are among those that more heavily lean toward leaving the state after completing their education

Figure 38 Future Employment Interests (Private Colleges)

Future Employment Interest Lean Toward

Staying Lean Against

Staying Not Sure

Construction 800 00 200 AgricultureNatural ResourcesEnvironment 650 50 300 FinanceInsuranceReal Estate 524 119 357 General Business Administration 508 115 377 Manufacturing 500 286 214 Education 477 227 295 Public AdministrationGovernment 448 310 241 Healthcare 420 221 359 Other 409 273 318 Computer Information Technology 389 278 333 Social Services 368 298 333 Personal Services 342 184 474 Entertainment amp Recreation 300 350 350 CommunicationsJournalismPublic Relations 296 296 407 Active MilitaryLaw EnforcementPublic Safety 214 429 357 Legal 188 500 313 TransportationPublic Utilities WholesaleRetail Trade Insufficient survey datarefused

25

Additional Private College Statistics

Marital Status

Respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (689) while 180 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 393 percent lean toward staying while 234 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 276 percent of private college respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 21 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowa colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 430 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 419 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 483 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

26

5

10

15

20

25

Index of Charts and Tables

Figure 1 College Respondents 1

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) 3

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide) 3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide) 4

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide) 4

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide) 5

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Figure 9 Future Employment Interests (Statewide) 6

Figure 10 Field of Study (CertificationTwo-year Degree) 7

Figure 11 Field of Study (Four-year Degree) 8

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post GraduateProfessional) 9

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education 10

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Figure 15 Future Plans by Age Range (Community College) 12

Figure 16 Future Plans by State of Origin (Community College) 12

Figure 17 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Community College) 13

Figure 18 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Community College) 13

Figure 19 Entertainment in Iowa (Community College) 14

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College) 14

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College) 15

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent University) 17

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent University) 17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent University) 18

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent University) 18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent University) 19

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent University) 19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent University) 20

Figure 30 Future Employment Interest (Regent University)

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private College) 22

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin (Private College) 22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private College) 23

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private College) 23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private College) 24

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private College) 24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private College)

Figure 38 Future Employment Interest (Private College) 25

27

Methodology

The Iowa College Student Survey and The Iowa College Student Analysis are produced by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau in cooperation with Iowarsquos colleges and the Office of the Governor of Iowa

In February 2013 The College Student Survey was sent to registrar offices of community colleges state universities and private institutions across the state of Iowa The survey was then distributed electronically to the student population by college representatives The window for responses extended from February 2013 through June 2013 There were 5074 responses received

The responses were collected by IWD Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau and SPSSreg was used to recode and formulate the received data into reportable measurements Methods of analysis in SPSSreg were frequency analysis cross tabulations and multiple response cross tabulation The analysis does not weigh the importance of each variable against one another but instead represents how many respondents chose that particular feature For example

ldquoRespondents seeking a two-year degree or certification in health occupations that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most influenced by cleansafe communities (868)helliprdquo

The majority (868) represents the number of respondents who identified themselves as interested in a two-year degree or certification in health occupations who donrsquot lean toward staying in Iowa that indicated cleansafe communities would influence their decision to stay in Iowa after graduation

IWD does not imply that a particular feature is more important than any other feature rather that a certain percentage of the respondents replied that one feature either is or is not featured in the state of Iowa and if that feature attracts does not attract or if they have no opinion on that feature

28

29

Iowa Workforce Development Communications amp Labor Market Information Division

Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau 1000 E Grand Avenue Des Moines Iowa 50319

(515) 281-4896 wwwiowaworkforceorg

Additional Private College Statistics

Marital Status

Respondents stated that Iowa is only attractive to those who are married and raising a family Respondents who identified themselves as married are more likely to stay in Iowa (689) while 180 percent of married respondents lean against staying Of those who identified themselves as single 393 percent lean toward staying while 234 percent lean against staying

Internships and Apprenticeships

One of the easiest ways that people find work after completing their education is through internships or apprenticeships Employers in the state of Iowa value job applicants with internship or apprenticeship experience 276 percent of private college respondents are currently participating or have participated in an internship 21 percent are currently participatinghave participated in an apprenticeship

Employment Status

Of course not all students at Iowa colleges are full-time students with no jobs some are full-time or part-time students working part-time jobs some are even working full-time jobs 430 percent of respondents who identified themselves as not employed lean toward staying in the state 419 of respondents that work part-time jobs lean toward staying in the state while 483 percent who work full-time lean toward staying in the state after completing their education

26

5

10

15

20

25

Index of Charts and Tables

Figure 1 College Respondents 1

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) 3

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide) 3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide) 4

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide) 4

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide) 5

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Figure 9 Future Employment Interests (Statewide) 6

Figure 10 Field of Study (CertificationTwo-year Degree) 7

Figure 11 Field of Study (Four-year Degree) 8

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post GraduateProfessional) 9

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education 10

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Figure 15 Future Plans by Age Range (Community College) 12

Figure 16 Future Plans by State of Origin (Community College) 12

Figure 17 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Community College) 13

Figure 18 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Community College) 13

Figure 19 Entertainment in Iowa (Community College) 14

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College) 14

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College) 15

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent University) 17

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent University) 17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent University) 18

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent University) 18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent University) 19

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent University) 19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent University) 20

Figure 30 Future Employment Interest (Regent University)

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private College) 22

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin (Private College) 22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private College) 23

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private College) 23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private College) 24

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private College) 24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private College)

Figure 38 Future Employment Interest (Private College) 25

27

Methodology

The Iowa College Student Survey and The Iowa College Student Analysis are produced by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau in cooperation with Iowarsquos colleges and the Office of the Governor of Iowa

In February 2013 The College Student Survey was sent to registrar offices of community colleges state universities and private institutions across the state of Iowa The survey was then distributed electronically to the student population by college representatives The window for responses extended from February 2013 through June 2013 There were 5074 responses received

The responses were collected by IWD Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau and SPSSreg was used to recode and formulate the received data into reportable measurements Methods of analysis in SPSSreg were frequency analysis cross tabulations and multiple response cross tabulation The analysis does not weigh the importance of each variable against one another but instead represents how many respondents chose that particular feature For example

ldquoRespondents seeking a two-year degree or certification in health occupations that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most influenced by cleansafe communities (868)helliprdquo

The majority (868) represents the number of respondents who identified themselves as interested in a two-year degree or certification in health occupations who donrsquot lean toward staying in Iowa that indicated cleansafe communities would influence their decision to stay in Iowa after graduation

IWD does not imply that a particular feature is more important than any other feature rather that a certain percentage of the respondents replied that one feature either is or is not featured in the state of Iowa and if that feature attracts does not attract or if they have no opinion on that feature

28

29

Iowa Workforce Development Communications amp Labor Market Information Division

Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau 1000 E Grand Avenue Des Moines Iowa 50319

(515) 281-4896 wwwiowaworkforceorg

5

10

15

20

25

Index of Charts and Tables

Figure 1 College Respondents 1

Figure 2 Future Plans by Age Range (Statewide) 2

Figure 3 State of Origin (Statewide) 3

Figure 4 Desired Population Setting (Statewide) 3

Figure 5 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Statewide) 4

Figure 6 Entertainment in Iowa (Statewide) 4

Figure 7 Quality of Life (Statewide) 5

Figure 8 Cost of Living (Statewide)

Figure 9 Future Employment Interests (Statewide) 6

Figure 10 Field of Study (CertificationTwo-year Degree) 7

Figure 11 Field of Study (Four-year Degree) 8

Figure 12 Field of Study (Post GraduateProfessional) 9

Figure 13 Expected Wages Upon Completion of Education 10

Figure 14 Type of College Currently Attending

Figure 15 Future Plans by Age Range (Community College) 12

Figure 16 Future Plans by State of Origin (Community College) 12

Figure 17 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Community College) 13

Figure 18 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Community College) 13

Figure 19 Entertainment in Iowa (Community College) 14

Figure 20 Quality of Life (Community College) 14

Figure 21 Cost of Living (Community College) 15

Figure 22 Future Employment Interest (Community College)

Figure 23 Future Plans by Age Range (Regent University) 17

Figure 24 Future Plans by State of Origin (Regent University) 17

Figure 25 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Regent University) 18

Figure 26 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Regent University) 18

Figure 27 Entertainment in Iowa (Regent University) 19

Figure 28 Quality of Life (Regent University) 19

Figure 29 Cost of Living (Regent University) 20

Figure 30 Future Employment Interest (Regent University)

Figure 31 Future Plans by Age Range (Private College) 22

Figure 32 Future Plans by State of Origin (Private College) 22

Figure 33 Future Plans by Desired Population Setting (Private College) 23

Figure 34 Attractiveness of Job Opportunities (Private College) 23

Figure 35 Entertainment in Iowa (Private College) 24

Figure 36 Quality of Life (Private College) 24

Figure 37 Cost of Living (Private College)

Figure 38 Future Employment Interest (Private College) 25

27

Methodology

The Iowa College Student Survey and The Iowa College Student Analysis are produced by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau in cooperation with Iowarsquos colleges and the Office of the Governor of Iowa

In February 2013 The College Student Survey was sent to registrar offices of community colleges state universities and private institutions across the state of Iowa The survey was then distributed electronically to the student population by college representatives The window for responses extended from February 2013 through June 2013 There were 5074 responses received

The responses were collected by IWD Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau and SPSSreg was used to recode and formulate the received data into reportable measurements Methods of analysis in SPSSreg were frequency analysis cross tabulations and multiple response cross tabulation The analysis does not weigh the importance of each variable against one another but instead represents how many respondents chose that particular feature For example

ldquoRespondents seeking a two-year degree or certification in health occupations that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most influenced by cleansafe communities (868)helliprdquo

The majority (868) represents the number of respondents who identified themselves as interested in a two-year degree or certification in health occupations who donrsquot lean toward staying in Iowa that indicated cleansafe communities would influence their decision to stay in Iowa after graduation

IWD does not imply that a particular feature is more important than any other feature rather that a certain percentage of the respondents replied that one feature either is or is not featured in the state of Iowa and if that feature attracts does not attract or if they have no opinion on that feature

28

29

Iowa Workforce Development Communications amp Labor Market Information Division

Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau 1000 E Grand Avenue Des Moines Iowa 50319

(515) 281-4896 wwwiowaworkforceorg

Methodology

The Iowa College Student Survey and The Iowa College Student Analysis are produced by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau in cooperation with Iowarsquos colleges and the Office of the Governor of Iowa

In February 2013 The College Student Survey was sent to registrar offices of community colleges state universities and private institutions across the state of Iowa The survey was then distributed electronically to the student population by college representatives The window for responses extended from February 2013 through June 2013 There were 5074 responses received

The responses were collected by IWD Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau and SPSSreg was used to recode and formulate the received data into reportable measurements Methods of analysis in SPSSreg were frequency analysis cross tabulations and multiple response cross tabulation The analysis does not weigh the importance of each variable against one another but instead represents how many respondents chose that particular feature For example

ldquoRespondents seeking a two-year degree or certification in health occupations that are unsure about or leaning against staying in Iowa are most influenced by cleansafe communities (868)helliprdquo

The majority (868) represents the number of respondents who identified themselves as interested in a two-year degree or certification in health occupations who donrsquot lean toward staying in Iowa that indicated cleansafe communities would influence their decision to stay in Iowa after graduation

IWD does not imply that a particular feature is more important than any other feature rather that a certain percentage of the respondents replied that one feature either is or is not featured in the state of Iowa and if that feature attracts does not attract or if they have no opinion on that feature

28

29

Iowa Workforce Development Communications amp Labor Market Information Division

Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau 1000 E Grand Avenue Des Moines Iowa 50319

(515) 281-4896 wwwiowaworkforceorg

29

Iowa Workforce Development Communications amp Labor Market Information Division

Regional Research amp Analysis Bureau 1000 E Grand Avenue Des Moines Iowa 50319

(515) 281-4896 wwwiowaworkforceorg