NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS

Statistical Analysis Report June 1999

Postsecondary Education Descriptive Analysis Reports

Students With Disabilities in

Postsecondary Education:

A Profile of Preparation,

Participation, and Outcomes

Laura Horn

Jennifer Berktold

MPR Associates, Inc.

Larry Bobbitt

Project Officer

National Center for Education Statistics

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Educational Research and Improvement NCES 1999–187
U.S. Department of Education

Richard W. Riley

Secretary

Office of Educational Research and Improvement

C. Kent McGuire

Assistant Secretary

National Center for Education Statistics

Pascal D. Forgione, Jr.

Commissioner

Postsecondary Division

C. Dennis Carroll

Associate Commissioner

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the primary federal entity for collecting, analyzing,

and reporting data related to education in the United States and other nations. It fulfills a congressional

mandate to collect, collate, analyze, and report full and complete statistics on the condition of education in

the United States; conduct and publish reports and specialized analyses of the meaning and significance

of such statistics; assist state and local education agencies in improving their statistical systems; and

review and report on education activities in foreign countries.

NCES activities are designed to address high priority education data needs; provide consistent, reliable,

complete, and accurate indicators of education status and trends; and report timely, useful, and high

quality data to the U.S. Department of Education, the Congress, the states, other education policymakers,

practitioners, data users, and the general public.

We strive to make our products available in a variety of formats and in language that is appropriate to a

variety of audiences. You, as our customer, are the best judge of our success in communicating

information effectively. If you have any comments or suggestions about this or any other NCES product or

report, we would like to hear from you. Please direct your comments to:

National Center for Education Statistics

Office of Educational Research and Improvement

U.S. Department of Education

555 New Jersey Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20208–5651

June 1999

The NCES World Wide Web Home Page is:

http://nces.ed.gov

Suggested Citation

U.S. Department of Education. National Center for Education Statistics. Students With Disabilities in

Postsecondary Eduction: A Profile of Preparation, Participation, and Outcomes, NCES 1999–187, by

Laura Horn and Jennifer Berktold. Project Officer: Larry Bobbitt. Washington DC: 1999.

Contact:

Aurora D’Amico

(202) 219-1365
iii

Executive Summary

This report provides a comprehensive profile of

students with disabilities enrolled in postsecondary education. It is based on an analysis of four

different surveys conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics, which were used to

address the following four issues: 1) representation of students with disabilities enrolled in postsecondary education; 2) who among high school

students with disabilities gains access to postsecondary education; 3) among those who enroll

in postsecondary education, how well do they persist to degree attainment; and 4) among college

graduates, what are the early labor market outcomes and graduate school enrollment rates of

students with disabilities. The following is a

summary of the key findings for each of the four

main issues addressed in the report.

How Represented Are Students With

Disabilities in Postsecondary

Education?

In the 1995–96 academic year, as part of the

National Postsecondary Student Aid Study

(NPSAS), a nationally representative sample of

about 21,000 undergraduates were asked: “Do you

have any disabilities, such as hearing, speech, mobility impairment, or vision problems that can’t be

corrected with glasses?” About 6 percent replied

“yes” (figure A). When asked about specific disabilities, among the 6 percent of undergraduates

who reported any disabilities, 29 percent said they

had a learning disability; 23 percent reported

having an orthopedic impairment; 16 percent reported a noncorrectable vision impairment; 16

percent were hearing impaired or deaf; and 3 percent reported a speech impairment. One in five (21

cent reported a speech impairment. One in five (21

percent) reported having some “other healthrelated” disability. Compared with students without disabilities, students with disabilities were

more likely to be men, to be older, and were more

likely to be white, non-Hispanic.

Figure A—Percentage of 1995–96 undergraduates

Figure A—who reported a disability, and among

Figure A—those with disabilities, the percentage

Figure A—reporting each disability type

*Any other health-related disability or impairment.

NOTE: Percentages do not sum to 100 because some students

reported multiple disabilities.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for

Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.

29

23 21

16 16

3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Learning Orthopedic Other* Hearing Visual Speech

Percent

Did not report

any disability

94%

Reported

any disability

6%
Executive Summary

iv

Compared with their counterparts who reported

no disabilities, students with disabilities differed

in the types of institutions they attended. They

were less likely to be enrolled in public 4-year

institutions, equally likely to be enrolled in private, not-for-profit 4-year institutions, and more

likely to be enrolled in subbaccalaureate institutions such as public 2-year colleges. There were

no apparent differences, however, between undergraduates with and without disabilities with respect to their general fields of study. For example,

roughly one-fifth of students with and without

disabilities (17 and 20 percent, respectively) were

in business-related fields; 18 and 15 percent, respectively, were in humanities; and 11 and 13 percent, respectively, were in health fields.

With respect to financing their education, students with and without disabilities did not differ to

a great extent in either the likelihood of receiving

financial aid or in the average total amount of aid

received. However, when examining specific institutional sectors and specific types of financial

aid received, differences did emerge, especially

among students enrolled in public 4-year colleges.

For example, among dependent students (i.e.,

those who are financially dependent on their parents) in public 4-year colleges, students with disabilities were less likely to receive financial aid

(48 versus 59 percent), whether in the form of

grants (31 versus 42 percent), loans (29 versus 38

percent), or work study (4 versus 8 percent). Since

the award of federal financial aid is based on a

student budget made up of the student’s financial

need and the price of the institution, it is possible

that dependent students with disabilities attending

public 4-year colleges were enrolled in lower

priced institutions than their counterparts without

disabilities. Differences may also be due in part to

the fact that some students with disabilities receive supplemental income such as Supplemental

Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

Who Gets to College?

Based on data from a nationally representative

sample of students who were in the eighth grade in

1988 (National Education Longitudinal Study of

1988), students with disabilities were less likely to

enroll in postsecondary education among those

who completed high school by 1994 (table A). As

of 1994, about 2 years after most finished high

school, approximately 63 percent of students with

disabilities had enrolled in some form of postsecondary education, compared with about 72 percent of students without disabilities. Among those

who enrolled, nearly one-half of students with disabilities (45 percent) enrolled in public 2-year institutions, compared with one-third of students

without disabilities. Conversely, students with

disabilities were less likely to enroll in the 4-year

sector (42 percent) than their counterparts without

disabilities (62 percent).

When students were ranked according to how

qualified they were for admission to a 4-year college, students with disabilities were much less

likely to be even minimally qualified.1 Among

those who were qualified, students with and without disabilities were just as likely to enroll in

some form of postsecondary education. Students

with and without disabilities who were very to

highly qualified for admission to a 4-year college

(had scores in the top 10 to 25 percent of entering

4-year college students) enrolled at similar rates.

However, among students who were ranked as

“minimally to somewhat” qualified for admission to

a 4-year college (had scores in the top 50 to 75

 

1This was based on an index score of grades, rank in school,

GPA, NELS composite test scores, and SAT/ACT scores of

the top 75 percent of students actually admitted to a 4-year

institution. To be minimally qualified, students had to be

ranked at or above the 54th percentile in their class, have a

GPA of 2.7 or higher in academic courses, have a combined

SAT score of 820 or above (or ACT composite of 19 or

above), or score at the 56th percentile or higher on the 1992

NELS mathematics and reading aptitude test.
Executive Summary

v

Table A—Among 1988 eighth graders who completed high school, the percentage who enrolled in

Table A—postsecondary education by 1994, and percentage distribution according to type of institution,

Table A—by disability status and type

Private,

Total not-for- Public

 enrolled Total Public profit Total 2-year Other1

 Total 70.4 59.4 39.8 19.6 40.6 34.4 6.2 

Does not have a disability 71.7 61.5 41.3 20.2 38.6 33.3 5.3 

Has a disability 62.8 42.0 28.1 14.0 58.0 44.9 13.1 

 Visual impairment 70.4 48.4 30.9 17.6 51.6 44.2 7.4 

 Hearing impairment or deaf 60.2 39.8 33.5 6.3 60.2 47.0 13.2 

 Speech impairment 58.5 49.0 34.5 14.5 51.0 47.6 3.5 

 Orthopedic impairment 73.9 71.4 53.6 17.8 28.7 23.6 5.1 

 Learning disability 57.5 28.2 17.6 10.5 71.8 53.9 17.9 

 Other disability or impairment2 65.9 44.3 28.4 15.9 55.7 42.8 13.0 

1

Students enrolled in private, for-profit institutions; public less-than-2-year institutions; or private, not-for-profit less-than4-year institutions.

2

Parent reported student had any other disability, including health problems, emotional problems, mental retardation, or other

physical disabilities, and had received services for it.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Education Longitudinal Study

of 1988, Third Follow-up Survey, 1994 (NELS:88/94), Data Analysis System.

4-year institutions Other institutions

percent of entering 4-year college students), students with disabilities were less likely than their

counterparts without disabilities to enroll in the 4-

year sector (41 versus 54 percent), and more likely

to enroll in public 2-year institutions (35 versus 25

percent). In other words, despite being at least

minimally qualified for admission to a 4-year institution, students with disabilities were less likely

to enroll in the 4-year sector. Research has shown

that a majority of students who enroll in the 2-year

sector with the intentions of later transferring to a

4-year institution do not transfer. Therefore, these

students may be reducing their chances of earning

a bachelor’s degree.

Taking a closer look at the students who enrolled in any postsecondary education, there were

a number of apparent differences with respect to

high school academic preparation and performance between students with and without disabilities. Those with disabilities were more likely to

have taken remedial mathematics and English

courses in high school, less likely to have taken

advanced placement courses, had lower high

school GPAs, and had lower average SAT entrance exam scores.

Overall, with respect to gaining access to

higher education, the data indicate that students

with disabilities fall behind their counterparts

without disabilities in their high school academic

preparation for college. As a consequence, students with disabilities are less likely to be academically qualified for admission to a 4-year

college and among those who enroll in postsecondary education, students with disabilities may be

less prepared to undertake college-level courses.
Executive Summary

vi

Who Stays in College?

A survey of undergraduates who enrolled in

postsecondary education for the first time in

1989–90 (Beginning Postsecondary Students) and

who were last surveyed in 1994 indicates that students who reported any disabilities were less

likely than their counterparts without disabilities

to have stayed enrolled or earned a postsecondary

degree or credential within 5 years (figure B). As

of 1994, 53 percent of students with disabilities

had attained a degree or vocational certificate or

were still enrolled, compared with 64 percent of

their counterparts without disabilities. Among

students with disabilities, 16 percent attained a

bachelor’s degree; 6 percent attained an associate’s degree; and 19 percent earned a vocational

certificate. The corresponding percentages for

students without disabilities were 27 percent, 12

percent, and 13 percent, respectively.

The postsecondary outcomes of students with

disabilities, however, may not be directly comparable to those students without disabilities. Compared to their counterparts without disabilities,

those with disabilities who first enrolled in postsecondary education in 1989–90 were more likely

to have attributes associated with lower rates of

persistence and degree attainment. For example,

students with disabilities were more likely to have

delayed their postsecondary enrollment a year or

more after finishing high school (43 versus 32

percent). They were also more likely to have completed high school through earning a GED (i.e.,

they passed the General Education Development

exam) or alternative high school credential (12

versus 6 percent). Corresponding to being older,

students with disabilities were also more likely to

have dependents other than a spouse (25 versus 13

percent). All of these attributes are associated with

lower persistence and degree attainment rates.

Thus, in addition to the obstacles they may have

experienced related to their disabilities, students

with disabilities were also more likely to have

other experiences and circumstances that potentially conflicted with their schooling. Despite such

impediments, however, more than half of students

with disabilities had persisted in postsecondary

education: 41 percent had earned a credential, and

an additional 12 percent were still enrolled in

1994.

Figure B—Percentage of 1989–90 beginning

Figure B—postsecondary students according to

Figure B—their persistence status in 1994 and

Figure B—highest degree attained, by disability

Figure B—status

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for

Education Statistics, 1990 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:90/94), Data

Analysis System.

59

19

6

16

49

13 12

27

0

20

40

60

80

100

No degree Vocational

certificate

Associate’s

degree

Bachelor’s

degree

Percent

53

64

0

20

40

60

80

100

Total persisted: attained credential

or enrolled in 1994

Percent

Has disability No disability
Executive Summary

vii

How Do College Graduates Fare?

While students with disabilities are less likely

to persist in postsecondary education and attain a

credential, those who earn a bachelor’s degree

appear to have relatively similar early labor market outcomes and graduate school enrollment rates

as their counterparts without disabilities. Based on

data from a cohort of students who earned bachelor’s degrees in 1992–93 (Baccalaureate and Beyond), as of April 1994, most students, regardless

of disability status, reported that they were working (figure C). Students with disabilities however,

were more likely to be unemployed (11 versus 4

percent). Among college graduates who were

working, the annual full-time salaries of students

with and without disabilities did not differ significantly. There was also no difference in the likelihood of college graduates with and without

disabilities reporting that their job was related to

their degree: 58 percent of students with disabilities and 55 percent of those without disabilities

reported that their job was closely related to their

bachelor’s degree. Finally, similar proportions of

college graduates with and without disabilities had

enrolled in graduate school within 1 year after

earning their bachelor’s degrees.

Figure C—Among 1992–93 bachelor’s degree

Figure C—recipients, percentage distribution 

Figure C—according to employment status and

Figure C—graduate school enrollment, by

Figure C—disability status

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center

for Education Statistics, 1993 Baccalaureate and Beyond

Longitudinal Study, First Follow-up (B&B:93/94), Data

Analysis System.

67

13 11 10

73

14

4 8

0

20

40

60

80

100

Employed

full time

Employed

part time

Unemployed Not in labor

force

Percent

Has disability No disability

Average 1994 

full-time salary

13 6

81

13 5

82

0

20

40

60

80

100

Enrolled in

graduate school

Enrolled in

nongraduate

program

Not enrolled

Percent

$26,988

$25,219
viii

Foreword

This report was prepared for and funded by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) at the U.S. Department of Education. The report describes and analyzes

the experiences of students with disabilities enrolled in postsecondary education. There are four

sections to the report: 1) a descriptive profile of undergraduates with disabilities who are enrolled

in postsecondary education; 2) an analysis of who gains access to postsecondary education

among high school students with disabilities; 3) a discussion of how well students with disabilities persist to degree attainment; and 4) a look at the early employment and graduate school enrollment of bachelor’s degree recipients.

In order to address these topics, the report uses data from four surveys conducted by the

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The descriptive profile of undergraduate students with disabilities is based on data from the 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student Aid

Study (NPSAS:96), a nationally representative sample that includes students enrolled in all types

of postsecondary institutions, ranging from 4-year colleges and universities to less-than-2-year

vocational institutions.

The data used in the analysis of access to undergraduate education are from the National

Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88/94), a survey that began in 1988 with a nationally representative sample of eighth graders who were subsequently followed up every 2 years

through 1994. The third and last follow-up survey was conducted 2 years after most of the cohort

graduated high school and provides information on their enrollment in postsecondary education,

as well as their high school academic experiences.

The discussion on persistence and attainment is based on data from the 1989–90 Beginning

Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:90/94), the longitudinal component of the

NPSAS:90 survey. The BPS:90/94 sample consists of students who enrolled in postsecondary

education for the first time during the 1989–90 academic year. The BPS cohort was subsequently

followed up in 1992 and 1994. The survey provides a wide range of information regarding student persistence and degree attainment 5 years after the students first enrolled.

Finally, the analysis of college graduates is based on data from the 1993–94 Baccalaureate

and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B:93/94). B&B:93/94 is a nationally representative sample
Foreword

ix

of students who completed their bachelor’s degrees in the 1992–93 academic year, a subsample

of NPSAS:93. The First Follow-up Survey was conducted in 1994, 1 year after graduation.

The estimates presented in the report (mostly percentages) were produced using the NCES

Data Analysis System (DAS) for each of the four surveys. The DAS is a microcomputer application that allows users to specify and generate their own tables. The DAS produces designadjusted standard errors necessary for testing the statistical significance of differences shown in

the tables. For more information regarding the DAS, readers should consult appendix D of this

report.
x

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services

(OSERS) for funding this report. In particular, Hugh Berry provided guidance in its planning and

reviewed the report drafts. In addition, Debra Price-Ellingstad, Sean Sweeny, David Keer, Harold

Kay and Edward Anthony of OSERS reviewed the final report. Ellen Bradburn from Education

Statistics Services Institute provided an in-depth substantive and methodological review. We also

wish to thank Steve Broughman, Drew Malizio, and Marilyn McMillen of NCES for reviewing

the final report. A special thanks to Vickie Barr, Director of the HEATH Resource Center, National Clearinghouse on Postsecondary Education for Individuals with Disabilities, for her careful

and thoughtful review of the final report.

At MPR Associates, Andrea Livingston edited the report, Barbara Kridl coordinated its

production, Francesca Tussing and Mary Mack formatted text and graphics, and Karyn Madden

and Helen Jang proofread and assembled the final document.
xi

Table of Contents

Page

Executive Summary ................................................................................................................. iii

Foreword ................................................................................................................................... viii

Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................................... x

List of Tables ............................................................................................................................ xiii

List of Figures ........................................................................................................................... xvii

Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1

Data ....................................................................................................................................... 3

Definition of Disabilities....................................................................................................... 5

Organization of This Report.................................................................................................. 5

Profile of Undergraduates With Disabilities........................................................................... 7

Demographics........................................................................................................................ 7

Enrollment Characteristics .................................................................................................... 12

Student Services and Activities............................................................................................. 16

Employment While Enrolled................................................................................................. 18

Dependency Status and Financial Aid................................................................................... 19

Access to Postsecondary Education ........................................................................................ 27

High School Completion Status ............................................................................................ 27

Postsecondary Enrollment..................................................................................................... 29

Postsecondary Aspirations and Academic Preparation ......................................................... 30

Academic Characteristics of Students Enrolled in Postsecondary Education....................... 34

Persistence and Attainment in Postsecondary Education ..................................................... 37

Enrollment Characteristics .................................................................................................... 37

Persistence and Degree Attainment....................................................................................... 37

College Graduates..................................................................................................................... 45

Employment .......................................................................................................................... 45

Graduate School Enrollment ................................................................................................. 49
Table of Contents

xii

Page

Summary and Conclusions....................................................................................................... 51

References.................................................................................................................................. 53

Appendix A—Comparing Data on Students With Disabilities............................................. 55

Appendix B—Supplemental Tables......................................................................................... 57

Appendix C—Glossary ............................................................................................................. 61

Appendix D—Technical Notes and Methodology ................................................................. 81
xiii

List of Tables

Table Page

A Among 1988 eighth graders who completed high school, the percentage who enrolled

in postsecondary education by 1994, and percentage distribution according to type of

institution, by disability status and type .......................................................................... v

1 Definition of disability types for each survey analyzed in the report.............................. 6

2 Percentage of 1995–96 undergraduates who reported a disability and among those

with disabilities, the percentage reporting each disability type, by selected student

characteristics .................................................................................................................. 8

3 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to gender, by disability

status and type ................................................................................................................. 10

4 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to race–ethnicity, by

disability status and type ................................................................................................. 10

5 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to income quartile, by

disability status and type ................................................................................................. 11

6 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to age, and the average

age by disability status and type ...................................................................................... 11

7 Percentage of 1995–96 undergraduates who are married, and the percentage who have

dependents, by disability status and type......................................................................... 12

8 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to institution type, by

disability status and type ................................................................................................. 13

9 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to enrollment intensity,

by disability status and type............................................................................................. 14

10 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to major field of study,

by disability status and type............................................................................................. 15

11 Percentage of 1995–96 first- and second-year undergraduates who took remedial

courses in college in 1995–96, by disability status and type and institution type ........... 16
List of Tables

xiv

Table Page

12 Percentage of 1995–96 undergraduates participating in counseling services and other

school activities, by disability status and type................................................................. 17

13 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to hours worked per

week while enrolled, by disability status and type .......................................................... 18

14 Percentage of 1995–96 undergraduates participating in volunteer services, and hours

per week, by disability status and type ............................................................................ 19

15 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to dependency status,

by disability status and type............................................................................................. 20

16 Percentage of 1995–96 dependent undergraduates receiving various types of financial

aid, by disability status and type and institution type...................................................... 21

17 Average amount of financial aid received by 1995–96 dependent undergraduates who

received aid, by disability status and type and institution type ....................................... 22

18 Percentage of 1995–96 independent undergraduates receiving various types of

financial aid, by disability status and type and institution type....................................... 23

19 Average amount of financial aid received by 1995–96 independent undergraduates

who received aid, by disability status and type and institution type ............................... 24

20 Percentage distribution of 1988 eighth graders according to high school completion

status as of 1994, by disability status and type................................................................ 29

21 Among 1988 eighth graders who completed high school, the percentage who enrolled

in postsecondary education by 1994, and percentage distribution according to type of

institution, by disability status and type .......................................................................... 30

22 Among 1988 eighth graders who completed high school, the percentage distribution

according to their educational aspirations reported in the eighth grade, by disability

status and type ................................................................................................................. 31

23 Among 1988 eighth graders who completed high school, the percentage distribution

according to a 4-year college qualification index, by disability status and type ............. 33

24 Among 1988 eighth graders who completed high school, the percentage distribution

according to postsecondary enrollment by 1994, by college qualification level and

disability status................................................................................................................ 34

25 Among 1988 eighth graders who enrolled in postsecondary education by 1994, the

percentage distribution according to 1988 composite test scores, by disability status

and type ........................................................................................................................... 35
List of Tables

xv

Table Page

26 Among 1988 eighth graders who enrolled in postsecondary education by 1994, the

percentage who took remedial or advanced placement courses in high school, by

disability status and type ................................................................................................. 35

27 Among 1988 eighth graders who enrolled in postsecondary education by 1994, the

average high school grade point average and SAT scores, by disability status and

type .................................................................................................................................. 36

28 Percentage distribution of 1989–90 beginning postsecondary students according to

first institution attended, by disability status and type .................................................... 38

29 Percentage distribution of 1989–90 beginning postsecondary students according to

postsecondary persistence status, by disability status and type: 1994............................. 38

30 Percentage distribution of 1989–90 beginning postsecondary students according to

highest undergraduate degree attained by 1994, by disability status and first institution

attended ........................................................................................................................... 40

31 Percentage of 1989–90 beginning postsecondary students with characteristics

associated with increased risk of postsecondary attrition, by disability status and

type .................................................................................................................................. 41

32 Percentage of beginning postsecondary students who attained a degree or were

enrolled in 1994 and the adjusted percentage after controlling for the covariation of

the variables listed in the table ........................................................................................ 43

33 Percentage distribution of 1992–93 bachelor’s degree recipients according to their

employment status in April 1994, by disability status and type...................................... 47

34 Average full-time salaries and the percentage distribution of employed 1992–93

bachelor’s degree recipients according to how closely April 1994 occupation is

related to their degree, by disability status and type........................................................ 47

35 Percentage distribution of 1992–93 bachelor’s degree recipients according to April

1994 occupation, by disability status and type................................................................ 48

36 Percentage distribution of 1992–93 bachelor’s degree recipients according to

enrollment in further education in April 1994, by disability status and type: 1994 ........ 49

37 Percentage of 1992–93 bachelor’s degree recipients who ever applied and were

accepted to graduate school, by disability status and type: 1994 .................................... 50
List of Tables

xvi

Table Page

APPENDIX TABLES

A1 Percentage of students with disabilities and the percentage by type of disability:

comparing previous reports with NPSAS:96 data........................................................... 55

B1 Percentage of 1988 eighth graders whose parents indicated their children had a

disability and received special services, and among those with disabilities, the

percentage reporting each disability type, by gender, race–ethnicity, and income.......... 58

B2 Percentage of 1989–90 beginning postsecondary students who reported having a

disability, and among those with disabilities, the percentage reporting each disability

type, by gender, race–ethnicity, and income ................................................................... 59

B3 Percentage of 1992–93 bachelor’s degree recipients who reported having a disability,

and among those with disabilities, the percentage reporting each disability type, by

gender, race–ethnicity, and income ................................................................................. 60

D1 Standard errors for table 2: Percentage of 1995–96 undergraduates who reported a

disability and among those with disabilities, the percentages by disability type, by

selected student characteristics........................................................................................ 84

D2 Standard errors for table 20: Percentage distribution of 1988 eighth graders according

to high school completion status as of 1994, by disability status and type ..................... 85
xvii

List of Figures

Figure Page

A Percentage of 1995–96 undergraduates who reported a disability, and among those

with disabilities, the percentage reporting each disability type....................................... iii

B Percentage of 1989–90 beginning postsecondary students according to their

persistence status in 1994 and highest degree attained, by disability status.................... vi

C Among 1992–93 bachelor’s degree recipients, percentage distribution according to

employment status and graduate school enrollment, by disability status........................ vii

1 Percentage of 1995–96 undergraduates who reported a disability, and among those

with disabilities, the percentage reporting each disability type....................................... 7

2 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to gender and age, by

disability status................................................................................................................ 9

3 Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to postsecondary

institution, by disability status......................................................................................... 13

4 Percentage of 1988 eighth graders whose parents indicated that their children had a

disability and received special services, and among those with disabilities, the

percentage reporting each disability type ........................................................................ 28

5 Among 1988 eighth graders who completed high school by 1994, the percentage

distribution according to a 4-year college qualification index, by disability status ........ 32

6 Percentage of 1989–90 beginning postsecondary students according to their

persistence status in 1994 and highest degree attained, by disability status.................... 39

7 Among 1992–93 bachelor’s degree recipients, percentage distribution according to

employment status and graduate school enrollment, by disability status........................ 46
1

Introduction

In June 1997, President Clinton signed the 1997 Amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), strengthening the academic expectations and accountability for

children with disabilities and guaranteeing their equal access to quality education. The law mandates that the education given to students with disabilities relate more clearly to the general curriculum and that parental involvement be encouraged through regular progress reports.

The passage of IDEA and other laws such as the Rehabilitation Act in 1973 and the Americans With Disabilities Act in 1990, which ensure equal access to education for individuals with

disabilities, have catalyzed an increase in postsecondary enrollment among students with disabilities over the past two decades. In 1994, approximately 45 percent of persons 16 or older who

reported having a disability had either attended some college or had completed a bachelor’s degree or higher. In contrast, 29 percent had reported doing so in 1986 (Eighteenth Annual Report

to Congress 1996).

A few large-scale surveys have attempted to study students with disabilities enrolled in

postsecondary education. HEATH Resource Center publishes an analysis of full-time college

freshmen with disabilities every 2 years. In 1996, the authors of this publication reported that approximately 9 percent of entering college freshmen had a disability (Henderson 1998). Of those,

35 percent had learning disabilities; 22 percent were partially sighted or blind; 21 percent had

other disabilities; 10 percent had orthopedic or physical impairments; 12 percent had hearing impairments or were deaf; and 5 percent had speech impairments. In another study, based on data

from the National Longitudinal Transition Study (NLTS), the researchers found that students

with disabilities were much less likely than those without disabilities to enroll in postsecondary

education within 5 years after graduating from high school (Blackorby and Wagner 1996).

Because the relative number of students with disabilities is small and the methods of reporting disabilities vary, data from studies about students with disabilities appear to differ. For

the most part, these variations can be explained by differences in reporting methods or survey

questions. In appendix A of this report, the findings from other studies are compared with those

reported here.

This report uses four different surveys of postsecondary students conducted by the National

Center for Education Statistics (NCES) at the U.S. Department of Education to provide a
Introduction

2

comprehensive look at the experiences of students with disabilities who continue their education

beyond high school. The analysis addresses the following issues and questions:

Profile of Undergraduates

• What proportion of undergraduates report having a disability?

• What are the demographic and postsecondary enrollment characteristics of students

with disabilities?

• In what types of institutions are students with disabilities enrolled?

• In which fields of study do undergraduates with disabilities report majoring?

• How do undergraduates with disabilities pay for their education?

Access to Postsecondary Education

• How likely are students with disabilities to enroll in postsecondary education after high

school?

• Are students with disabilities as prepared academically for college as students without

disabilities?

Persistence and Attainment of a Postsecondary Degree

• What percentage of undergraduates with disabilities persist to completion of a postsecondary degree or credential?

• How do students with and without disabilities differ with respect to characteristics that

are associated with postsecondary persistence?

Early Labor Force Experiences and Graduate School Enrollment of College

Graduates

• After college graduation are individuals with disabilities as likely as those without disabilities to be working?

• Are college graduates with disabilities working in jobs related to their degrees?

• What are their starting salaries?

• What percentage of undergraduates with disabilities enrolled in graduate school?
Introduction

3

Data

In order to discuss the extent to which individuals with disabilities participate in postsecondary education,1 this report uses data from four nationally representative surveys conducted by

NCES. Each survey has a different focus and represents a different population of students.

National Postsecondary Student Aid Study

The 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:96) surveyed a sample of

all students enrolled in postsecondary institutions to determine how students and their families

pay for their postsecondary education. The survey includes both institutional and self-reported

information. In addition to the detailed information about financial aid and other student costrelated information, NPSAS contains a wealth of information about students’ backgrounds and

experiences in postsecondary education. Identification of students with disabilities in NPSAS and

its longitudinal components (the Beginning Postsecondary Students [BPS] Survey and the Baccalaureate and Beyond [B&B] Study, discussed below) is based on the student-reported information.2 Though a relatively small proportion of NPSAS students identified themselves as having

disabilities, the large sample size makes it possible to provide comparisons between students

with and without disabilities and, in some cases, across disability types for the 1995–96 school

year. This survey was used in this report to profile the undergraduate students with disabilities

who were enrolled in postsecondary education during the 1995–96 school year.

National Education Longitudinal Study

The National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88/94) is a longitudinal survey

of a sample representing all students who were in the eighth grade in 1988. The sample was subsequently followed up in 1990, 1992, and 1994. NELS:88/94 tracked the cohort through high

school and, for many, into postsecondary education. In the Base Year, NELS:88/94 surveyed the

students and their parents, teachers, and counselors. For the Third Follow-up (1994), surveys

were administered only to students. This study is appropriate for examining who enrolls in postsecondary education within 2 years after most of the participants finish high school. It also

 

1Includes students at all types and levels of institutions including public and private institutions; less-than-2-year and 2-year

institutions; and 4-year colleges and universities.

2There is some question as to the reliability of the number of students who reported having a disability in the NPSAS survey

compared to those who reported a disability to the postsecondary institution they were attending. In 1993, the Office of Special

Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) sponsored the Survey on Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students in Postsecondary

Education. This survey looked at students who had indicated to their postsecondary institutions that they were deaf or hard-ofhearing. OSERS compared their data with those from NPSAS:90 on students who identified themselves as hearing impaired in

that survey, and estimated that “only about 8 percent of the students who report that they have a hearing impairment identify

themselves to the institution as deaf or hard-of-hearing” (Lewis and Farris 1994).
Introduction

4

provides information about students’ academic experiences and how prepared they are to enter

college.

It should be noted, however, that the sample of eighth graders in NELS:88/94 excluded the

following groups: 1) students with severe mental disabilities; 2) those whose knowledge of English was not sufficient to complete the tests; and 3) students with severe physical or emotional

problems that would have made it difficult for them to participate in the survey. About 5 percent

of the potential student sample was excluded based on these criteria. As observed by Rossi,

Herting, and Wolman (1997), “[a]s a result of the exclusions discussed above, as many as onehalf of the children with disabilities who are served under IDEA were likely excluded from the

NELS:88/94 base-year sample. For this reason, the NELS:88/94 data should not be considered

representative of children with disabilities as identified in IDEA.” (Rossi et al. 1997, 2). Thus,

the findings of this study probably represent students with less severe disabilities and, as such,

may overestimate the rates of entry into postsecondary education for students with disabilities.

Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study

The Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:90/94) is a sample of undergraduates drawn from the NPSAS:89 survey consisting of students who enrolled in postsecondary education for the first time in the 1989–90 school year. These students were

subsequently surveyed in 1992 and 1994. BPS:90/94 identifies the paths that undergraduates took

toward attaining a postsecondary credential. Because the last follow-up of this survey was conducted about 5 years after the cohort first enrolled in postsecondary education, it did not capture

the experiences of students who left school for extended periods of time and then returned (longterm stopouts), or those who took longer than 5 years to finish a bachelor’s degree.

The BPS cohort differs from the NELS cohort in a fundamental way: BPS represents all

students beginning their undergraduate education in 1989–90, including students who delayed

their postsecondary education after finishing high school for a period of years. Therefore, the

BPS survey participants represent a wide age range of students with varied life experiences. In

fact, some have had many years of work experience before enrolling in college. The NELS survey, on the other hand, represents all students who were in the eighth grade in 1988. Thus, the

NELS participants are all approximately the same age: most were between the ages of 17 and 19

when entering college.3

 

3There may also be a potential coverage difference between the NELS and BPS. In the NELS survey, eighth graders who were

deemed unable to complete the survey instrument were excluded (see discussion under National Education Survey Longitudinal

Study above).
Introduction

5

Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study

The Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B:93/94) is a sample of college

seniors from NPSAS:93 who completed their bachelor’s degrees in the 1992–93 school year.

They were followed up one year later in 1994. This survey not only provides information about

the early employment of college graduates including their occupations and starting salaries, but

also supplies data on graduate school enrollment for those who continued their education soon

after receiving a bachelor’s degree.

Definition of Disabilities

In the NPSAS:96, BPS:90/94, and B&B:93/94 surveys, the students themselves reported

their disability status and type. In the NELS:88/94 survey, disability type was identified by the

parents in the Base Year when the participants were in the eighth grade. Table 1 shows the exact

questions the respondents were asked in each of these surveys and their possible responses. The

exact syntax of the questions varies between data sets. In this report, these varying disability

types were coded into six categories:

• Visual impairment

• Hearing impairment or deaf

• Speech impairment

• Orthopedic impairment

• Learning disability

• Other impairment or disability

A small percentage of students reported having more than one disability, but these students

are not specifically identified in the tables. However, if a student reported having more than one

disability, such as both a visual impairment and a learning disability, he or she would be represented in both disability types in the tables. But among the entire group of students reporting any

disability, they are counted only once.

Organization of This Report

This report contains four major sections. It begins with a profile of students with disabilities who were enrolled in postsecondary education in the 1995–96 school year. The profile is

followed by an analysis of high school students who make the transition to postsecondary education. The third section discusses the persistence and degree attainment of students with disabilities 5 years after they began college in the 1989–90 school year. Finally, the fourth section
Introduction

6

discusses the transition from college to the work force and graduate school for bachelor’s degree

recipients who graduated from college in 1992–93.

Table 1—Definition of disability types for each survey analyzed in the report

NELS:88 BPS:90/94 B&B:93/94 NPSAS:96

parent questionnaire student questionnaire student questionnaire student questionnaire

Question as asked in the survey

In your opinion, does 

your eighth grader have 

any of the following 

problems? -AND- Has 

your eighth grader ever 

received special 

services for any or all 

of the following?

Do you have any of the 

following conditions?

Do you have any of the 

following disabilities?

Do you have any 

disabilities, such as a 

hearing, speech, or 

mobility impairment, or 

vision problems that 

can’t be corrected with 

glasses?

Disability type as categorized by the survey

Visual 

impairment

Visual handicap (not 

correctable by glasses)

Visual handicap Vision impairment that 

cannot be corrected 

with glasses, or are you 

legally blind

Legally blind or have a 

vision impairment that 

cannot be corrected 

with glasses

Hearing 

impairment or 

deaf

Hearing problem -ORdeafnessHard-of-hearing -ORdeafnessHearing impairment A hearing impairment

Speech 

impairment

Speech problem Speech disability Speech disability or 

limitation

A speech disability or 

limitation

Orthopedic 

impairment

Orthopedic problem 

(for example: club foot, 

absence of arm or leg, 

cerebral palsy, 

amputation, polio)

Orthopedic handicap Orthopedic or mobility 

limitation

An orthopedic or 

mobility limitation

Learning 

disability

Specific learning 

problem (for example: 

dyslexia or other 

reading, writing, or 

math disability)

Specific learning 

disability

Specific learning 

disability

A specific learning 

disability

Other disability 

or impairment

Other health problem 

(includes mental 

retardation) -ORemotional problem 

-OR- other physical 

disability

Other health 

impairment

Any other type of 

limitations, disabilities, 

or handicaps

Other health-related 

disability or limitation

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Education Longitudinal Study

of 1988, Third Follow-up Survey, 1994 (NELS:88/94), Data Analysis System; 1990 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:90/94), Data Analysis System; 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student Aid

Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System; 1993 Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study, First Follow-up 

(B&B:93/94), Data Analysis System.
7

Profile of Undergraduates With Disabilities

Demographics

In 1996, roughly 6 percent of all undergraduates reported having a disability (figure 1, table

2). Among 1995–96 undergraduates with a disability, approximately 29 percent reported having a

learning disability, and 23 percent reported an orthopedic impairment. About 16 percent of students with disabilities reported having a hearing impairment, 16 percent a vision impairment, and

3 percent a speech impairment. In addition, one in five undergraduates with disabilities (21 percent) reported having another “health-related” disability or limitation.

Figure 1—Percentage of 1995–96 undergraduates who reported a disability, and among those with

Figure 1—disabilities, the percentage reporting each disability type

*Any other health-related disability or impairment.

NOTE: Percentages do not sum to 100 because some students reported multiple disabilities.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.

Did not report 

any disability

94%

Reported any 

disability

6%

29

23 21

16 16

3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Learning Orthopedic Other* Hearing Visual Speech

Percent
Profile of Undergraduates With Disabilities

8

Table 2—Percentage of 1995–96 undergraduates who reported a disability, and among those with

Table 2—disabilities, the percentage reporting each disability type, by selected student characteristics

Hearing Ortho- Other

 Total Visual impair- Speech pedic disability

 with a impair- ment impair- impair- Learning or impairdisability ment or deaf ment ment disability ment*

 Total 5.5 16.3 16.3 3.0 22.9 29.2 21.2

 Gender

 Male 6.3 14.7 19.8 4.2 23.0 27.1 19.9

 Female 4.9 18.0 12.8 1.8 22.7 31.4 22.5

Race–ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 6.2 15.8 17.1 1.8 22.6 31.3 20.6

 Black, non-Hispanic 3.4 11.7 11.3 1.7 31.3 18.0 34.2

 Hispanic 4.1 19.1 17.5 16.3 17.3 23.7 14.6

 Asian/Pacific Islander 1.9 ——————

 American Indian/Alaskan Native 13.4 ——————

Income quartile

 Low quartile 6.7 11.9 11.2 4.6 30.7 28.5 25.4

 Middle quartiles 5.4 19.6 19.9 2.1 23.7 23.0 20.3

 High quartile 4.7 14.5 14.3 2.9 12.1 43.6 18.1

—Sample size too small for a reliable estimate.

*Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

NOTE: Percentages will not sum to 100 because some students reported multiple disabilities.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.

Has a disability

As shown in figure 2 and table 3, compared to undergraduates who reported no disabilities,

those with disabilities were more likely to be male (50 versus 44 percent), and more likely to be

white, non-Hispanic (81 versus 71 percent; table 4). About 8 percent of students with disabilities

were Hispanic; 7 percent were black, non-Hispanic; 2 percent were Asian/Pacific Islander; and 2

percent were of American Indian/Alaskan Native descent.4

It appears as though there were modest differences between students with and without disabilities relative to income level when undergraduates were grouped into approximate income

quartiles (i.e., bottom 25 percent, middle 50 percent, and top 25 percent income levels). For example, 27 percent of students with disabilities were in the low income quartile compared with 22

 

4In table 4 it appears that a much higher proportion of students with speech impairments are Hispanic. However, due to the small

sample of Hispanic students with disabilities, there is not enough statistical evidence to conclude that this is the case. Readers

should use caution in interpreting all estimates of disability type by race unless a difference by race is mentioned in the text.
Profile of Undergraduates With Disabilities

9

Figure 2—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to gender and age, by disability 

Figure 2—status

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.

50 50

44

56

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Male Female

Percent Has disability No disability

8

38

14

18

23

10

45

18

15

12

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

18 or younger 19–23 24–29 30–39 40 or older

Percent
Profile of Undergraduates With Disabilities

10

Table 3—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to gender, by disability status and 

Table 3—type

 Male Female

 Total 44.1 55.9

Does not have a disability 43.7 56.3

Has a disability 50.0 50.0

 Visual impairment 45.1 55.0

 Hearing impairment or deaf 60.6 39.4

 Speech impairment 69.7 30.3

 Orthopedic impairment 50.3 49.7

 Learning disability 46.3 53.7

 Other disability or impairment* 46.9 53.1

*Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.

Table 4—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to race–ethnicity, by disability

Table 4—status and type

 American

 White, Black, Asian/ Indian/

 non- non- Pacific Alaskan 

Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic Islander Native Other

 Total 71.4 11.6 10.3 5.3 0.9 0.5

Does not have a disability 71.0 11.8 10.5 5.4 0.8 0.5

Has a disability 80.9 7.1 7.7 1.8 2.1 0.4

 Visual impairment 78.1 5.1 9.0 5.8 1.1 0.9

 Hearing impairment or deaf 85.0 4.9 8.3 0.8 0.9 0.2

 Speech impairment 50.1 4.1 42.2 0.0 1.2 2.4

 Orthopedic impairment 79.8 9.7 5.8 1.2 3.0 0.5

 Learning disability 86.5 4.4 6.2 1.1 1.1 0.6

 Other disability or impairment* 78.6 11.4 5.3 0.5 4.1 0.1

*Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Values of 0.0 are estimates less than 0.05 percent.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.
Profile of Undergraduates With Disabilities

11

percent of students without disabilities (table 5). There was not enough statistical evidence, however, to conclude that the percentages in the low income (or high income) quartiles differed.

Students with disabilities were, on average, older than their counterparts without disabilities (age 30 versus age 26; table 6). Nearly one-quarter of students with disabilities (23 percent)

Table 5—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to income quartile, by disability

Table 5—status and type

 Low income quartile Middle income quartiles High income quartile

 Total 22.2 50.5 27.4 

Does not have a disability 21.9 50.7 27.5 

Has a disability 26.8 50.0 23.2 

 Visual impairment 19.5 59.9 20.6 

 Hearing impairment or deaf 18.5 61.1 20.5 

 Speech impairment 41.7 36.0 22.3 

 Orthopedic impairment 36.0 51.7 12.2 

 Learning disability 26.1 39.2 34.7 

 Other disability or impairment* 32.2 47.9 19.9 

*Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.

Table 6—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to age, and the average age, by 

Table 6—disability status and type

 18 or 40 Average

younger 19–23 24–29 30–39 or older age

 Total 10.2 44.7 17.9 15.0 12.2 27

Does not have a disability 10.3 45.0 18.3 14.8 11.6 26

Has a disability 8.2 37.8 13.6 17.7 22.7 30

 Visual impairment 9.4 35.5 12.0 20.8 22.3 29

 Hearing impairment or deaf 5.8 37.2 16.4 16.0 24.7 31

 Speech impairment 11.5 47.9 20.6 7.6 12.4 25

 Orthopedic impairment 2.2 15.9 12.4 25.6 43.9 37

 Learning disability 11.5 55.4 13.3 12.0 7.9 25

 Other disability or impairment* 8.5 34.5 14.7 16.7 25.6 30

*Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.
Profile of Undergraduates With Disabilities

12

were 40 or older, compared with 12 percent of students without disabilities. Among specific disability types, students with orthopedic impairments were older than students with any other disability type (average age 37 versus age 25 to 31).

Finally, also consistent with their older age, undergraduates with disabilities were more

likely than students without disabilities to have dependents (30 versus 24 percent; table 7). However, there was not enough statistical evidence to conclude that those with disabilities were more

likely to be married (27 and 25 percent, respectively).

Table 7—Percentage of 1995–96 undergraduates who are married, and the percentage who have

Table 7—dependents, by disability status and type

 Married Has dependents

 Total 24.6 24.2

Does not have a disability 24.6 23.8

Has a disability 27.1 29.8

 Visual impairment 20.5 22.6

 Hearing impairment or deaf 39.6 32.2

 Speech impairment 25.7 35.2

 Orthopedic impairment 45.2 39.0

 Learning disability 15.0 21.2

 Other disability or impairment* 21.4 37.3

*Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.

Enrollment Characteristics

Students with and without disabilities differed somewhat with respect to the type of institution they attended in 1995–96. Those with disabilities were less likely to be enrolled in public 4-

year colleges and universities (25 versus 32 percent), and more likely to attend either public 2-

year institutions or “other” institutions, which include for-profit vocational institutions (figure 3,

table 8). Like students without disabilities, roughly half of those with a disability were enrolled in

school full time (table 9).
Profile of Undergraduates With Disabilities

13

Figure 3—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to postsecondary institution, by 

Figure 2—disability status

*Students enrolled in private, for-profit institutions; public less-than-2-year institutions; or private, not-for-profit less-than4-year institutions were considered to be enrolled in other institutions.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.

25

14

50

11

32

15

46

8

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Public 4-year Private, not-for-profit

4-year

Public 2-year Other institutions*

Has disability No disability

Percent

Table 8—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to institution type, by disability 

Table 8—status and type

 Private, Public

Total Public not-for-profit Total 2-year Other1

 Total 46.1 31.4 14.7 53.9 45.8 8.1 

Does not have a disability 46.7 31.9 14.8 53.3 45.5 7.9 

Has a disability 39.6 25.3 14.3 60.4 49.5 10.9 

 Visual impairment 38.5 23.7 14.8 61.5 50.0 11.5 

 Hearing impairment or deaf 38.0 28.6 9.4 62.0 50.8 11.2 

 Speech impairment 61.6 42.4 19.2 38.4 35.6 2.7 

 Orthopedic impairment 33.6 22.8 10.7 66.4 50.1 16.4 

 Learning disability 40.6 21.5 19.1 59.4 51.2 8.2 

 Other disability or impairment2 37.8 25.1 12.7 62.2 51.5 10.7 

1

Students enrolled in private, for-profit institutions; public less-than-2-year institutions; or private, not-for-profit, less-than4-year institutions.

2

Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to totals due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.

4-year institutions Other institutions
Profile of Undergraduates With Disabilities

14

Table 9—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to enrollment intensity, by disability

Table 9—status and type

Full-time, Full-time, Part-time, Part-time,

 full-year part-year full-year part-year

 Total 40.5 12.7 24.6 22.2

Does not have a disability 40.8 12.4 24.6 22.3

Has a disability 38.7 15.6 24.5 21.2

 Visual impairment 41.3 9.6 29.0 20.1

 Hearing impairment or deaf 34.9 14.3 33.7 17.2

 Speech impairment 32.0 6.9 25.4 35.6

 Orthopedic impairment 29.8 23.4 18.8 28.0

 Learning disability 45.1 13.8 24.1 17.1

 Other disability or impairment* 40.3 13.8 25.1 20.8

*Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.

There were no statistically significant differences between students with and without disabilities in their undergraduate fields of study. Roughly one-fifth (17 and 20 percent, respectively) were in business-related fields; 18 and 15 percent were in humanities; and 11 and 13

percent were in health fields (table 10).

Undergraduates who were in their first or second year of college reported on whether or not

they had taken any remedial courses. Among these students, those with and without disabilities

differed in whether or not they reported taking such courses in the 1995–96 school year.5 Nearly

one-fifth (18 percent) of students with disabilities reported taking remedial courses, compared

with 12 percent of students without disabilities (table 11).

Looking at specific disability types, it appears as though students with learning disabilities

or visual impairments were more likely than other students with disabilities to report having

taken a remedial course (24 and 23 versus 14 to 17 percent). However, due to small sample sizes,

there was not enough statistical evidence to conclude that they differed.

 

5Student-reported remedial education status reported by NPSAS undergraduates differs markedly from the proportion of students

taking remedial courses reported by institutions. In a survey of remedial education in higher education, institutions reported that

29 percent of first-time freshmen had enrolled in at least one remedial reading, writing, or mathematics course in fall 1995. U.S.

Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Remedial Education at Higher Education Institutions in Fall

1995 (NCES 97–584) (Washington, D.C.: 1996).
Table 10—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to major field of study, by disability status and type

Computer/ 

 Social/ infor- Business/  Human- behavioral Life Physical mation Engin- manage- 

ities sciences sciences sciences Math science eering Education ment Hea

 Total 14.6 9.5 5.7 1.0 0.6 3.4 8.11 8.5 19.7 12.

Does not have a disability 14.5 9.7 5.7 1.0 0.6 3.3 8.2 8.7 19.8 12Has a disability 17.6 9.4 3.4 0.6 0.2 3.9 9.7 8.3 17.4 11 Visual impairment 10.9 9.9 4.2 2.3 0.0 6.0 4.1 15.6 20.4 10 Hearing impairment or deaf 11.0 5.3 2.5 0.4 0.7 3.6 16.9 6.2 24.0 13 Speech impairment 45.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.9 6.2 11.4 9.3 14 Orthopedic impairment 15.1 10.4 4.6 0.3 0.7 5.8 10.8 5.9 16.6 9 Learning disability 21.1 11.1 3.0 0.4 0.0 2.6 9.8 6.9 13.4 9 Other disability or impairment2 21.6 12.7 2.1 0.3 0.1 3.3 9.3 8.0 14.7 14.

1Total percentage not in range of those with or without disabilities because of missing cases on the disability variable.2Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Values of 0.0 are estimates less than 0.05 percent.SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:96Analysis System.
Profile of Undergraduates With Disabilities

16

Table 11—Percentage of 1995–96 first- and second-year undergraduates who reported taking remedial 

Table 11—courses in college in 1995–96,1

 by disability status and type and institution type

Took remedial courses

 Total 12.4 

Does not have a disability 12.0 

Has a disability 18.4 

 Visual impairment 22.8 

 Hearing impairment or deaf 14.0 

 Speech impairment —

 Orthopedic impairment 15.4 

 Learning disability 23.5 

 Other disability or impairment2 17.3 

Public 4-year

 Does not have a disability 10.9 

 Has a disability 19.4 

Private, not-for-profit 4-year

 Does not have a disability 8.1 

 Has a disability 12.1 

Public 2-year

 Does not have a disability 14.0 

 Has a disability 21.1 

Other institutions3

 Does not have a disability 5.9 

 Has a disability 9.3 

—Sample size too small for a reliable estimate. 1

Student-reported remedial education status reported by NPSAS undergraduates differs markedly from the proportion of students

taking remedial courses reported by institutions. In a survey of remedial education in higher education, institutions reported that

29 percent of first-time freshmen had enrolled in at least one remedial reading, writing, or mathematics course in fall 1995. U.S.

Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Remedial Education at Higher Education Institutions in Fall

1995 (NCES 97–584) (Washington, D.C.: 1996). 2

Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

3

Students enrolled in private, for-profit institutions; public less-than-2-year institutions; or private, not-for-profit less-than-4-year

institutions.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.

Student Services and Activities

The extent to which students with disabilities used special services designed specifically for

them cannot be determined from the NPSAS survey.6 However, students did report on whether or

not they used any counseling services (including academic counseling); whether they participated

in student athletics, or cultural/recreational activities; and whether they used job placement services.

 

6A forthcoming NCES report contains information about the extent of special services offered by 2-year and 4-year colleges

based on a special Postsecondary Education Quick Information System (PEQIS) survey of postsecondary institutions carried out

in the spring of 1998: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Institutional Profile of Postsecondary Students With Disabilities (NCES 1999–046) by Laurie Lewis and Elizabeth Farris. Project Officer, Bernie Greene.

(Washington, DC: 1999).
Profile of Undergraduates With Disabilities

17

Undergraduates with disabilities reported using counseling services somewhat more often

than their counterparts without disabilities (27 versus 22 percent; table 12). Use of counseling

services was especially evident for students with learning disabilities. For example, they were

more likely to report using such services (37 percent) than students who reported “other” disabilities (20 percent).7

Table 12—Percentage of 1995–96 undergraduates participating in counseling services and other school 

Table 12—activities, by disability status and type

 Used Participated in Participated Used job

 counseling cultural/recreation in athletic placement

 services activities activities services

 Total 21.51 12.9 19.6 7.51

Does not have a disability 21.8 13.4 20.4 7.7 

Has a disability 27.4 12.8 17.6 8.1 

 Visual impairment 20.7 11.0 15.4 7.3 

 Hearing impairment or deaf 22.0 10.3 19.1 4.9 

 Speech impairment 36.7 16.0 23.0 2.5 

 Orthopedic impairment 30.8 14.4 8.1 9.9 

 Learning disability 37.4 17.1 25.3 9.4 

 Other disability or impairment2 20.3 11.9 14.6 7.7 

1

Total percentage not in range of those with or without disabilities because of missing cases for the disability variable. 2

Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.

Students with disabilities were equally likely to participate in cultural or recreational activities as their counterparts without disabilities (13 percent). The same pattern held for participation in athletic activities. About 18 percent of students with disabilities and 20 percent without

disabilities reported participating in athletic activities. The lack of difference in athletic participation remained among students with specific disability types when comparing participation for

students with each type of disability to that for students without disabilities. Only students with

orthopedic impairments were less likely to have reported participating in athletic programs. Finally, while a relatively small percentage of students reported using job placement services, students with and without disabilities were equally likely to have done so (8 percent).

 

7While it appears that students with speech impairments were also more likely to use counseling services, there is not enough

statistical evidence to make this conclusion.
Profile of Undergraduates With Disabilities

18

Employment While Enrolled

A majority of undergraduates work while they are enrolled to help pay for their education

and living expenses (Horn 1998). In this study, this was true both for students with and without

disabilities, but students with disabilities were less likely to work: about one-third (35 percent)

did not work while enrolled, compared with one-fifth of students without disabilities (table 13).

The likelihood of working part time while enrolled did not differ greatly between the two groups.

Students without disabilities were somewhat more likely to work 16–20 hours per week (13 versus 8 percent) but similar proportions worked 1–15 hours per week and 16–34 hours per week.

However, a higher proportion of students without disabilities worked full time (35 or more hours;

37 versus 27 percent).

Table 13—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to hours worked per week while

Table 13—enrolled, by disability status and type

 Did 1–15 16–20 21–34 35 or

 not work hours hours hours more hours

 Total 21.2 13.2 12.4 16.7 36.4

Does not have a disability 20.3 13.3 12.7 16.7 36.9

Has a disability 35.2 11.5 8.2 17.8 27.3

 Visual impairment 24.7 12.0 5.3 16.6 41.4

 Hearing impairment or deaf 30.1 7.9 10.9 20.9 30.3

 Speech impairment 22.0 10.7 14.6 40.1 12.7

 Orthopedic impairment 53.4 8.8 3.6 9.4 24.8

 Learning disability 26.9 15.0 16.0 22.5 19.5

 Other disability or impairment* 49.0 11.2 3.0 13.6 23.2

*Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.

If worked: hours worked per week while enrolled

Although they were less likely to work for pay, undergraduates with disabilities were more

likely than their counterparts with no disabilities to report volunteering their time. About 39 percent of undergraduates with a disability reported volunteering at least one hour per week, compared with 32 percent of those without disabilities (table 14).
Profile of Undergraduates With Disabilities

19

Table 14—Percentage of 1995–96 undergraduates participating in volunteer services, and hours per week, 

Table 14—by disability status and type

 Total percent 1–5 6–10 More than

 volunteered hours hours 10 hours

 

 Total 32.7 22.3 4.1 6.3 

Does not have a disability 32.3 22.2 3.9 6.2 

Has a disability 39.2 25.0 6.6 7.7 

 Visual impairment 38.0 26.6 3.7 7.8 

 Hearing impairment or deaf 38.4 25.4 6.3 6.7 

 Speech impairment 25.7 16.6 2.7 6.4 

 Orthopedic impairment 38.3 26.1 7.8 4.4 

 Learning disability 46.4 24.5 8.1 13.8 

 Other disability or impairment* 43.3 27.7 9.6 6.0 

*Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to totals due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.

Hours volunteered per week

Dependency Status and Financial Aid

In 1995–96, about one-half of all undergraduates received financial aid to help pay their

education expenses. This was true for both dependent and independent students (tables 16 and

18).8 The need for financial aid is determined by a student’s ability to pay relative to the amount

it costs a typical student to attend a particular institution (student budget). The need for financial

aid increases as the student budget increases. Student aid is usually awarded in “packages” of

grants, loans, and work-study awards. The biggest source of financial aid is the federal government, but states and institutions also award aid. If students with and without disabilities differ in

terms of their likelihood of receiving financial aid (or the amounts received), it generally means

that the two groups differed either in their ability to pay (e.g., their incomes differed) or the price

of the institutions they attended differed. For students who are financially dependent on their parents, ability to pay is based on family income, and for independent students, it is based on student

income. It should also be noted that some students with disabilities receive alternative forms of

financial assistance such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability

Insurance (SSDI).

Because students with disabilities were, on average, older than their counterparts without

disabilities, they were less likely to be financially dependent on their parents. About 41 percent of

undergraduates with disabilities were dependent, compared with about one-half of undergraduates without disabilities (table 15). Students with disabilities were also more likely than those

without disabilities to have dependents (30 versus about 24 percent).

 

8See glossary in appendix C for a definition of “dependence.” Most students under the age of 24 who have been claimed as dependents on their parents’ income tax forms are considered dependent for federal financial aid purposes.
Profile of Undergraduates With Disabilities

20

Table 15—Percentage distribution of 1995–96 undergraduates according to dependency status, by disability

Table 15—status and type

 Independent, Independent,

 Dependent no dependents with dependents

 Total 49.3 26.5 24.2

Does not have a disability 49.6 26.7 23.8

Has a disability 40.7 29.6 29.8

 Visual impairment 41.8 35.6 22.6

 Hearing impairment or deaf 33.9 33.9 32.2

 Speech impairment 59.0 5.9 35.2

 Orthopedic impairment 15.9 45.2 39.0

 Learning disability 61.5 17.3 21.2

 Other disability or impairment* 36.6 26.2 37.3

*Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.

Among students with disabilities, those with orthopedic impairments (who were generally

older than other students with disabilities) were less likely to be financially dependent than almost all other students with disabilities (16 versus 37 to 62 percent).9 Students with learning disabilities, in contrast, were more likely to be dependent than students with hearing impairments or

those reporting “other” disabilities (62 versus 34 and 37 percent, respectively). While it appears

as though students with learning disabilities also were more likely to be dependent than those

with visual impairments (62 versus 42 percent), there was not enough statistical evidence to draw

this conclusion.

Dependent Undergraduates

Among dependent undergraduates, the proportions of students with and without disabilities

who received any financial aid did not differ significantly. Roughly one-half of both groups received aid (48 percent and 53 percent, respectively; table 16). However, when looking at specific

types of aid, dependent students with disabilities were less likely to receive either grants (35 versus 41 percent), or loans (26 versus 32 percent). Conversely, it appears as though undergraduates

with disabilities were more likely than those without disabilities to have received “other” types of

financial aid (which include loans to parents and veterans benefits): 11 percent and 8 percent,

respectively. However, there was not enough statistical evidence to conclude that the proportions

 

9The one exception was students with hearing impairments, where the proportion of dependents in that category was not significantly different from the proportion among those with orthopedic impairments.
Profile of Undergraduates With Disabilities

21

Table 16—Percentage of 1995–96 dependent undergraduates receiving various types of financial aid, by

Table 16—disability status and type and institution type

 Received Received Received Received Received

 financial federal Received Received employer work- other

 aid aid grants1 loans1 aid study aid2

 Total 52.4 39.3 40.3 31.1 2.8 8.5 8.0 

Does not have a disability 53.2 40.0 41.1 31.7 2.9 8.8 7.9 

Has a disability 47.7 33.8 34.9 25.7 2.0 6.1 11.1 

 Visual impairment 61.0 41.7 51.2 29.1 1.3 8.5 4.8 

 Hearing impairment or deaf 47.1 31.2 35.9 23.2 0.7 5.5 8.2 

 Speech impairment 43.6 43.2 42.8 22.1 0.0 12.7 2.6 

 Orthopedic impairment 62.3 42.3 37.7 25.9 0.7 9.2 22.6 

 Learning disability 46.9 34.5 32.1 25.8 3.4 5.9 13.7 

 Other disability or impairment3 33.9 22.4 22.5 24.8 1.2 4.4 10.8 

Public 4-year

 Does not have a disability 59.2 44.7 41.9 37.7 2.0 7.9 8.8 

 Has a disability 48.2 33.6 30.5 28.8 1.2 3.6 10.1 

Private, not-for-profit 4-year

 Does not have a disability 77.4 59.5 69.4 53.6 4.8 25.8 13.9 

 Has a disability 69.3 51.9 60.8 44.4 5.6 20.0 15.4 

Public 2-year

 Does not have a disability 31.3 21.2 24.4 10.7 3.3 1.6 2.5 

 Has a disability 33.1 21.1 23.2 10.5 0.6 1.2 7.8 

Other institutions4

 Does not have a disability 70.2 63.4 46.4 51.7 1.3 1.9 17.8 

 Has a disability 67.0 57.0 42.8 46.4 2.1 1.8 23.5 

1

From all sources, federal and nonfederal.

2

Other types of financial aid include teaching and research assistantships, parent loans (PLUS), veteran’s benefits and military

tuition aid, and vocational rehabilitation and job training (JTPA).

3

Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

4

Students enrolled in private, for-profit institutions; public less-than-2-year institutions; or private, not-for-profit less-than4-year institutions.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.

receiving “other” aid were different. Among those who received aid, dependent students with

disabilities received relatively similar amounts as those without disabilities ($5,600 and $6,000,

respectively; table 17).

Among dependent students enrolled in specific types of institutions, there were differences

in financial aid receipt among those in public 4-year institutions. Students with disabilities were

less likely than those without disabilities to receive any financial aid (48 versus 59 percent; table

16). This also held true for grant aid (31 versus 42 percent), loan aid (29 versus 38 percent), and

work-study (4 versus 8 percent).
Profile of Undergraduates With Disabilities

22

Table 17—Average amount of financial aid received by 1995–96 dependent undergraduates who received

Table 17—aid, by disability status and type and institution type

 Total Amount Amount Amount Amount

 financial federal Amount Amount employer work- other

 aid aid grants1 loans1 aid study aid2

 

 Total $6,002 $4,657 $3,645 $3,693 $2,572 $1,392 $5,080 

Does not have a disability 6,015 4,653 3,651 3,694 2,546 1,391 5,151 

Has a disability 5,645 4,864 3,361 3,544 3,631 1,371 4,726 

 Visual impairment 5,404 4,232 3,606 3,752 ———

 Hearing impairment or deaf 5,433 3,613 3,620 3,484 ———

 Speech impairment ———————

 Orthopedic impairment 5,019 3,964 3,757 ————

 Learning disability 6,076 5,272 3,291 3,821 — — 5,200 

 Other disability or impairment3 5,836 5,781 3,121 2,604 ———

Public 4-year

 Does not have a disability 5,188 4,650 2,827 3,652 2,210 1,471 4,521 

 Has a disability 4,875 4,921 2,623 3,683 — — 4,435 

Private, not-for-profit 4-year

 Does not have a disability 10,539 6,167 6,477 4,243 5,059 1,366 7,428 

 Has a disability 9,140 6,219 5,149 4,129 — 1,460 7,014 

Public 2-year

 Does not have a disability 2,183 2,415 1,401 2,583 827 1,173 1,882 

 Has a disability 2,474 2,779 1,817 ————

Other institutions4

 Does not have a disability 4,918 4,620 1,983 3,412 2,451 1,271 4,191 

 Has a disability 5,909 5,490 2,387 3,652 ———

—Sample size too small for a reliable estimate. 1

From all sources, federal and nonfederal.

2

Other types of financial aid include teaching and research assistantships, parent loans (PLUS), veterans' benefits and military

tuition aid, and vocational rehabilitation and job training (JTPA).

3

Total not within the range of those with or without disabilities because of missing cases for disability variable. 4

Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

5

Students enrolled in private, for-profit institutions; public less-than-2-year institutions; or private, not-for-profit less-than4-year institutions.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.

For dependent students in private, not-for-profit 4-year institutions, those with disabilities

were no less likely (statistically) than those without disabilities to receive any financial aid (69

percent and 77 percent, respectively). However, among those who received aid in these institutions, students with disabilities received less grant aid than those without disabilities ($5,100 versus $6,500; table 17).

Independent Undergraduates

Although independent undergraduates with disabilities were about as likely to receive financial aid as students without disabilities (58 percent and 53 percent, respectively), they were
Profile of Undergraduates With Disabilities

23

more likely to receive federal aid (40 versus 32 percent; table 18). Independent undergraduates

with disabilities were also more likely than those without disabilities to receive “other” types of

financial aid (18 versus 7 percent).

Table 18—Percentage of 1995–96 independent undergraduates receiving various types of financial aid, by

Table 18—disability status and type and institution type

 Received Received Received Received Received

 financial federal Received Received employer work- other

 aid aid grants1 loans1 aid study aid2

 

 Total 53.3 32.8 43.7 21.2 14.7 2.4 7.5 

Does not have a disability 53.2 32.4 44.1 21.2 15.5 2.4 6.7 

Has a disability 57.5 39.7 42.2 24.8 6.9 1.9 17.5 

 Visual impairment 43.0 28.0 32.6 16.8 9.5 0.5 9.3 

 Hearing impairment or deaf 61.4 36.1 43.8 27.8 13.0 1.7 14.8 

 Speech impairment ———————

 Orthopedic impairment 66.8 43.8 44.1 25.0 5.1 2.5 28.0 

 Learning disability 54.6 48.2 49.6 31.9 4.0 3.5 5.1 

 Other disability or impairment2 57.7 43.8 43.7 24.5 2.9 2.3 20.6 

Public 4-year

 Does not have a disability 59.3 44.1 46.0 36.4 11.4 4.0 8.6 

 Has a disability 68.8 53.0 54.1 44.1 11.3 2.6 18.5 

Private, not-for-profit 4-year

 Does not have a disability 72.1 38.6 62.4 33.0 30.7 5.8 8.1 

 Has a disability 78.4 51.4 56.9 45.0 16.4 6.9 25.3 

Public 2-year

 Does not have a disability 43.1 20.9 37.4 8.0 16.2 1.5 5.1 

 Has a disability 45.6 28.9 32.8 10.1 3.6 1.3 14.2 

Other institutions3

 Does not have a disability 72.9 59.2 56.4 43.5 6.1 0.2 9.4 

 Has a disability 73.0 53.6 50.9 39.1 6.6 0.1 24.0 

—Sample size too small for a reliable estimate. 1

From all sources, federal and nonfederal.

2

Other types of financial aid include teaching and research assistantships, parent loans (PLUS), veterans’ benefits and military

tuition aid, and vocational rehabilitation and job training (JTPA).

3

Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

4

Students enrolled in private, for-profit institutions; public less-than-2-year institutions; or private, not-for-profit less-than4-year institutions.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.

Among independent students enrolled in specific types of institutions, students with disabilities in public 4-year institutions appeared to be more likely to have received aid than their

financially independent counterparts without disabilities (69 versus 59 percent), but there was not

enough statistical evidence to conclude that they were different. Looking at specific types of aid,

however, independent students with disabilities in public 4-year colleges were more likely than

their counterparts without disabilities to receive “other” types of aid (19 versus 9 percent).
Profile of Undergraduates With Disabilities

24

In private, not-for-profit 4-year institutions, independent students with disabilities also were

more likely to receive “other” types of financial aid (25 versus 8 percent) than those without disabilities. They were less likely, however, to receive aid from employers (16 versus 31 percent).

Table 19—Average amount of financial aid received by 1995–96 independent undergraduates who received

Table 19—aid, by disability status and type and institution type

 Total Amount Amount Amount Amount

 financial federal Amount Amount employer work- other

 aid aid grants1 loans1 aid study aid2

 

 Total $3,713 $4,219 $1,834 $4,552 $1,074 $1,542 $2,337 

Does not have a disability 3,686 4,247 1,827 4,549 1,057 1,507 2,313 

Has a disability 4,420 4,209 1,997 4,606 1,880 1,938 2,971 

 Visual impairment 3,657 4,188 1,766 4,870 ———

 Hearing impairment or deaf 4,013 3,952 1,508 3,740 — — 4,704 

 Speech impairment ———————

 Orthopedic impairment 4,621 4,134 2,148 4,825 — — 3,125 

 Learning disability 5,069 4,739 2,073 4,645 ———

 Other disability or impairment2 4,563 3,909 2,262 4,596 — — 2,397 

Public 4-year

 Does not have a disability 5,070 5,381 2,020 4,937 814 1,616 2,490 

 Has a disability 6,053 5,881 2,349 5,058 — — 3,171 

Private, not-for-profit 4-year

 Does not have a disability 5,911 6,056 3,414 5,541 2,410 1,314 2,795 

 Has a disability 6,762 6,088 2,955 5,731 — — 3,829 

Public 2-year

 Does not have a disability 1,830 2,539 1,130 3,111 520 1,526 1,834 

 Has a disability 2,581 2,535 1,507 ——— 2,327 

Other institutions3

 Does not have a disability 4,672 4,343 2,112 4,459 2,585 — 2,869 

 Has a disability 4,906 4,012 1,965 4,380 — — 3,632 

—Sample size too small for a reliable estimate. 1

From all sources, federal and nonfederal.

2

Other types of financial aid include teaching and research assistantships, parent loans (PLUS), veterans’ benefits and military

tuition aid, and vocational rehabilitation and job training (JTPA).

3

Student reporting any other health-related disabilities or limitations.

4

Students enrolled in private, for-profit institutions; public less-than-2-year institutions; or private, not-for-profit less-than4-year institutions.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.
Profile of Undergraduates With Disabilities

25

Finally, as shown in table 19, unlike dependent students, among students who received aid,

independent students with disabilities received more financial aid, on average, than their independent counterparts without disabilities ($4,400 versus $3,700). This was especially evident

among those who received employer aid, among whom students with disabilities received an average of $1,900, compared with roughly $1,100 received by students without disabilities.
27

Access to Postsecondary Education

High School Completion Status

Among 1988 eighth graders, about 11 percent had a disability as reported by their parents

(figure 4). Among those with disabilities, most were either students with learning disabilities (48

percent) or had “other” disabilities (36 percent), a combined group that includes students with

health problems, emotional problems, mental retardation, and other physical disabilities and had

received appropriate services for it (see appendix table B1 for demographic characteristics).10

Before an analysis describing access to postsecondary education can be considered, it is

important to determine who is eligible to enroll. Most collegiate institutions require students to

complete high school before enrolling. If students do not, they are eligible to attend institutions

that have open admission policies (such as community colleges or for-profit vocational institutions). Among 1988 eighth graders, students with disabilities were less likely than students without disabilities to have earned a standard high school diploma by 1994 (72 versus 84 percent)

(table 20). At the same time, they were no more likely than students without disabilities to have

completed high school by alternative means (such as earning a GED or high school equivalent

certificate) by 1994 (7 percent and 6 percent, respectively). However, those with disabilities were

more likely to be enrolled and still working toward high school completion in 1994, whether in

the form of a high school diploma or a GED (about 11 versus 4 percent of those without disabilities). These findings indicate that roughly 1 in 10 of 1988 eighth graders with disabilities may

have completed high school later than 1994. If these students planned to enroll in postsecondary

education, they would have done so after the date of the last survey. Therefore, it would be inappropriate to include them in an analysis of postsecondary access in 1994. Likewise, students who

did not complete high school and who were not enrolled (10 percent of students with disabilities

and 6 percent of students without disabilities) were also excluded from the analysis because they

would be eligible for only a limited type of postsecondary education. The following analysis of

postsecondary education access, therefore, represents individuals who were in the eighth grade in

1988 and who earned a high school diploma or alternative high school credential by 1994.

 

10For a profile of the NELS eighth-grade cohort with disabilities, see Rossi et al. (1997). The total percentage of students with

disabilities and the distribution of disability types reported here differ slightly from what Rossi et al. reported for the definition of

disabilities used in that report. Rossi et al. reported findings from the Base-Year survey in 1988, while this study is based on the

Third Follow-up in 1994. This means that students had to participate in all three follow-up surveys; thus, the sample was somewhat smaller.
Access to Postsecondary Education

28

Figure 4—Percentage distribution of 1988 eighth graders whose parents indicated that their children had a 

Figure 1—disability and received special services, and among those with disabilities, the percentage reporting

Figure 1—each disability type

*Parent reported student had any other disability including health problems, emotional problems, mental retardation, or other

physical disabilities and had received services for it.

NOTE: Percentages do not sum to 100 because some individuals reported multiple disabilities.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Education Longitudinal Study 

of 1988, Third Follow-up Survey, 1994 (NELS:88/94), Data Analysis System.

Did not report any 

disability

89%

Reported any

disability

11%

48

36

10 9 7 6

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Learning Other* Speech Hearing Visual Orthopedic

Percent
Access to Postsecondary Education

29

Table 20—Percentage distribution of 1988 eighth graders according to high school completion status as of

Table 20—1994, by disability status and type

GED or Enrolled in high

High school equivalent school or working

 diploma certificate toward GED Dropped out

 Total 82.0 6.0 5.2 6.8 

Does not have a disability 83.8 5.9 4.3 6.0 

Has a disability 72.4 6.7 10.6 10.3 

 Visual impairment 77.3 4.9 15.8 2.0 

 Hearing impairment or deaf 75.5 9.8 10.3 4.4 

 Speech impairment 87.0 2.3 6.0 4.7 

 Orthopedic impairment 75.0 1.7 5.9 17.4 

 Learning disability 71.4 6.8 9.6 12.3 

 Other disability or impairment* 67.0 7.2 14.3 11.5 

*Parent reported student had any other disability, including health problems, emotional problems, mental retardation, or other

physical disabilities, and had received services for it.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding. GED refers to passing the General Education Development exam.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Education Longitudinal Study

of 1988, Third Follow-up Survey, 1994 (NELS:88/94), Data Analysis System.

1994 high school diploma status

Postsecondary Enrollment

Among 1988 eighth graders who completed high school by 1994, a majority of students

both with and without disabilities had enrolled in some form of postsecondary education by 1994

(table 21). Students with disabilities, however, were somewhat less likely to enroll (63 percent)

than those without disabilities (72 percent). There were also differences relative to where students enrolled. Compared to students without disabilities, those with disabilities were much less

likely to enroll in 4-year institutions (either public or private, not-for-profit), and were more

likely to enroll in public 2-year institutions. The majority of students without disabilities (62 percent) enrolled in the 4-year sector, while the majority of students with disabilities enrolled in subbaccalaureate institutions (58 percent).

Because the sample of students with each type of disability is small, it is difficult to find

statistical differences with respect to where students enrolled. However, comparing students with

specific types of disabilities to all students with disabilities, those with orthopedic impairments

were much more likely to enroll in the 4-year sector (71 versus 42 percent).
Access to Postsecondary Education

30

Table 21—Among 1988 eighth graders who completed high school, the percentage who enrolled in

Table 21—postsecondary education by 1994, and percentage distribution according to type of institution,

Table 21—by disability status and type

Private,

Total not-for- Public

 enrolled Total Public profit Total 2-year Other1

 Total 70.4 59.4 39.8 19.6 40.6 34.4 6.2 

Does not have a disability 71.7 61.5 41.3 20.2 38.6 33.3 5.3 

Has a disability 62.8 42.0 28.1 14.0 58.0 44.9 13.1 

 Visual impairment 70.4 48.4 30.9 17.6 51.6 44.2 7.4 

 Hearing impairment or deaf 60.2 39.8 33.5 6.3 60.2 47.0 13.2 

 Speech impairment 58.5 49.0 34.5 14.5 51.0 47.6 3.5 

 Orthopedic impairment 73.9 71.4 53.6 17.8 28.7 23.6 5.1 

 Learning disability 57.5 28.2 17.6 10.5 71.8 53.9 17.9 

 Other disability or impairment2 65.9 44.3 28.4 15.9 55.7 42.8 13.0 

1

Students enrolled in private, for-profit institutions; public less-than-2-year institutions; or private, not-for-profit less-than4-year institutions.

2

Parent reported student had any other disability, including health problems, emotional problems, mental retardation, or other

physical disabilities, and had received services for it.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Education Longitudinal Study

of 1988, Third Follow-up Survey, 1994 (NELS:88/94), Data Analysis System.

4-year institutions Other institutions

Postsecondary Aspirations and Academic Preparation

In order to better understand the differences in postsecondary enrollment between students

with and without disabilities, the analysis determined how the two groups differed with respect to

their educational aspirations and their academic preparation for college. Students’ aspirations and

academic preparation are strong predictors of postsecondary degree attainment (e.g., Tinto 1993,

p. 38). Students with disabilities who completed high school by 1994 differed in both respects

from their counterparts without disabilities.

When asked in the eighth grade what their educational aspirations were, students with disabilities had somewhat lower collegiate aspirations than those of their counterparts without disabilities (table 22). While more than half aspired to a bachelor’s degree or higher (57 percent),

they were less likely than students without disabilities to have such aspirations (72 percent).

Conversely, students with disabilities were more likely to aspire to some postsecondary education short of a bachelor’s degree (29 versus 20 percent) and more likely to have no aspirations
Access to Postsecondary Education

31

Table 22—Among 1988 eighth graders who completed high school, the percentage distribution according to

Table 22—their educational aspirations reported in the eighth grade, by disability status and type

High school Some postsecondary Bachelor’s

 or less education degree or higher

 Total 9.0 21.1 69.9 

Does not have a disability 8.3 20.2 71.5 

Has a disability 14.7 28.5 56.8 

 Visual impairment 26.0 17.4 56.7 

 Hearing impairment or deaf 14.8 25.1 60.1 

 Speech impairment 22.5 24.3 53.1 

 Orthopedic impairment 12.4 16.0 71.6 

 Learning disability 17.8 35.6 46.6 

 Other disability or impairment* 10.6 22.1 67.3 

*Parent reported student had any other disability, including health problems, emotional problems, mental retardation, or other

physical disabilities, and had received services for it.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Education Longitudinal Study

of 1988, Third Follow-up Survey, 1994 (NELS:88/94), Data Analysis System.

beyond high school (15 versus 8 percent). Thus, when students are about to begin high school

and prepare for college, even among students who were academically capable of completing high

school, students with disabilities had lower educational aspirations than their counterparts without disabilities.

In this analysis, the academic preparation of students with and without disabilities was assessed with an indicator that measures how qualified students are for admission to a 4-year college. The index, first developed by Berkner et al. (1997), is based on five measures of academic

performance: cumulative GPA, senior class rank, the NELS 1992 composite test scores, and the

SAT and ACT admission test scores. Students were classified according to the highest level they

had achieved on any one of the five criteria for which data were available. In order to be at least

minimally qualified for admission to a 4-year college, students had to achieve one of the following levels or higher: GPA=2.7; class rank percentile=54; combined SAT=820; ACT=19; and the

1992 NELS composite test score percentile=56.

The level of college qualification of students with and without disabilities is shown in figure 5 and table 23. It is evident that among 1988 eighth graders who completed high school by

1994, students with disabilities were much less likely to be even minimally qualified for admission to a 4-year college than were students without disabilities. In fact, a majority (56 percent)
Access to Postsecondary Education

32

Figure 5—Among 1988 eighth graders who completed high school by 1994, the percentage distribution 

Figure 5—according to a 4-year college qualification index,* by disability status

*Based on an index of 5 measures including high school GPA, rank in class, NELS 1992 aptitude test, and SAT and ACT test

scores among NELS 1992 high school graduates who enrolled in a 4-year college. “Not qualified”—no value on any criterion

that placed them in the top 75 percent of 4-year college students; “Minimally qualified”—had at least one value that placed

them in the top 75 percent of 4-year college students; “Somewhat qualified”—had at least one value that placed them in the top

50 percent of 4-year college students. “Very qualified”—had at least one value that placed them in the top 25 percent of 4-year

college students; “highly qualified”—had at least one value that placed them in the top 10 percent of 4-year college students.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Education Longitudinal Study 

of 1988, Third Follow-up Survey, 1994 (NELS:88/94), Data Analysis System.

56

29

15

37

31 31

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Not qualified Minimally to somewhat

qualified

Very to highly qualified

Has disability No disability Percent

were not qualified, compared with about 37 percent of students without disabilities. Thus, even

though a majority of students with disabilities aspired to a college degree, less than half were at

least minimally qualified to enroll in a 4-year college. This suggests that students with disabilities

may not be getting the academic preparation necessary for them to achieve their goals.
Access to Postsecondary Education

33

Table 23—Among 1988 eighth graders who completed high school, the percentage distribution according to

Table 23—a 4-year college qualification index,1

 by disability status and type

Minimally to Very to highly

 Not qualified somewhat qualified qualified

 Total 39.9 30.9 29.2 

Does not have a disability 37.3 31.3 31.4 

Has a disability 56.3 29.0 14.7 

 Visual impairment 40.5 45.6 14.0 

 Hearing impairment or deaf 55.2 34.0 10.8 

 Speech impairment 43.7 34.5 21.9 

 Orthopedic impairment 43.7 25.3 31.0 

 Learning disability 66.8 27.2 6.0 

 Other disability or impairment2 57.4 23.1 19.6 

1

Based on an index of 5 measures including high school GPA, rank in class, NELS 1992 aptitude test, and SAT and ACT test

scores among NELS 1992 high school graduates who enrolled in a 4-year college. “Not qualified”—no value on any criterion

that placed them in the top 75 percent of 4-year college students; “minimally-qualified”—had at least one value that placed

them in the top 75 percent of 4-year college students; “somewhat qualified”—had at least one value that placed them in the top

50 percent of 4-year college students; “very qualified”—had at least one value that placed them in the top 25 percent of 4-year

college students; “highly qualified”—had at least one value that placed them in the top 10 percent of 4-year college students. 2

Parent reported student had any other disability, including health problems, emotional problems, mental retardation, or other

physical disabilities, and had received services for it.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Education Longitudinal Study

of 1988, Third Follow-up Survey, 1994 (NELS:88/94), Data Analysis System.

When postsecondary enrollment is viewed relative to college qualification, differences

between students with and without disabilities are also evident (table 24). Among students who

were minimally to somewhat qualified for admission to a 4-year institution, 41 percent of students with disabilities enrolled in a 4-year college, compared with about 54 percent of students

without disabilities. In other words, despite being at least minimally qualified for admission to a

4-year college, students with disabilities were less likely to enroll in the 4-year sector than their

counterparts without disabilities. If these students aspire to a bachelor’s degree they may be reducing their chances of actually attaining the degree. Previous research has shown that less than

40 percent of students with a bachelor’s degree goal who first enroll in a public 2-year institution

actually transfer to a 4-year college (McCormick 1997).

Students with and without disabilities who were very to highly qualified11 for admission to

a 4-year college enrolled in the 4-year sector at the same rate (79 percent). In addition, among

those who were not qualified for admission to a 4-year institution, regardless of disability status,

roughly 40 percent had enrolled in either the public 2-year sector or in other types of institutions.

 

11For detailed definition, see appendix C under glossary entry for “CQCOMVI.”
Access to Postsecondary Education

34

Table 24—Among 1988 eighth graders who completed high school, the percentage distribution according to

Table 24—postsecondary enrollment by 1994, by college qualification level and disability status

 4-year sector Public 2-year Other1 Did not enroll

 Total 44.0 23.8 3.8 28.4 

Index of college qualification2

 Not qualified

 Does not have disability 0.0 32.0 7.4 60.6 

 Has disability 0.0 29.5 11.4 59.1 

Minimally to somewhat qualified

 Does not have disability 53.6 25.3 3.0 18.2 

 Has disability 40.7 34.8 7.4 17.1 

Very to highly qualified

 Does not have disability 78.7 14.5 1.6 5.3 

 Has disability 79.2 15.6 1.8 3.4 

1

Students enrolled in private, for-profit institutions; public less-than-2-year institutions; or private, not-for-profit less-than4-year institutions.

2

Based on an index of 5 measures including high school GPA, rank in class, NELS 1992 aptitude test, and SAT and ACT test

scores among NELS 1992 high school graduates who enrolled in a 4-year college. “Not qualified”—no value on any criterion

that placed them in the top 75 percent of 4-year college students; “minimally-qualified”—had at least one value that placed

them in the top 75 percent of 4-year college students; “somewhat qualified”—had at least one value that placed them in the top

50 percent of 4-year college students; “very qualified”—had at least one value that placed them in the top 25 percent of 4-year

college students; “highly qualified”—had at least one value that placed them in the top 10 percent of 4-year college students.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Education Longitudinal Study

of 1988, Third Follow-up Survey, 1994 (NELS:88/94), Data Analysis System.

Type of first institution

Academic Characteristics of Students Enrolled in Postsecondary Education

Consistent with their lower likelihood of being qualified for admission to a 4-year college,

among students who enrolled in any postsecondary education by 1994, students with disabilities

differed from their counterparts without disabilities on a number of academic performance indicators. For example, they were about half as likely as students without disabilities to have scored

in the highest quartile on the NELS eighth-grade composite tests (20 versus 40 percent; table 25).

They were also less likely to have taken advanced placement courses in high school (31 versus

46 percent), and conversely, were more likely to have taken courses in remedial English (26 versus 12 percent) and mathematics (28 versus 14 percent; table 26). Other indications that students

with disabilities who enrolled in postsecondary education were less academically prepared included having lower average cumulative high school GPAs (2.56 versus 2.85), and among those

who took college entrance exams, having lower SAT scores (table 27).
Access to Postsecondary Education

35

Table 25—Among 1988 eighth graders who enrolled in postsecondary education by 1994, the percentage

Table 25—distribution according to 1988 composite test scores, by disability status and type

 Low quartile Middle quartiles High quartile

 Total 12.7 49.4 38.0 

Does not have a disability 10.7 49.1 40.2 

Has a disability 29.9 50.4 19.7 

 Visual impairment 21.6 59.3 19.1 

 Hearing impairment or deaf 21.9 56.5 21.6 

 Speech impairment 27.9 44.1 28.0 

 Orthopedic impairment 11.6 50.7 37.7 

 Learning disability 45.1 50.7 4.2 

 Other health-related disability* 22.3 48.9 28.8 

*Parent reported student had any other disability, including health problems, emotional problems, mental retardation, or other

physical disabilities, and had received services for it.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Education Longitudinal Study

of 1988, Third Follow-up Survey, 1994 (NELS:88/94), Data Analysis System.

Table 26—Among 1988 eighth graders who enrolled in postsecondary education by 1994, the percentage

Table 26—who took remedial or advanced placement courses in high school, by disability status and type

 Remedial Remedial Advanced

 English mathematics placement courses

 Total 13.5 15.0 45.1

Does not have a disability 12.1 13.6 46.4

Has a disability 25.6 28.4 31.4

 Visual impairment 23.9 29.2 28.4

 Hearing impairment or deaf 22.2 27.3 39.8

 Speech impairment 26.2 24.5 36.5

 Orthopedic impairment 17.4 18.6 52.6

 Learning disability 37.8 42.6 12.7

 Other health-related disability* 16.2 24.0 40.9

*Parent reported student had any other disability, including health problems, emotional problems, mental retardation, or other

physical disabilities, and had received services for it.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Education Longitudinal Study

of 1988, Third Follow-up Survey, 1994 (NELS:88/94), Data Analysis System.
Access to Postsecondary Education

36

Table 27—Among 1988 eighth graders who enrolled in postsecondary education by 1994, the average high

Table 27—school grade point average and SAT scores, by disability status and type

 Grade point Average SAT Average SAT

 average verbal score math score

 Total 2.82 442 497

Does not have a disability 2.85 445 500

Has a disability 2.56 417 458

 Visual impairment 2.70 — —

 Hearing impairment or deaf 2.57 — —

 Speech impairment 2.84 410 495

 Orthopedic impairment 2.76 — —

 Learning disability 2.41 375 400

 Other health-related disability* 2.55 435 465

—Sample size too small for a reliable estimate.

*Parent reported student had any other disability, including health problems, emotional problems, mental retardation, or other

physical disabilities, and had received services for it.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Education Longitudinal Study

of 1988, Third Follow-up Survey, 1994 (NELS:88/94), Data Analysis System.

Overall, it appears that even among students who completed high school and made the

transition to postsecondary education, students with disabilities were less prepared academically

than were their counterparts without disabilities. This suggests that students with disabilities may

have a more difficult time in their postsecondary program, and as a result, may be less likely to

complete their studies or may take longer to complete them. The next section examines the likelihood of college students with disabilities to attain a degree.
37

Persistence and Attainment in Postsecondary Education

To understand how well students with disabilities persist in their postsecondary programs

of study and the rate at which they attain degrees, the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:90/94) was used. BPS:90/94 represents a sample of undergraduates who first

began their postsecondary education in the 1989–90 school year and who were followed up in

1992 and 1994. As discussed in detail in the “Data” section of this report, this survey differs from

NELS:88/94 in that it represents all first-time undergraduates, regardless of age, whereas

NELS:88/94 represents a cohort of students of similar ages who entered postsecondary education

within 2 years after completing high school (i.e., they were about 17–19 years old at the time).

The differences between the two surveys are the reason for the differences in enrollment characteristics. Among the BPS students, about 7 percent reported having a disability (see appendix table B2 for demographic details).

Enrollment Characteristics

As shown in table 28, among students first beginning their postsecondary education, students with disabilities were as likely as their counterparts without disabilities to attend public 2-

year colleges (46 and 44 percent). Students with disabilities also were no less likely (statistically)

than their counterparts without disabilities to attend public 4-year colleges and universities (23

and 29 percent respectively). However, they were less likely than students without disabilities to

attend private, not-for-profit 4-year colleges and universities (9 versus 14 percent) and more

likely to attend other types of postsecondary institutions, which include for-profit vocational institutions (21 versus 14 percent).

Persistence and Degree Attainment

Because the BPS survey covers a 5-year period, not all students had completed their degrees by 1994. Therefore, the overall postsecondary outcome of BPS students is defined as persistence, which means that students either attained a degree or were still enrolled in 1994.

Viewed from this perspective, about 53 percent of students with disabilities had persisted in their

postsecondary program. In contrast, 64 percent of students without disabilities had done so (figure 6, table 29).
Persistence and Attainment in Postsecondary Education

38

Table 28—Percentage distribution of 1989–90 beginning postsecondary students according to first institution

Table 28—attended, by disability status and type

 Public Private, not-for- Public

 4-year profit 4-year 2-year Other1

 

 Total 28.5 13.7 43.7 14.1 

Does not have a disability 28.9 14.1 43.5 13.5 

Has a disability 23.4 9.3 46.2 21.1 

 Visual impairment 32.2 10.0 50.8 7.0 

 Hearing impairment or deaf 18.8 6.5 47.3 27.4 

 Speech impairment ————

 Orthopedic impairment 24.6 8.2 38.6 28.5 

 Learning disability 15.1 9.8 62.3 12.8 

 Other disability or impairment2 26.4 11.2 32.0 30.4 

—Sample size too small for a reliable estimate. 1

Students enrolled in private, for-profit institutions; public less-than-2-year institutions; or private, not-for-profit less-than4-year institutions.

2

Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1990 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:90/94), Data Analysis System.

Table 29—Percentage distribution of 1989–90 beginning postsecondary students according to postsecondary

Table 29—persistence status, by disability status and type: 1994

Not enrolled/

 Attained degree Enrolled no degree

 Total or certificate in 1994 or certificate

 Total 63.2 50.0 13.3 36.8

Does not have a disability 64.1 50.7 13.4 36.0

Has a disability 52.9 41.1 11.8 47.2

 Visual impairment 66.1 53.4 12.7 33.9

 Hearing impairment or deaf 49.8 40.0 9.9 50.2

 Speech impairment ——— —

 Orthopedic impairment 54.8 45.2 9.5 45.2

 Learning disability 52.3 36.6 15.8 47.7

 Other disability or impairment* 43.4 35.2 8.2 56.7

—Sample size too small for a reliable estimate.

*Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to totals due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1989–90 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:90/94), Data Analysis System.

Persisted
Persistence and Attainment in Postsecondary Education

39

Figure 6—Percentage of 1989–90 beginning postsecondary students according to their persistence status

Figure 6—in 1994 and highest degree attained, by disability status

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1990 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:90/94), Data Analysis System.

59

19

6

16

49

13 12

27

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

No degree Vocational certificate Associate’s degree Bachelor’s degree

Percent

53

64

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Total persisted: attained credential or enrolled in 1994

Percent

Has disability No disability

In keeping with persistence differences, the likelihood of attaining a degree or certificate

within 5 years also differed relative to disability status. About 41 percent of students with disabilities had attained a degree or vocational certificate, compared with 51 percent of students

without disabilities (table 29). Correspondingly, a higher proportion of students with disabilities
Persistence and Attainment in Postsecondary Education

40

had left college without earning a degree (47 versus 36 percent), while similar proportions were

still enrolled (12 percent and 13 percent, respectively).

With respect to the highest degree attained, students with disabilities were less likely than

those without disabilities to have attained bachelor’s or associate’s degrees (table 30). While it

appears as though they were more likely than students without disabilities to complete vocational

certificates (19 and 13 percent, respectively), there was not enough statistical evidence to draw

this conclusion. When looking within institutional sector, many differences remained. For example, among those enrolled in public 4-year institutions, 33 percent of students with disabilities

had completed bachelor’s degrees, compared with 48 percent of students without disabilities.

Among students enrolled in public 2-year institutions, similar proportions of students with and

without disabilities earned some kind of postsecondary credential, though students without

Table 30—Percentage distribution of 1989–90 beginning postsecondary students according to highest

Table 30—undergraduate degree attained by 1994, by disability status and first institution attended

 None Certificate Associate’s Bachelor’s

 Total 50.1 12.9 11.2 25.8 

Does not have a disability 49.3 12.5 11.6 26.6 

Has a disability 58.9 18.8 6.0 16.3 

Public 4-year

 Does not have a disability 44.5 2.8 4.9 47.9 

 Has a disability 55.5 8.5 2.7 33.4 

Private, not-for-profit 4-year

 Does not have a disability 27.8 2.0 3.0 67.1 

 Has a disability 34.8 5.8 2.4 56.9 

Public 2-year

 Does not have a disability 63.0 12.3 18.4 6.3 

 Has a disability 66.2 20.5 7.3 6.1 

Other institutions*

 Does not have a disability 39.6 44.9 13.3 2.3 

 Has a disability 59.4 32.8 6.2 1.6 

*Students enrolled in private, for-profit institutions; public less-than-2-year institutions; or private, not-for-profit less-than4-year institutions.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1990 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:90/94), Data Analysis System.
Persistence and Attainment in Postsecondary Education

41

disabilities were more likely to earn associate’s degrees (18 versus 7 percent). About 6 percent of

both groups who started in public 2-year colleges attained bachelor’s degrees.

It should be noted, however, that the postsecondary outcomes of students with disabilities

might not be directly comparable to those without disabilities. The two groups of students differed in many respects when considering characteristics associated with postsecondary attrition.

These attributes (shown in table 31) are correlated with age and have been shown to impede

postsecondary persistence and degree attainment (e.g., Berkner et al. 1997). For example, compared to their counterparts without disabilities, students with disabilities were more likely to have

delayed their postsecondary enrollment a year or more after finishing high school (43 versus 32

percent). They were also more likely to have completed high school by earning a GED or alternative high school credential (12 versus 6 percent). Corresponding to the age differences between

students with and without disabilities, students with disabilities were more likely to have dependents other than a spouse (25 versus 13 percent). Thus, in addition to the obstacles they may

experience with their disabilities, students with disabilities enrolled in postsecondary education

are also more likely to have family and financial obligations that potentially conflict with their

schooling. Despite such impediments, however, within the 5-year time frame, just over half of

students with disabilities had persisted in their postsecondary program.

Table 31—Percentage of 1989–90 beginning postsecondary students with characteristics associated with

Table 31—increased risk of postsecondary attrition, by disability status and type

Worked Completed

full time high school

 Delayed Part-time while by GED or Financially Has Single

 enrollment enrollment enrolled certificate independent dependents parent

 Total 33.0 23.9 28.3 6.4 37.7 13.9 5.4 

Does not have a disability 32.2 23.6 28.4 6.0 37.1 13.0 5.0 

Has a disability 43.4 27.8 28.0 11.8 44.5 24.5 9.3 

 Visual impairment 24.0 26.5 26.1 14.3 36.0 23.0 7.2 

 Hearing impairment or deaf 63.6 37.0 28.7 19.2 56.1 46.5 13.4 

 Speech impairment ———————

 Orthopedic impairment 66.1 26.3 21.0 14.7 68.0 34.9 15.3 

 Learning disability 25.8 34.8 40.0 1.9 24.5 10.3 2.6 

 Other disability or impairment* 42.6 27.2 18.0 20.2 43.1 26.3 13.5 

—Sample size too small for a reliable estimate.

*Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1989–90 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study—Second Follow-up (BPS:90/94), Data Analysis System.
Persistence and Attainment in Postsecondary Education

42

Controlling for Factors Related to Persistence

In order to ascertain whether having a disability is associated with persistence independently of other related factors (such as those discussed in the previous section), it is necessary to

conduct a multivariate analysis. For this purpose, a regression model was used.12 The dependent

variable was defined as the likelihood of either attaining a degree or being enrolled in 1994 (i.e.,

a student persisted or did not). In addition to disability status, the model included a number of

independent variables that represent various aspects of students’ background and family characteristics as well as institutional characteristics. They are listed in table 32.

Column one shows the percentages of students who persisted in postsecondary education

for each independent variable category. Column two represents the corresponding percentages

after being adjusted for the covariation of the independent variables included in the model (i.e.,

based on the regression equation). Asterisks indicate when a particular group differs significantly

from the comparison group (shown in italics).

The results indicate that even after controlling for student background characteristics and

factors known to affect persistence, students with disabilities still had lower 5-year persistence

rates than their counterparts without disabilities. The unadjusted persistence rate for students

with disabilities was 53 percent, and the corresponding rate for students without disabilities was

64 percent. After adjustment, the rates were 56 percent and 64 percent, respectively. However,

there are other factors not included in the model that might account for such differences. Because

the BPS survey represents a sample of students already enrolled in postsecondary education,

there were few high school academic preparation or performance indicators.13 As was discussed

previously in this report, high school students with disabilities who enrolled in postsecondary

education were more likely to have taken high school remedial courses and less likely to have

taken advanced placement courses, indicating that they may have been less prepared than their

counterparts to undertake college-level courses. Finally, given the age differences between undergraduates with and without disabilities, it is also possible that students with disabilities who

leave college may be more likely to return after a long interruption, and therefore, their experience would not be captured within the 5-year time frame of the survey.

 

12See appendix D for details on the methods used.

13There is a new BPS survey currently under way of students who began postsecondary education in 1995–96. This data set includes students’ ACT/SAT scores and indicators of courses taken while in high school.
Persistence and Attainment in Postsecondary Education

43

Table 32—Percentage of beginning postsecondary students who attained a degree or were enrolled in 

Table 32—1994 and the adjusted percentage after controlling for the covariation of the variables listed 

Table 32—in the table1

 Unadjusted Adjusted Least squares Standard 

 percentage2 percentage3 coefficient4 error

5

Total 63.2 63.2 74.4 1.8 

Disability status

 Has disability 52.9* 56.2* -7.5 2.7 

 No disability 64.1 63.8 † † 

Attendance status in 1989

 Part-time 47.7* 54.4* -11.6 1.9 

 Full-time 69.9 66.0 † † 

Institution control

 Private, not-for-profit 77.9* 67.5* 5.8 2.1 

 Private, for-profit 61.9 67.4 5.7 3.1 

 Public 60.2 61.7 † † 

Timing of enrollment

 Delayed enrollment 44.9 55.7* -11.2 2.3 

 Did not delay 72.1* 66.9 † † 

Dependency status

 Independent 48.2* 58.5* -7.6 2.1 

 Dependent 73.0 66.1 † † 

Employment status

 Worked full time while enrolled 52.8* 60.6* -3.7 1.7 

 Did not work full time 67.6 64.3 † † 

Gender

 Female 64.6* 64.6* 3.1 1.4 

 Male 61.6 61.5 † † 

High school completion

 GED/credential 40.3* 54.8* -9.0 3.1 

 High school diploma 64.8 63.8 † † 

Dependents

 One or more children 45.8* 65.8 3.0 2.5 

 No children 66.4 62.8 † † 

Institution level

 2-year 52.3* 58.2* -9.3 1.7 

 Less-than-2-year 64.5* 69.3 1.8 3.6 

 4-year 75.0 67.5 † † 
Persistence and Attainment in Postsecondary Education

44

Table 32—Percentage of beginning postsecondary students who attained a degree or were enrolled in 

Table 31—1994 and the adjusted percentage after controlling for the covariation of the variables listed 

Table 31— in the table1

—Continued

 Unadjusted Adjusted Least squares Standard 

 percentage2 percentage3 coefficient4 error

5

Socioeconomic status

 Low quartile 46.9* 59.1 -3.0 2.2 

 High quartile 73.1 65.9* 3.8 1.6 

 Middle quartiles 59.8 62.2 † † 

*p < .05.

†Not applicable for the reference group.

1

The italicized group in each category is the reference group being compared. 2

The estimates are from the BPS:90/94 Undergraduate Data Analysis System.

3

The percentages are adjusted for differences associated with other variables in the table (see appendix D).

4

Least squares coefficient, multiplied by 100 to reflect percentage (see appendix D).

5

Standard error of least squares coefficient, adjusted for design effect, multiplied by 100 to reflect percentage (see appendix D).

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1990–94 Beginning Postsecondary Student

Survey (BPS:90/94), Data Analysis System.
45

College Graduates

While students with disabilities were less likely to persist to degree attainment within 5

years, the following results suggest that among those who did attain a bachelor’s degree, early

employment and graduate school enrollment differences between students with and without disabilities were relatively modest. Among 1992–93 bachelor’s degree recipients, about 4 percent

identified themselves as students with disabilities (see appendix table B3 for demographic details).

Employment

Regardless of disability status, most college graduates were working full time in April 1994

(figure 7, table 33). Nearly 70 percent of students with disabilities (67 percent) and 73 percent of

those without disabilities who obtained a bachelor’s degree in 1992–93 were working full time in

April 1994. An additional 13 percent and 14 percent, respectively, were working part time. Compared to their counterparts without disabilities, those with disabilities were more likely to be unemployed (11 versus 4 percent).14

Students with and without disabilities had comparable 1994 full-time annual salaries:

$26,988 and $25,219. There were also no differences between the two groups with respect to

how closely related their 1994 occupation was to their bachelor’s degree. For example, 58 percent of college graduates with disabilities reported that their occupation was closely related to

their degree, as did 55 percent of those without disabilities (table 34).

Similarly, there were few differences in the types of occupations by disability status (table

35). For example, 39 and 37 percent of students with and without disabilities reported working in

professional occupations or as teachers, and about one-fifth of both groups reported that they

were managers or administrators.

 

14There is not a large enough sample of students with individual disabilities to detect statistical differences in students’ employment status by disability type.
College Graduates

46

Figure 7—Among 1992–93 bachelor’s degree recipients, percentage distribution according to employment 

Figure 2—status and graduate school enrollment, by disability status

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1993 Baccalaureate and Beyond

Longitudinal Study, First Follow-up (B&B:93/94), Data Analysis System.

67

13 11 10

73

14

4 8

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Employed full time Employed part time Unemployed Not in labor force

Percent

Has disability No disability

Average 1994 

full-time salary

13

6

81

13

5

82

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Enrolled in graduate school Enrolled in nongraduate

program

Not enrolled

Percent

$26,988

$25,219
College Graduates

47

Table 33—Percentage distribution of 1992–93 bachelor’s degree recipients according to their employment

Table 33—status in April 1994, by disability status and type

 Employed Employed Out of

 full time part time Unemployed labor force

 Total 73.1 13.9 4.5 8.5 

Does not have a disability 73.2 14.1 4.3 8.3 

Has a disability 66.7 12.8 10.7 9.8 

 Visual impairment 57.8 14.9 14.5 12.8 

 Hearing impairment or deaf 76.8 10.2 4.4 8.5 

 Speech impairment ————

 Orthopedic impairment 64.1 16.4 10.0 9.5 

 Learning disability 69.8 11.3 5.0 14.0 

 Other disability or impairment* 62.5 9.0 19.6 8.9 

—Sample size too small for a reliable estimate.

*Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1993 Baccalaureate and Beyond

Longitudinal Study, First Follow-up (B&B:93/94), Data Analysis System.

Table 34—Average full-time salaries and the percentage distribution of employed 1992–93 bachelor’s degree

Table 34—recipients according to how closely April 1994 occupation is related to their degree, by disability

Table 34—status and type

 Average full-time

 salary in 1994 Closely Somewhat Not at all

 

 Total $25,274 54.71 20.3 25.01

Does not have a disability 25,219 55.2 19.9 24.9

Has a disability 26,988 57.5 20.8 21.6

 Visual impairment 26,730 48.1 19.5 32.4

 Hearing impairment or deaf 25,999 52.8 33.2 14.0

 Speech impairment — ———

 Orthopedic impairment 23,345 64.2 16.3 19.5

 Learning disability — 64.9 10.3 24.8

 Other disability or impairment2 23,634 60.0 27.7 12.3

—Sample size too small for a reliable estimate. 1

Total percentage not within the range of those with or without disabilities because of missing cases on the disability variable. 2

Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1993 Baccalaureate and Beyond

Longitudinal Study, First Follow-up (B&B:93/94), Data Analysis System.

Occupation related to degree
Table 35—Percentage distribution of 1992–93 bachelor’s degree recipients according to April 1994 occupation, by disability st

 Craft/skilled Manager/ Military/ Pro- operative/ admini- protective fessional/ Proprietor/ 

Clerical technical Farmer Laborer strator service teacher owner Sales 

 Total 17.9 8.9 1.0 1.12 19.62 2.0 37.4 0.5 7.1 

Does not have a disability 17.9 8.9 1.1 1.0 19.7 2.0 37.4 0.5 7.1 Has a disability 17.1 10.6 0.7 0.6 20.9 3.3 38.6 1.0 5.2  Visual impairment 31.1 9.0 0.0 0.0 12.1 4.9 38.4 0.0 3.1  Hearing impairment or deaf 20.8 16.6 0.0 0.0 21.6 3.2 31.3 2.9 0.5  Speech impairment ————————— Orthopedic impairment 16.0 9.7 0.8 1.4 18.3 3.3 41.3 1.3 6.5  Learning disability 9.7 9.3 0.0 1.6 33.3 2.4 28.7 0.0 11.3  Other disability or impairment3 6.5 12.7 0.0 1.4 24.5 3.4 42.9 0.0 7.5 

—Sample size too small for a reliable estimate.

1Students were considered to have another occupation if they reported not working or homemaking.2Total percentage not in range because of missing cases on the disability variable.3Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Values of 0.0 are estimates less than 0.05 percent.SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1993 Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study, First FollowAnalysis System.
College Graduates

49

Graduate School Enrollment

College graduates with disabilities were equally as likely as those without disabilities to enroll in graduate school within a year after graduating from college. In fact, as of April 1994,

nearly identical proportions of college graduates with and without disabilities (13 percent) were

enrolled in graduate school (figure 7; table 36). Similarly, 6 percent and 5 percent, respectively,

had enrolled in further education not at the graduate level.

Table 36—Percentage distribution of 1992–93 bachelor’s degree recipients according to enrollment in

Table 36—further education in April 1994, by disability status and type: 1994

 Enrolled in Enrolled in Not

graduate school nongraduate program enrolled

 Total 12.6 5.3 82.1

Does not have a disability 12.6 5.3 82.2

Has a disability 12.8 6.3 80.9

 Visual impairment 32.7 0.0 67.3

 Hearing impairment or deaf 10.7 1.5 87.8

 Speech impairment ———

 Orthopedic impairment 7.9 1.0 91.1

 Learning disability 11.2 8.4 80.4

 Other disability or impairment* 17.8 15.5 66.7

—Sample size too small for a reliable estimate.

*Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1993 Baccalaureate and Beyond

Longitudinal Study, First Follow-up (B&B:93/94), Data Analysis System.

Finally, there were also indications that graduate school enrollment in the subsequent year

would be similar for students with and without disabilities. The percentage of students reporting

that they had ever applied to graduate school is shown in table 37. As was the case with immediate enrollment, there were no differences in the percentage who applied, in the number of schools

applied to, and the number of acceptances to graduate school.

Thus, for those students with disabilities who were able to achieve a bachelor’s degree,

their early employment and graduate school opportunities did not seem any more limited than

their counterparts without disabilities.
College Graduates

50

Table 37—Percentage of 1992–93 bachelor’s degree recipients who ever applied and were accepted to 

Table 37—graduate school, by disability status and type: 1994

Percentage Average Average

 ever applied to number of graduate number of

graduate school schools applied to schools accepted

 Total 28.7 2.8 1.7

Does not have a disability 28.9 2.8 1.7

Has a disability 27.6 2.5 1.9

 Visual impairment 37.3 — —

 Hearing impairment or deaf 28.2 — —

 Speech impairment ———

 Orthopedic impairment 24.5 2.1 1.7

 Learning disability 29.3 — —

 Other disability or impairment* 27.9 — —

—Sample size too small for a reliable estimate.

*Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1993 Baccalaureate and Beyond

Longitudinal Study, First Follow-up (B&B:93/94), Data Analysis System.
51

Summary and Conclusions

Among all undergraduates enrolled in postsecondary education, students with disabilities

made up roughly 6 percent of those enrolled in the 1995–96 academic year. Compared to their

counterparts without disabilities, undergraduates who identified themselves as having disabilities

were more likely to be male, white (non-Hispanic), and older. Nearly one-quarter of undergraduates with disabilities were age 40 or older. Students with disabilities were less likely to be enrolled in 4-year colleges and universities and more likely to attend other institutions, primarily

public 2-year colleges.

In order to enroll in higher education, students with disabilities must overcome substantial

obstacles related to academic preparation. Longitudinal data of 1988 eighth graders revealed that

despite the fact that over half of the eighth graders with disabilities aspired to a bachelor’s degree

(57 percent) and another 29 percent aspired to some postsecondary education, just two-thirds had

enrolled after completing high school. In contrast, roughly three-quarters of students without disabilities had done the same. The reasons for this difference may in large part have to do with differences in academic preparation. Students with disabilities took more remedial courses and

fewer advanced placement courses. Students with disabilities were also much less likely than

their counterparts without disabilities to be even minimally qualified for admission to a 4-year

college. But even among those who were at least minimally qualified academically to enroll at

the 4-year level, students with disabilities were more likely than similarly qualified students

without disabilities to enroll at the 2-year level instead.

For students who do enroll in college, differences in academic preparation may also affect

their ability to complete a degree or certificate. Among students who first enrolled in postsecondary education in 1989–90, students with disabilities had lower SAT scores and were more likely

to be enrolled in remedial coursework. By 1994, nearly half (47 percent) of those with disabilities

had left college without earning a degree or postsecondary credential compared with just over

one-third (36 percent) of students without disabilities.

On the other hand, for students with disabilities who earn a bachelor’s degree, the outcomes

appeared more positive. Among 1992–93 college graduates, students with disabilities had similar

full-time starting salaries and were just as likely to report that their job was related to their

bachelor’s degree. Similarly, college graduates with disabilities were just as likely as their counterparts without disabilities to enroll in graduate school immediately after earning a bachelor’s

degree.
53

References

Berkner, L., Cuccaro-Alamin, S., and McCormick, A. 1996. Descriptive Summary of 1989–90

Beginning Postsecondary Students: 5 Years Later (NCES 96-155). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics.

Blackorby, J., and Wagner, M. “Longitudinal Postschool Outcomes of Youth with Disabilities:

Findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study.” Exceptional Children, Vol. 62, No.

5, pp. 399–413. March/April 1996.

Eighteenth Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities

Education Act. Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services: U.S. Department of

Education. Washington, DC 1996.

Haggerty, C., Dugoni, B., Reed, L., Cederlund, A., and Taylor, J. National Education Longitudinal Study 1988–1994 Methodology Report. NCES 96-174 National Center for Education Statistics: U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC: 1996.

Henderson, C. Profile of 1996 College Freshmen with Disabilities. Information from HEATH

Electronic Newsletter, Volume 1, Number E1, American Council on Education: 1998.

Henderson, C. Postsecondary Students with Disabilities: Where Are They Enrolled? American

Council on Education, Research Brief, Volume 6, No. 6, 1995.

Horn, L. Nontraditional Undergraduates. NCES 97-578, National Center for Education Statistics: U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC: 1997.

Horn, L. and Berktold, J. Profile of Undergraduates in U.S. Postsecondary Education Institutions: 1995-96 With an Essay on Undergraduates Who Work. NCES 98-084, National Center for

Education Statistics: U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC: 1998.

Kaye, H.S. “Education of Children with Disabilities.” Disability Statistics Abstract. Number 19.

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research: U.S. Department of Education.

Washington, DC: 1997.
References

54

McCormick, A. Transfer Behavior Among Beginning Postsecondary Students: 1989–94. NCES

97–266, National Center for Education Statistics: U.S. Department of Education. Washington,

DC: 1996.

Lewis, L., and Farris, E. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students in Postsecondary Education. NCES

94–394, National Center for Education Statistics: U.S. Department of Education. Washington,

DC: 1994.

Rossi, R., Herting, J., and Wolman, J. Profiles of Students with Disabilities as Identified in

NELS:88. (NCES 97-254). National Center for Education Statistics: U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC: 1997.

Tinto, V., Leaving College. 2nd ed. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1993.
55

Appendix A—Comparing Data on Students With Disabilities

The percentage of students with disabilities enrolled in postsecondary institutions is relatively small. Because of their small sample size, differences between surveys resulting from the

ways in which disabilities are defined or the way questions are asked can appear very large. Table

A1 compares data from NPSAS:96, the source of data for this statistic in this report, and results

from two other comparable studies.

The first study was published as a research brief on undergraduates with disabilities by the

American Council on Education (Henderson 1995). This report is the most comparable to the

current report because it is based on an earlier NPSAS survey. Nevertheless, there appear to be

some differences, most notably a decrease among those with orthopedic limitations and an increase among students with learning disabilities between 1993 and 1996. It is unclear whether

these are actual changes in the population of students reporting disabilities or differences in samples. The NPSAS surveys, while representative of all students in postsecondary education, may

not be entirely representative of students with disabilities in postsecondary education. The

Table A1—Percentage of students with disabilities and the percentage by type of disability: comparing

Table A1—previous reports with NPSAS:96 data

Other

Hearing health

Any Learning Orthopedic impaired Sight Speech related

 disabilities disability limitation or deaf disability limitation disability

Source of data

 ACE-Research brief (1993)1 6.5 1.2 2.4 1.3 0.7 0.4 1.5

 NPSAS:962 5.5 1.6 1.3 0.9 0.9 0.2 1.2

 NPSAS:963 5.7 2.1 0.8 0.7 0.9 0.3 1.3

 CIRP (1996)4 7.0 3.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 0.4 1.7

1

Henderson, C., Postsecondary Students with Disabilities: Where Are They Enrolled? American Council on Education,

Research Brief, Volume 6, Number 6, 1995. Based on NPSAS:93 data taken from the NPSAS:93 Data Analysis System.

2

The data used in this report: NPSAS:96 Data Analysis System.

3

A sub-set of data used in this report: full-time students identified as beginning their first year: NPSAS:96 Data Analysis System. 4

Henderson, C., Profile of 1996 College Freshmen with Disabilities, HEATH Electronic Newsletter, Volume 1, Number E1,

American Council on Education, 1998. Note that there was an additional “other” category reported in this publication, which

has been removed for comparison purposes because it was not an option in NPSAS. About 2.0 percent of respondents reported

this disability; they were subtracted from the total. The data are from the Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP).

NOTE: Percentages do not sum to totals because some students report multiple disabilities.

All undergraduates

Full-time freshmen
Appendix A—Comparing Data on Students With Disabilities

56

NPSAS sample is selected in three stages. The first two stages involve the selection of institutions. Students are subsequently selected within institutions. Institutions are identified by control

(i.e., public; private, not-for-profit; and private, for-profit), by the level of degree offerings (lessthan-2-year credentials, associate’s degrees, and bachelor’s degrees), and by size. It is possible,

therefore, that institutions that have special services for students with disabilities may be included in one survey but not the next. In the cases where institutions with special services are

included, students with disabilities might be over-represented. Whatever the reason for the difference, there appears to be an increase in students with learning disabilities and a decline in students with orthopedic impairments between 1993 and 1996.

The second study compared to the NPSAS:96 data was published by the HEATH Resource

Center of The American Council of Education (Henderson 1998) and is based on data from the

Cooperative Institutional Research Programs (CIRP). CIRP is a survey of entering freshmen that

has been conducted every year since 1966. The HEATH report is based on the 1996 survey. The

1996 CIRP survey was a written questionnaire administered to a sample of 251,000 entering

freshmen. On the survey respondents were asked to “mark all that apply” to the questions “Do

you have a disability?” Options included: None, Hearing, Speech, Orthopedic, Learning, Healthrelated, Partially sighted or blind, or Other. The NPSAS survey, in contrast, was administered

over the phone (except for certain students with hearing or speech impairments who had the option of using a teletype machine) to approximately 21,000 undergraduates who were asked: “Do

you have any disabilities such as hearing, speech, or mobility impairment, or vision problems

that can’t be corrected with glasses.” The respondent was then queried for a specific disability or

disabilities. Note that NPSAS students were also asked about “other health related” disabilities

but were not offered a more general “other” option that the CIRP respondents were. Therefore,

for this comparison, the CIRP “other” category was removed. Approximately 2.0 percent of

CIRP freshmen reported the “other” category. Presumably, this would include mental disabilities.

Among comparable categories, there appear to be two notable differences between the

CIRP and NPSAS surveys. The CIRP survey has a larger proportion of students reporting learning disabilities and vision impairments. In the case of vision impairments, the NPSAS respondents may have been less likely to report the disability because the question stipulated that the

vision impairment not be correctable with glasses, which was not the case in the CIRP survey.

However, it is not clear why more students reported learning disabilities in the CIRP survey. It is

possible the CIRP respondents felt more comfortable in reporting a learning disability in the privacy of a written survey, which was not observed by anyone else. Alternatively, it is possible that

more institutions with special resources for students with learning disabilities were included in

the CIRP survey. Whatever the reasons, the differences between the two surveys should be kept

in mind when interpreting and generalizing the findings.
57

Appendix B—Supplemental Tables
Appendix B—Supplemental Tables

58

Table B1—Percentage of 1988 eighth graders whose parents indicated their children had a disability and

Table B1—received special services, and among those with disabilities, the percentage reporting each

Table B1—disability type, by gender, race–ethnicity, and income

Hearing Ortho- Other

 Total Visual impair- Speech pedic disability

 with a impair- ment impair- impair- Learning or impairdisability ment or deaf ment ment disability ment*

 Total 11.1 6.7 9.0 9.9 6.2 47.8 35.6

 Gender

 Male 12.7 4.9 8.9 11.0 5.6 52.2 33.5

 Female 9.4 9.1 9.0 8.2 6.9 41.8 38.3

Race–ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 11.5 4.8 10.0 8.6 5.8 51.6 34.4

 Black, non-Hispanic 11.0 13.8 4.2 15.0 4.7 29.6 47.5

 Hispanic 9.0 12.3 8.2 11.2 8.1 43.2 29.6

 Asian/Pacific Islander 6.8 8.6 6.2 15.5 4.3 40.2 40.2

 American Indian/Alaskan Native 12.3 ——————

Income quartile

 Low quartile 12.8 8.5 9.4 11.6 6.1 42.3 40.3

 Middle quartiles 9.8 5.7 9.3 9.3 6.2 50.5 34.3

 High quartile 9.8 4.1 7.4 9.8 5.0 53.9 27.0

—Sample size too small for a reliable estimate.

*Parent reported student had any other disability, including health problems, emotional problems, mental retardation, or other

physical disabilities, and had received services for it.

NOTE: Percentages will not sum to 100 because some students reported multiple disabilities.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Education Longitudinal Study

of 1988, Third Follow-up Survey, 1994 (NELS:88/94), Data Analysis System.

Has a disability
Appendix B—Supplemental Tables

59

Table B2—Percentage of 1989–90 beginning postsecondary students who reported having a disability,

Table B2—and among those with disabilities, the percentage reporting each disability type, by gender,

Table B2—race–ethnicity, and income

Hearing Ortho- Other

 Total Visual impair- Speech pedic disability

 with a impair- ment impair- impair- Learning or impairdisability ment or deaf ment ment disability ment*

 Total 7.2 13.5 19.8 4.1 30.5 24.4 21.1

 Gender

 Male 9.2 15.2 19.9 4.4 27.8 28.7 19.4

 Female 5.5 11.2 19.6 3.7 34.4 18.4 23.5

Race–ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 7.8 12.8 21.2 2.6 33.1 23.6 21.5

 Black, non-Hispanic 7.7 25.6 12.5 10.5 6.0 36.2 19.0

 Hispanic 3.2 ——————

 Asian/Pacific Islander 2.0 ——————

 American Indian/Alaskan Native 11.7 ——————

Income quartile

 Low quartile 6.6 10.8 18.2 4.4 35.5 21.8 23.3

 Middle quartiles 7.7 14.4 17.1 5.0 30.7 21.0 22.6

 High quartile 6.8 13.9 29.0 1.3 24.7 36.9 14.4

—Sample size too small for a reliable estimate.

*Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

NOTE: Percentages will not sum to 100 because some students reported multiple disabilities.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1989–90 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, Second Follow-up (BPS:90/94), Data Analysis System.

Has a disability
Appendix B—Supplemental Tables

60

Table B3—Percentage of 1992–93 bachelor’s degree recipients who reported having a disability, and among

Table B3—those with disabilities, the percentage reporting each disability type, by gender, race–ethnicity,

Table B3—and income

Hearing Ortho- Other

 Total Visual impair- Speech pedic disability

 with a impair- ment impair- impair- Learning or impairdisability ment or deaf ment ment disability ment*

 Total 3.7 19.1 15.6 4.0 39.5 14.6 18.1

 Gender

 Male 4.3 18.1 19.0 2.9 38.7 13.6 20.4

 Female 3.2 20.3 11.8 5.3 40.4 15.8 15.5

Race–ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 3.8 18.2 16.8 4.1 39.1 16.5 16.3

 Black, non-Hispanic 2.9 ——————

 Hispanic 3.6 ——————

 Asian/Pacific Islander 2.5 ——————

 American Indian/Alaskan Native 11.4 ——————

Income quartile

 Low quartile 4.3 17.0 18.2 6.8 40.3 15.0 17.6

 Middle quartiles 3.2 16.3 14.0 4.3 44.8 12.9 18.6

 High quartile 3.9 23.9 15.2 1.5 33.2 16.1 18.0

—Sample size too small for a reliable estimate.

*Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

NOTE: Percentages will not sum to 100 because some students reported multiple disabilities.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1993 Baccalaureate and Beyond

Longitudinal Study, First Follow-up (B&B:93/94), Data Analysis System.

Has a disability
61

Appendix C—Glossary

This glossary describes the variables used in this report. The items were taken directly from the NPSAS:96 undergraduate, NELS:88/94, BPS:90/94, and B&B:93/94 Data Analysis Systems (DAS); see appendix D for a description

of the DAS. The variables used in this analysis were either items taken directly from the surveys or derived by combining one or more items in these surveys.

The variables listed in the index below are in the order they appear in the report; the glossary is in alphabetical order

by DAS variable name (displayed along the right-hand column).

Glossary Index

NPSAS:96 (p. 63)

DISABILITY

Disability status............................................ DISABIL

Visual impairment......................................... VISUAL

Deaf or hard of hearing............................DEAFNESS

Orthopedic impairment ..................................ORTHO

Speech impairment........................................SPEECH

Learning disability ................................... LEARNDIS

Other health-related disabilities ..............HEALTOTH

DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS

Gender .........................................................GENDER

Race–ethnicity .................................................. RACE

Age as of 12/31/95...............................................AGE

Income percentile........................................PCTALL2

Veteran status............................................ VETERAN

Number of dependents .............................. NDEPEND

Single parent ............................................ SINGLPAR

Marital status ...........................................SMARITAL

ENROLLMENT CHARACTERISTICS

Institution type, level, or control.................. SECTOR

Major field of study ................................... MAJORS3

Attendance status .................................... ATTNSTAT

ACTIVITIES

Employment.............................................HRSWORK

Took remedial courses................................ANYREM

Community service hours.....................COMMHOUR

Counseling services .................................. COUNSEL

Cultural activities.........................................CULTUR

Job placement ............................................... JOBPLC

Sports and recreational activities .................. SPORTS

FINANCIAL AID

Dependency status .....................................DEPEND2

Received any aid...........................................TOTAID

Received federal aid....................................TFEDAID

Received grants............................................TOTGRT

Received loans ..........................................TOTLOAN

Employer aid......................................... EMPLYAMT

Received work study.................................TOTWKST

Received other financial aid...................... TOTOTHR

NELS:88/94 (p. 70)

DISABILITY

Any disabilities ............................................ DISABIL

Visual impairment......................................... VISUAL

Hearing impairment or deaf .......................HEARING

Speech impairment........................................SPEECH

Orthopedic impairment ..................................ORTHO

Learning disability ................................... LEARNDIS

Other health-related disability.................. OTHERDIS

ACADEMIC

Qualified for 4-year college ..................... CQCOMV1

Grade point average (high school

 transcripts) ........................................................GPA

Composite test quartile 1988 ................. BY2XQURT

Cumulative SAT score......................................... SAT

SAT math..........................................................SATM

SAT verbal........................................................ SATV

Educational expectations 1988 ........................BYS45

Type of first postsecondary institution...... F3SEC2A1

COURSE TAKING

Ever took remedial English............................ F2S13A

Ever took remedial mathematics.....................F2S13B

Ever took AP (advanced placement)

 course...........................................................F2S13C
Appendix C—Glossary

62

BPS:90/94 (p. 73)

DISABILITY

Any disabilities ........................................ DISABLTY

Visual impairment......................................... VISUAL

Hearing impaired or deaf .........................DEAFNESS

Speech impairment........................................SPEECH

Orthopedic impairment ..................................ORTHO

Learning disability ................................... LEARNDIS

Other impairment or disability................HEALTOTH

INSTITUTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Institution sector ....................................... OFCO8990

PERSISTENCE AND ATTAINMENT

Overall persistence and attainment ...........PERACUM

Highest undergraduate degree......................DEGALL

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PERSISTENCE

Delayed enrollment................................ DELAYENR

Attendance status ...................................... ATTN8990

Worked full time while enrolled ............. EMWK8990

Type of high school completion.................. H_HSDIP

Financial independence................................ DEP8990

Number of children.................................... KIDS8990

Single parent status .................................... SING8990

 B&B:93/94 (p. 76)

DISABILITY

Any disabilities ........................................ DISABLTY

Visually impaired or blind ............................ VISUAL

Hearing impaired or deaf .........................DEAFNESS

Speech impairment........................................SPEECH

Orthopedic impairment ..................................ORTHO

Learning disability ................................... LEARNDIS

Other impairment or disability................HEALTOTH

EARLY EMPLOYMENT

Employment status in April 1994............ EMPLOY22

April 1994 job occupation .........................AJOBOCC

How closely April 1994 job related to

 field of study .........................................AJOBRELT

Average salary at April 1994 job ............APRANSAL

ACCESS TO GRADUATE SCHOOL

Graduate school enrollment .................. ENROLNOW

Respondent applied to graduate school...... EVERAPP

Number of graduate schools accepted.......... ACCEPT
Appendix C—Glossary

63

NPSAS:96

Age as of 12/31/95 AGE

18 years or younger

19–23 years

24–29 years

30–39 years

40 years or older

Took remedial courses ANYREM

Student took remedial courses. Based on student’s response to the question “During 1995–96, did you take remedial

or development courses?” A related question was also asked of those reporting taking remedial classes: “Was this to

improve your skills in reading, writing, math, study skills, English language skills?” Asked on student CATI

(Yes/No). Asked of undergraduates who were in their first or second year of college.

Attendance status ATTNSTAT

Combined attendance intensity and persistence during 1995–96. Intensity refers to the student’s full- or part-time

attendance while enrolled. Persistence refers to the number of months a student was enrolled during the year. Students were considered to have been enrolled for a full year if they were enrolled eight or more months during 1995–

96. Months did not have to be contiguous or at the same institution, and students did not have to be enrolled for a full

month in order to be considered enrolled for that month. In prior NPSAS surveys, “full year” had been defined as

nine or more months. Includes enrollment at all institutions.

Full-time, full-year Student was enrolled full time for at least eight months during

1995–96. Additional months enrolled could be part time.

Full-time, part-year Student was enrolled full time for less than eight months during 1995–96 and attending full time in all of these months.

Part-time, full-year Student was enrolled eight or more months during 1995–96,

and some of these months were part time.

Part-time, part-year Student was enrolled less than eight months during 1995–96,

and some of these months were part time.

Community service hours COMMHOUR

Indicates student response to the question “How much time per week did you volunteer?” Asked on student CATI.

Did not volunteer

1–5 hours

6–10 hours

More than 10 hours

Counseling services COUNSEL

Indicates whether students used counseling services at the NPSAS institution (Yes/No). One of a series of variables

examining students’ use of and satisfaction with services and activities at the NPSAS institution. Student response to
Appendix C—Glossary

64

the question, “During 1995–96, how often did you use the counseling services? Were you satisfied with the services?” Asked on the student CATI.

Cultural activities CULTUR

Indicates whether students participated in cultural activities at the NPSAS institution (Yes/No). One of a series of

variables examining students’ use of and satisfaction with services and activities at the NPSAS institution. Student

response to the question “During 1995–96, how often did you participate in activities including music, art, and

drama? Were you satisfied with the activities?” Asked on the student CATI.

Deaf or hard of hearing DEAFNESS

Indicates whether student reported being deaf or hard of hearing. For a complete description, see DISABIL. Asked

on student CATI (Yes/No). Students who reported being hearing impaired were also asked if they could hear what is

said in a normal conversation while wearing a hearing aid, if they usually wore one.

Dependency status DEPEND2

Student dependency status for financial aid. Students were considered independent if they met one of the following

criteria:

1. Student was 24 years or older as of 12/31/95;

2. Student was a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces;

3. Student was enrolled in a graduate or professional program (beyond a bachelor’s degree) in 1995–96;

4. Student was married;

5. Student was an orphan or ward of the court; or

6. Student had legal dependents other than spouse. Students were considered to have dependents if they had

any dependents other than a spouse.

Dependent

Independent, no dependents

Independent, with dependents

Disability status DISABIL

Indicates whether a student reported having any disability. Student response to the question “Do you have any disabilities, such as hearing, speech, or mobility impairment, a learning disability or visual problems that can’t be corrected with glasses?” Among those reporting disabilities, individual disabilities reported included: hearing

impairment (DEAFNESS), other health-related limitation (HEALTOTH), learning disability (LEARNDIS), orthopedic or mobility limitation (ORTHO), speech disability or limitation (SPEECH), and visual impairment (VISUAL).

Asked on student CATI.

Employer aid EMPLYAMT

Total amount of aid received from employers during 1995–96. Employer aid is aid that students receive from the

business, corporation, institution, or individual by whom the student is employed. Employers include the postsecondary institution the student attends if the student is employed in a capacity other than in an assistantship or through a

formal work-study program. The proportion of respondents with a positive value for this variable is the proportion

with any employer aid.
Appendix C—Glossary

65

Gender GENDER

Male

Female

Other health-related disabilities HEALTOTH

Indicates whether student reported having any other health-related limitation or disability. For a complete description, see DISABIL. Asked on student CATI (Yes/No).

Employment HRSWORK

Average number of hours per week that students reported working while enrolled in 1995–96. It is based on the student CATI question “About how many hours did you work per week while you were enrolled?” The variable does

not include hours worked when student was not enrolled.

Did not work

1–15 hours

16–20 hours

21–34 hours

35 hours or more

Job placement JOBPLC

Indicates whether students used job placement services at the NPSAS institution and indicates whether the student

was satisfied with these services. One of a series of variables examining students’ use of and satisfaction with services and activities at the NPSAS institution. Student response to the question “During 1995–96, how often did you

use the job placement services? Were you satisfied with the services?” Asked on the student CATI.

Learning disability LEARNDIS

Indicates whether a student reported having a learning disability. For complete description, see DISABIL. Asked on

student CATI (Yes/No).

Major field of study MAJORS3

Undergraduate major field of study among those with declared majors. Refers to NPSAS institution for those enrolled in more than one institution.

Humanities English, liberal arts, philosophy, theology, art, music,

speech/drama, art history/fine arts, area studies, AfricanAmerican studies, ethnic studies, foreign languages, liberal

studies, women’s studies.

Social/behavioral sciences Psychology, economics, political science, American civilization, clinical pastoral care, social work, anthropology/archaeology, history, sociology.
Appendix C—Glossary

66

Life sciences Natural resources, forestry, biological science (including zoology), botany, biophysics, geography, interdisciplinary studies,

including biopsychology, environmental studies.

Physical sciences Physical sciences including chemistry, physics.

Math Mathematics, statistics.

Computer/information science Computer/information science, computer programming.

Engineering Electrical, chemical, mechanical, civil, or other engineering;

engineering technology; electronics.

Education Early childhood, elementary, secondary, special, or physical

education; other education; leisure studies; library/archival

sciences.

Business management Accounting, finance, secretarial, data processing, business/management systems, public administration, marketing/distribution, business support, international relations.

Health Nursing, nurse assisting, community/mental health, medicine,

physical education/recreation, audiology, clinical health, dentistry, veterinary medicine, health/hospital, public health, dietetics, other/general health.

Vocational/technical Mechanic technology including transportation, protective

services, construction, air/other transportation, precision production.

Other professional or technical Agriculture, agricultural science, architecture, professional city

planning, journalism, communications, communications technology, cosmetology, textiles, military science, dental/medical

technology, home economics, vocational home economics including child care, law, paralegal, basic/personal skills.

Number of dependents NDEPEND

Student had one or more dependents not including spouse. Dependents include any individuals, whether children,

elders, or others for whom the student was financially responsible.

Orthopedic impairment ORTHO

If student reported a disability, indicates whether he or she had an orthopedic impairment. For complete description,

see DISABIL. Asked on student CATI (Yes/No). Students with orthopedic disabilities were also asked several qualifying questions including: if they are able to walk for a quarter mile without assistive device or help of another person; if they are able to walk up a flight of stairs without resting; if they are able to lift and carry something as heavy

as 10 pounds, such as a bag of groceries; and how difficult it is for them to get in and out of buildings.
Appendix C—Glossary

67

Income percentile PCTALL2

Income percentile rank for all students.

Low quartile Student’s income fell at or below the 25th percentile.

Middle quartiles Student’s income fell between the 26th and 75th percentile.

High quartile Student’s income fell at or above the 76th percentile.

Race–ethnicity RACE

White, non-Hispanic A person having origins in any of the original peoples of

Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East (except those of Hispanic origin).

Black, non-Hispanic A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of

Africa, not of Hispanic origin.

Hispanic A person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South

American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of

race.

Asian/Pacific Islander A person having origins in any of the peoples of the Far East,

Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or Pacific Islands.

This includes people from China, Japan, Korea, the Philippine

Islands, Samoa, India, and Vietnam.

American Indian/Alaskan Native A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North

America and who maintains cultural identification through

tribal affiliation or community recognition.

Institution type, level, or control SECTOR

Indicates the level and control of the NPSAS institution where the student was surveyed. Constructed by combining

the level of the NPSAS institution (less-than-2-year, 2-year, or 4-year) and the control of that institution. In some

tables only level or control is shown and in others they are combined.

Public, 4-year A postsecondary institution operated by publicly elected or

appointed officials where the program and activities are under

the control of these officials and that is supported primarily by

public funds that offers 4-year baccalaureate degrees. These

institutions may or may not also offer master’s, doctoral, or

first-professional degrees in one or more programs as the

highest degree awarded.

Private, not-for-profit, 4-year A postsecondary institution that is controlled by an

independent governing board and incorporated under Section

501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that offers 4-year

baccalaureate degrees. These institutions may or may not also

offer master’s, doctoral, or first-professional degrees in one or

more programs as the highest degree awarded.
Appendix C—Glossary

68

Public, 2-year A public institution whose program of study results in an

award or degree below the baccalaureate level, and is at least 2

years but less than 4 years in duration. These institutions

include many community and junior colleges.

Other Includes postsecondary institutions that do not fall into the

previous three categories, such as institutions whose normal

program of study is less than 2 years in duration;

postsecondary institutions that are privately owned and

operated as profit-making enterprises (e.g. career colleges and

proprietary institutions); or private, not-for-profit institutions

whose program of study results in a degree below the

baccalaureate level.

Single parent SINGLPAR

Indicates whether student was a single parent in 1995–96. Students were considered to be single parents if they had

dependents and were not married. NOTE: Because the number of dependents does not distinguish between dependent children and other dependents such as parents or relatives, single parent is most accurately interpreted as single

caretaker. Asked on student CATI (Yes/No).

Marital status SMARITAL

Student reported marital status from the FAFSA, marital status on July 1, 1995 reported in the CATI, or institutionreported marital status.

Speech impairment SPEECH

If student reported a disability, indicates whether student had a speech impairment in 1995–96. For complete descriptions, see DISABIL. Asked on student CATI (Yes/No). Students with speech impairments were also asked if

during a normal conversation, the other person understands his or her speech.

Sports and recreational activities SPORTS

Indicates whether students participated in sports and recreational activities at the NPSAS institution (Yes/No). One

of a series of variables examining students’ use of and satisfaction with services and activities at the NPSAS institution. Student response to the question “During 1995–96, how often did you participate in sports and recreational

activities at the NPSAS institution? Were you satisfied with the facilities?”

Received federal aid TFEDAID

Total amount of federal aid received by a student in 1995–96 from all federal aid programs. The percentage of students receiving this category of aid was identified by those cases with positive values on this variable.

Received any aid TOTAID

Total amount of financial aid received by a student in 1995–96. Includes grants, loans, or work-study, as well as
Appendix C—Glossary

69

loans under the PLUS program. The percentage of students with any aid is the percentage with positive amounts recorded for this variable.

Received grants TOTGRT

Total amount of grant aid received by a student in 1995–96. Grants are a type of student financial aid that does not

require repayment or employment. At the undergraduate level it is usually (but not always) awarded on the basis of

need, possibly combined with some skills or characteristics that a student possesses. Grants include scholarships and

fellowships. The percentage of students with grants is the percentage with positive amounts recorded for this variable.

Received loans TOTLOAN

Total amount of loan aid received by a student in 1995–96. This includes all loans through federal, state, or institutional programs except PLUS loans (which are made to parents). Loans are a type of student financial aid that advances funds and that are evidenced by a promissory note requiring the recipient to repay the specified amounts

under prescribed conditions. The percentage of students with loans is the percentage with positive amounts recorded

for this variable.

Received other financial aid TOTOTHR

Total amount of financial aid received during 1995–96 that was not classified as grants, loans, or work-study. Includes teaching and research assistantships, PLUS loans, veterans’ benefits and military tuition aid, vocational rehabilitation and JTPA. Equal to the sum of other federal amounts, other state amounts, and other institutional amounts.

The percentage of students receiving this category of aid was identified by those cases with positive values on this

variable.

Received work study TOTWKST

Total amount of work-study aid received by a student in 1995–96. Work-study programs provide partial reimbursement of wages paid to students. They may be sponsored by the federal or state governments or by the institution. The

percentage of students with work study is the percentage with positive amounts recorded for this variable.

Veteran status VETERAN

Indicates student’s veteran status (Yes/No). Derived by examining student-reported veteran status from the FAFSA,

institution-reported veteran status, student-reported veteran status (asked on student CATI), and whether the students

received any veterans’ benefits or aid.

Visual impairment VISUAL

If student reported a disability, indicates whether student had visual limitations in 1995–96. For complete description, see DISABIL. Asked on student CATI (Yes/No).
Appendix C—Glossary

70

NELS:88/94

Composite test quartile 1988 BY2XQURT

Student’s eighth grade reading and math test score composite, standardized and broken into quartiles.

Low quartile Scores were in the bottom 25 percent.

Middle quartiles Scores were in the middle 50 percent.

High quartile Scores were in the top 25 percent.

Educational expectations 1988 BYS45

This variable was asked in the 1988 survey: “As things stand now, how far in school do you think you will get?” The

options included the following:

No degree

Trade school

Some college

Finish college

Advanced degree

In the report, the options of “trade school” and “some college” were combined and called “some college” and the

“finished college” and “advanced degree” were combined into “bachelor’s degree or higher.”

Qualified for 4-year college CQCOMV1

A composite measure of 4-year college readiness or qualification index based on high school GPAs, senior class

rank, the NELS 1992 test scores, and the SAT and ACT college entrance examination scores. Since admission standards and requirements vary widely among 4-year colleges and universities, the index was based on the actual distribution of these five measures of academic aptitude and achievement among those graduating seniors who attended a

4-year college or university. Data sources were available for approximately half (45 percent) of the NELS graduating

seniors for four or five of the criteria: class rank, GPA, the NELS test, and ACT or SAT scores or both. For about

one-third of the seniors there were only three data sources available because they had no ACT or SAT scores. All of

these had NELS test scores, however. In order to identify as many students as possible who were potentially academically qualified for a 4-year college, even if data were missing for these students on some of the criteria, the

seniors were classified according to the highest level they had achieved on any of the five criteria for which data

were present. In a small percentage of cases (10 percent) students who enrolled in a 4-year college were coded as not

qualified. They were re-coded as minimally qualified.

The initial classification of the graduating seniors was determined as follows:

• Highly qualified: those whose highest value on any of the five criteria would put them among the top 10

percent of 4-year college students (specifically the NELS 1992 graduating seniors who enrolled in 4-year

colleges and universities) for that criterion. Minimum values were GPA=3.7, class rank percentile=96,

NELS test percentile=97, combined SAT=1250, composite ACT=28.

• Very qualified: those whose highest value on any of the five criteria would put them among the top 25

percent of 4-year college students for that criterion. Minimum values were GPA=3.6, class rank percentile=89, NELS test percentile=90, combined SAT=1110, composite ACT=25.
Appendix C—Glossary

71

• Somewhat qualified: those whose highest value on any of the five criteria would put them among the top

50 percent (i.e., in the second quartile) of 4-year college students for that criterion. Minimum values were

GPA=3.2, class rank percentile=75, NELS test percentile=76, combined SAT=960, composite ACT=22.

• Minimally qualified: those whose highest value on any of the five criteria would put them among the top

75 percent (i.e., in the third quartile) of 4-year college students for that criterion. Minimum values were

GPA=2.7, class rank percentile=54, NELS test percentile=56, combined SAT=820, composite ACT=19.

[Those in vocational programs (according to their high school transcript) were classified as not college

qualified.]

• Not qualified: those who had no value on any criterion that would put them among the top 75 percent of

4-year college students (i.e., all values were in the lowest quartile). In a few instances either because of

missing data or because students were considered special admissions, students who were identified as not

qualified were enrolled in 4-year institutions. These students were re-coded as minimally qualified.

In this report, the minimally and somewhat qualified individuals were combined and the very and highly qualified

groups were combined.

Any disabilities DISABIL

This variable is a composite of all other NELS:88/94 disability variables. Students were considered to have a disability if they had positive values for any one of the following variables: VISUAL, HEARING, SPEECH, ORTHO,

LEARNDIS, OTHERDIS. In each case, whether or not a student had a disability was based on the parent’s response

in 1988. The parent was asked: 1) In your opinion, does your eighth grader have any of the following problems? and

2) has your eighth grader ever received special services for any or all of the following? Students were considered to

have a disability if parents responded that students had one or more disabilities and had received services for the

disability/disabilities.

Does not have a disability

Has a disability

Course taking F2S13A–F2S13C

Asked of the 1988 eighth grader in the second follow-up survey, these variables identify 5 kinds of courses or programs the student had participated in during high school. This report used the first 3 types.

Ever took remedial English

Ever took remedial mathematics

Ever took AP (advanced placement) course

Type of first postsecondary institution F3SEC2A1

Type of first institution attended. In this report, this variable was used for two purposes: 1) to denote whether a student had ever enrolled in postsecondary education; and 2) to describe the type of postsecondary institution the 1988

eighth grader first enrolled in.

Did not enroll Student had not enrolled in any postsecondary institution.

Ever enrolled in college Student enrolled in a postsecondary institution.
Appendix C—Glossary

72

Public, 4-year Student’s first postsecondary institution was a public, 4-year

college or university.

Private, not-for-profit, 4-year Student’s first postsecondary institution was a private, not-forprofit, 4-year college or university.

Public, 2-year Student’s first postsecondary institution was a public, 2-year

college or university.

Other Student’s first postsecondary institution was either a private,

for-profit institution, a less-than-2-year institution, or a private,

not-for-profit, less-than-4-year institution.

Grade point average (high school transcripts) GPA

This variable is the overall grade point average for all high school courses taken for a grade.

Less than 2.3

2.3–2.7

2.8–3.2

3.3–3.7

Higher than 3.7

Hearing impairment or deaf HEARING

Parent reported student has a hearing impairment or is deaf and had received services for disability. For details,

please see DISABIL.

Learning disability LEARNDIS

Students were considered to have a learning disability if parents responded that student had a specific learning problem (for example, dyslexia or other reading, spelling, writing, or math disability) and had received services for this.

For details, please see DISABIL.

Orthopedic impairment ORTHO

Students were considered to have an orthopedic impairment if parents responded that student had an orthopedic

problem (for example, club foot, absence of arm or leg, cerebral palsy, amputation, polio) and had received services

for this. For details, please see DISABIL.

Other health-related disability OTHERDIS

Students were considered to have another health-related disability if parents responded that student had either another physical disability, an emotional problem, mental retardation, or other health problem and had received services for this. For details, please see DISABIL.
Appendix C—Glossary

73

Cumulative SAT score SAT

This variable is the combined scores of SAT verbal and math scores. It was calculated only if both SAT math and

SAT verbal scores were valid. If either was missing, SAT was set to missing.

Below 800

800–999

1000–1199

1200–1399

1400–1600

SAT math SATM

Scholastic Aptitude Test (mathematics) score. The valid range for this test score is 200 to 800.

SAT verbal SATV

Scholastic Aptitude Test (verbal) score. The valid range for this test score is 200 to 800.

Speech impairment SPEECH

Students were considered to have a speech impairment if parents responded that student had a speech problem and

had received services for this. For details, please see DISABIL.

Visual impairment VISUAL

Students were considered to have a visual impairment if parents responded that student had a vision handicap (not

correctable by glasses) and had received services for this. For details, please see DISABIL.

BPS:90/94

Attendance status ATTN8990

Intensity of enrollment during the month when the student began at the referent institution. Used to determine parttime enrollment.

Hearing impaired or deaf DEAFNESS

Students were asked in the 1990 NPSAS CATI if they had a hearing impairment (Yes/No). See DISABLTY for a

complete description.

Highest undergraduate degree DEGALL

Highest undergraduate degree attained as of 1994.

None Student did not attain any degrees during postsecondary

education or they were still enrolled.
Appendix C—Glossary

74

Certificate Student attained a certificate or other formal award less than

an associate’s degree during postsecondary education.

Associate’s degree Student attained an associate’s degree during postsecondary

education.

Bachelor’s degree Student attained a bachelor’s degree during postsecondary

education.

Delayed enrollment DELAYENR

Students who did not enter postsecondary education in the same calendar year as high school graduation were

considered to have delayed their enrollment. Students who did not graduate from high school, but received a GED or

a certificate of high school completion, were also considered to have delayed enrollment. Most of these students

were GED recipients, a majority of whom received their GED a year or more after leaving high school. Thus even if

these students entered postsecondary education in the same calendar year as they received their GED, they were still

considered to have delayed because of the elapsed time from leaving high school. In a very small number of cases

(less than 0.2 percent) students may have earned a certificate of completion before or at the expected time of high

school graduation (i.e., they were 18 or younger).

Financial independence DEP8990

An independent student was one who was not claimed as an exemption on his or her parents’ 1988 federal income

tax return.

Any disabilities DISABLTY

Students were asked in the 1990 NPSAS CATI if they had functional limitations, disabilities, or handicaps (Yes/No).

This includes hearing impairment, speech disability, orthopedic or mobility limitation, learning disability, vision

impairment that cannot be corrected by glasses, and other disabilities. If the student was not interviewed and the

financial aid budget included an allowance of handicapped, they were considered to have a disability.

Worked full time while enrolled EMWK8990

Students were identified as working full time while enrolled if the average number of hours/week they worked while

enrolled was 34 or more. Positive values on these variables are also used to identify the percentage of students who

worked full time while enrolled.

Type of high school completion H_HSDIP

Indicates the type of high school completion.

High school diploma Student graduated with a high school diploma.

GED or alternative credential Student completed high school by passing The General

Education Development Exam or by earning an alternative

credential.
Appendix C—Glossary

75

Other impairment or disability HEALTOTH

Students were asked in the 1990 NPSAS CATI if they had any other functional limitations, disabilities or handicaps

(Yes/No). See DISABLTY for a complete description.

Number of children KIDS8990

Student had one or more children in 1989–90 living with him or her during month he or she began postsecondary

education in 1989–90.

Learning disability LEARNDIS

Students were asked in the 1990 NPSAS CATI if they had a specific learning disability (Yes/No). See DISABLTY

for a complete description.

Institution sector OFCO8990

Public, 4-year A postsecondary education institution that is supported primarily by public funds and operated by publicly elected or appointed officials who control the programs and activities.

Institutions award bachelor’s degrees and can award doctorate

degrees and first-professional degrees. These degrees include

chiropractic, pharmacy, dentistry, podiatry, medicine, veterinary medicine, optometry, law, osteopathic medicine, and theology.

Private, not-for-profit, 4-year A postsecondary institution that is controlled by an independent governing board and incorporated under Section 501(c)(3)

of the Internal Revenue Code and can award bachelor’s degrees or higher, including institutions that award doctorate degrees and first-professional degrees. These degrees include

chiropractic, pharmacy, dentistry, podiatry, medicine, veterinary medicine, optometry, law, osteopathic medicine, and theology.

Public, 2-year A postsecondary institution that is supported primarily by

public funds and operated by publicly elected or appointed officials who control the programs and activities. Institution that

does not confer bachelor’s degrees, but does provide 2-year

programs that result in a certificate or an associate’s degree, or

2-year programs that fulfill part of the requirements for a

bachelor’s degree or higher at a 4-year institution.

Other Includes private, not-for-profit, 2-to 3-year or less-than-2-year

institutions, public, less-than-2-year institutions, or private,

for-profit institutions.
Appendix C—Glossary

76

Orthopedic impairment ORTHO

Students were asked in the 1990 NPSAS CATI if they had an orthopedic or mobility limitation (Yes/No). See

DISABLTY for a complete description.

Overall persistence and attainment PERACUM

Overall persistence and attainment until attainment of first degree (if any) or last enrollment as of spring 1994. For

all students, attainment of first degree was given priority. If students had not attained a degree their enrollment status

was examined. Students were defined as still enrolled at the time of follow-up if they were enrolled during the spring

of 1994.

The 12 outcome categories of PERACUM were combined into three groups to create the categories discussed in the

report.

Attained degree Although the student may have transferred or had some form

of noncontiguous enrollment, a degree was attained.

Still enrolled Student was still enrolled in postsecondary. Includes those

who may have transferred or those for whom degree

attainment information was not available.

Not enrolled/left without return Regardless of transfer status, student had not attained a degree

and was either not enrolled or had left college without return.

Single parent status SING8990

Single parent status during month began postsecondary education. Students were considered single parents if they

reported having children but were unmarried, divorced, widowed, or separated.

Speech impairment SPEECH

Students were asked in the 1990 NPSAS CATI if they had a speech disability or limitation (Yes/No). See

DISABLTY for a complete description.

Visual impairment VISUAL

Students were asked in the 1990 NPSAS CATI if they had visual impairment not correctable by glasses or if they

were legally blind (Yes/No). See DISABLTY for a complete description.

B&B:93/94

Number of graduate schools accepted ACCEPT

Among respondents who applied to graduate school, the average number of institutions at which they reported being

accepted.
Appendix C—Glossary

77

April 1994 job occupation AJOBOCC

Occupation code for respondents’ April 1994 primary (i.e., most hours) job.

Clerical Includes secretaries, clerical workers in finance and other

clerical workers.

Craft/skilled operative/technical Includes those in craft, precision production, repairs, skilled

operatives, and technical workers, both computer related and

non-computer related.

Farmer

Laborer

Manager/administrator Includes managers and administrators in sales, purchasing,

government, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, construction,

and other fields.

Military/protective service

Professional/teacher Includes professionals in the arts, entertainment, media,

medical, legal, and other fields. Also includes engineers,

physicians, and school teachers.

Proprietor/owner Includes proprietors/owners in retail, hospitality,

manufacturing, construction or other fields.

Sales Includes all sales positions, advertisers, auctioneers, insurance

agents, real estate agents, and brokers.

Service Includes domestics, barbers, janitors, waiters/waitresses,

attendants, nursing aides, baggage porters, bellhops, orderlies,

housekeepers, hairdressers, paper carriers, child care workers,

launderers, bootblacks, and lifeguards.

Other Includes homemakers and those who were not working.

How closely April 1994 job related to field of study AJOBRELT

Respondents were asked how closely their job was related to their field of study.

Closely related

Somewhat related

Not at all related

Average annual salary at April 1994 job APRANSAL

Respondent’s annual salary based on their primary employment in April 1994. This composite was constructed by

multiplying the sum of the salary per pay period by the number of pay periods a year.
Appendix C—Glossary

78

Hearing impaired or deaf DEAFNESS

Students were asked in the 1993 NPSAS CATI if they had a hearing impairment (Yes/No). See DISABLTY for a

complete description.

Any disabilities DISABLTY

Students were asked in the 1993 NPSAS CATI if they had functional limitations, disabilities, or handicaps (Yes/No).

This includes hearing impairment, speech disability, orthopedic or mobility limitation, learning disability, vision

impairment that cannot be corrected by glasses, and other disabilities. If the student budget included an allowance of

handicapped, then the student was considered to have a disability, if the student was not interviewed.

Employment status in April 1994 EMPLOY22

Indicates student employment status in April 1994.

Employed full-time Graduate worked 35 hours or more per week.

Employed part-time Graduate worked less than 35 hours per week.

Unemployed Graduate was not working and was looking for work.

Out of the labor force Graduate was not working and not looking for work.

Graduate school enrollment ENROLNOW

Indicates the respondent’s enrollment status in April 1994.

Enrolled in graduate school

Enrolled in nongraduate program

Not enrolled

Respondent applied to graduate school EVERAPP

Indicates whether a respondent ever applied to a graduate school (Yes/No).

Other impairment or disability HEALTOTH

Students were asked in the 1993 NPSAS CATI if they had any other type of limitations, disabilities, or handicaps

(Yes/No). See DISABLTY for a complete description.

Learning disability LEARNDIS

Students were asked in the 1993 NPSAS CATI if they had a specific learning disability (Yes/No). See DISABLTY

for a complete description.
Appendix C—Glossary

79

Orthopedic impairment ORTHO

Students were asked in the 1993 NPSAS CATI if they had an orthopedic or mobility limitation (Yes/No). See

DISABLTY for a complete description.

Speech impairment SPEECH

Students were asked in the 1993 NPSAS CATI if they had a speech disability or limitation (Yes/No). See

DISABLTY for a complete description.

Visually impaired or blind VISUAL

Students were asked in the 1993 NPSAS CATI if they had a vision impairment that cannot be corrected with glasses

or were legally blind (Yes/No). See DISABLTY for a complete description.
81

Appendix D—Technical Notes and Methodology

The National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88/94)

The National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88/94) is a survey that began

with a nationally representative sample of 1988 eighth graders and followed them every 2 years.

The most recent follow-up survey occurred in 1994. Respondents’ teachers and schools were also

surveyed in 1988, 1990, and 1992, while parents were surveyed in 1988 and 1992. In contrast to

previous longitudinal studies, NELS:88/94 began with eighth graders in order to collect data regarding the transition from elementary to secondary education. The first follow-up in 1990 provided the data necessary to understand the transition. Dropouts were administered a special

survey to understand the dropout process more thoroughly. For the purpose of providing a comparison group to 1980 sophomores surveyed in High School and Beyond, the NELS:88/94 sample was also “freshened” with new participants who were 10th graders in 1990.

In spring of 1992, when most of the NELS:88/94 sample were twelfth graders, the second

follow-up took place. This survey focused on the transition from high school to the labor force

and postsecondary education. The sample was also “freshened” in order to create a representative

sample of 1992 seniors for the purpose of conducting trend analyses with the 1972 and 1982

senior classes (National Longitudinal Study of 1972 and High School and Beyond). Students

identified as dropouts in the first follow-up were also resurveyed in 1992. In spring of 1994, the

third follow-up was administered. Sample members were questioned about their labor force and

postsecondary experiences, and family formation. For more information about the NELS:88/94

survey, consult the NELS:88/94 Methodology Report.15

The 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:96)

The 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:96) is a comprehensive

nationwide study representing approximately 16.7 million undergraduates. The study is conducted by NCES to determine how students and their families pay for postsecondary education. It

also describes the demographic and other characteristics of students enrolled. The study is based

 

15U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Education Longitudinal Study (NELS:88/94)

Methodology Report, (NCES 96-174) (Washington D.C.: 1996).
Appendix D—Technical Notes and Methodology

82

on a nationally representative sample of approximately 41,400 undergraduates (including 27,000

student interviews) enrolled in more than 830 postsecondary education institutions. Students attending all types and levels of institutions are represented in the sample, including public and

private institutions and less-than-2-year institutions, 2-year institutions, and 4-year colleges and

universities. The weighted effective response rate for the telephone interviews was 76.2 percent.

The study is designed to address the policy questions resulting from the rapid growth of financial

aid programs, and the succession of changes in financial aid program policies since 1986. The

first NPSAS study was conducted in 1986–87, then again in 1989–90 and 1992–93.16

Beginning Postsecondary Student Longitudinal Study (BPS:90/94)

The Beginning Postsecondary Student Longitudinal Study (BPS) follows NPSAS:90 students who enrolled in postsecondary education for the first time in 1989–90. The first follow-up

was conducted in spring 1992 and the second in spring 1994. BPS collected information from

students on their persistence, progress, and attainment and on their labor force experience using a

CATI. Approximately 8,000 students were included in the BPS sample with an overall response

rate of 91 percent.

Unlike other NCES longitudinal surveys (such as High School and Beyond) which are

based on age-specific cohorts, the BPS sample is more likely to include some of the increasing

numbers of “nontraditional” postsecondary students, such as those who have delayed their education due to financial needs or family responsibilities. Students who began their postsecondary

studies during some other period and then returned to them in 1989–90, however, were not included, nor were those who were still enrolled in high school.

Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study17 (B&B:93/94)

The Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B:93/94) tracks the experiences of a

cohort of college graduates who received the bachelor’s degree during the 1992–93 academic

year. This group’s experiences in the areas of further education and degree completion, employment, public service, family formation, and other adult decisions will be followed for 12 years.

B&B:93/94 will provide data to assess the outcomes of postsecondary education, including

graduate and professional program access, labor market experience, and rates of return on investment in education.

 

16For more information on the NPSAS survey, consult U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics,

Methodology Report for the 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NCES 98-073) (Washington, D.C.: 1998).

17The text in this section is based on excerpts from Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study: 1993/94 Methodology Report (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, forthcoming).
Appendix D—Technical Notes and Methodology

83

Participants in the 1993 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:93) who received their bachelor’s degree between July 1992 and June 1993 form the base sample for the

B&B study. Approximately 12,500 NPSAS:93 respondents were identified as eligible for the first

follow-up survey, which was conducted between July 1993 and December 1994 (roughly 1 year

after participants’ graduation). Approximately 1,500 members of this initial sample were determined to be ineligible at the time of the follow-up interview, and about 900 others were not interviewed (usually because they could not be located or refused to participate), generating a final

interviewed sample of 10,080 college graduates. An overall response rate of 92 percent was

achieved for the first follow-up survey.

Accuracy of Estimates

The statistics in this report are estimates derived from a sample. Two broad categories of

error occur in such estimates: sampling and nonsampling errors. Sampling errors occur because

observations are made only on samples of students, not on entire populations. Nonsampling errors occur not only in sample surveys but also in complete censuses of entire populations. Nonsampling errors can be attributed to a number of sources: inability to obtain complete information

about all students in all institutions in the sample (some students or institutions refused to participate, or students participated but answered only certain items); ambiguous definitions; differences in interpreting questions; inability or unwillingness to give correct information; mistakes in

recording or coding data; and other errors of collecting, processing, sampling, and imputing

missing data.

Data Analysis System

The estimates presented in this report were produced using the NELS:88/94, NPSAS:96,

BPS:90/94, and B&B:93/94 Data Analysis Systems (DAS). The DAS software makes it possible

for users to specify and generate their own tables from these data sources. With the DAS, users

can replicate or expand upon the tables presented in this report. In addition to the table estimates,

the DAS calculates proper standard errors18 and weighted sample sizes for these estimates. For

example, tables D1 and D2 contain standard errors that correspond to tables 2 and 20 in the text,

and were generated by the DAS. If the number of valid cases is too small to produce a reliable

estimate (fewer than 30 cases), the DAS prints the message “low-N” instead of the estimate.

 

18The samples in these surveys are not simple random samples, and therefore, simple random sample techniques for estimating

sampling errors cannot be applied to these data. The DAS takes into account the complexity of the sampling procedures and calculates standard errors appropriate for such samples. The method for computing sampling errors used by the DAS involves approximating the estimator by the linear terms of a Taylor series expansion. The procedure is typically referred to as the Taylor

series method.
Appendix D—Technical Notes and Methodology

84

Table D1—Standard errors for table 2: Percentage of 1995–96 undergraduates who reported a disability

Table D1—and among those with disabilities, the percentages by disability type, by selected student 

Table D1—characteristics

Hearing Ortho- Other

 Total Visual impair- Speech pedic disability

 with a impair- ment impair- impair- Learning or impairdisability ment or deaf ment ment disability ment*

 Total 0.27 2.05 1.92 0.72 1.86 1.98 2.39

Gender

 Male 0.44 2.21 2.78 1.31 2.59 2.63 3.77

 Female 0.31 3.51 2.09 0.59 2.62 2.90 3.02

Race–ethnicity

 White, non-Hispanic 0.35 2.38 2.24 0.61 2.07 2.38 2.75

 Black, non-Hispanic 0.55 3.89 4.37 1.01 6.55 4.78 9.12

 Hispanic 0.69 5.43 8.33 6.16 5.29 6.33 5.43

 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.66 ——————

 American Indian/Alaskan Native 4.56 ——————

Income quartile

 Low quartile 0.49 2.39 1.76 2.02 3.31 3.73 3.72

 Middle quartiles 0.43 3.50 3.04 0.67 2.69 2.97 4.05

 High quartile 0.49 3.41 3.76 1.56 3.84 3.81 2.75

—Sample size too small for a reliable estimate.

*Student reported having other health-related disabilities or limitations.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1995–96 National Postsecondary Student

Aid Study (NPSAS:96), Undergraduate Data Analysis System.

Has a disability

In addition to tables, the DAS will also produce a correlation matrix of selected variables to

be used for linear regression models. Included in the output with the correlation matrix are the

design effects (DEFTs) for each variable in the matrix. Since statistical procedures generally

compute regression coefficients based on simple random sample assumptions, the standard errors

must be adjusted with the design effects to take into account the stratified sampling methods of

these surveys. (See discussion under “Statistical Procedures” below for the adjustment procedure.)

The DAS can be accessed electronically at www.PEDAR-DAS.org. For more information

about the NELS:88/94, NPSAS:96, BPS:90/94, or B&B:93/94 Data Analysis Systems, contact:

Aurora D’Amico

NCES Postsecondary and Educational Outcomes Longitudinal Studies

555 New Jersey Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20208-5652

(202) 219-1365

Internet address: Adamico@inet.ed.gov
Appendix D—Technical Notes and Methodology

85

Table D2—Standard errors for table 20: Percentage of 1988 eighth graders according to high school

Table D2—completion status as of 1994, by disability status and type

GED or Enrolled in high 

 High school equivalent school/working

diploma certificate toward GED Dropped out

 Total 0.71 0.46 0.32 0.48

Does not have a disability 0.75 0.51 0.32 0.53

Has a disability 1.92 0.89 1.41 1.23

 Visual impairment 5.97 3.78 5.05 1.22

 Hearing impairment or deaf 5.12 3.72 4.14 1.78

 Speech impairment 3.02 1.22 2.06 2.03

 Orthopedic impairment 6.66 1.23 2.44 6.64

 Learning disability 2.79 1.44 1.79 1.85

 Other disability or impairment* 3.60 1.24 3.02 2.36

*Parent reported student had any other disability including health problems, emotional problems, mental retardation, or other

physical disabilities and had received services for it.

NOTE: GED refers passing the General Education Development exam.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Education Longitudinal Study of

1988, Third Follow-up Survey 1994 (NELS:88/94), Data Analysis System.

1994 high school diploma status

Statistical Procedures

Differences Between Means

The descriptive comparisons were tested in this report using Student’s t statistic. Differences between estimates are tested against the probability of a Type I error, or significance level.

The significance levels were determined by calculating the Student’s t values for the differences

between each pair of means or proportions and comparing these with published tables of significance levels for two-tailed hypothesis testing.

Student’s t values may be computed to test the difference between estimates with the following formula:

t =

E - E

se +se

1 2

1

2

2

2 (1)

where E1 and E2 are the estimates to be compared and se1 and se2 are their corresponding standard errors. Note that this formula is valid only for independent estimates. When the estimates

were not independent (for example, when comparing the percentages across a percentage distribution), a covariance term was added to the denominator of the t-test formula.
Appendix D—Technical Notes and Methodology

86

There are hazards in reporting statistical tests for each comparison. First, comparisons

based on large t statistics may appear to merit special attention. This can be misleading, since the

magnitude of the t statistic is related not only to the observed differences in means or percentages

but also to the number of students in the specific categories used for comparison. Hence, a small

difference compared across a large number of students would produce a large t statistic.

A second hazard in reporting statistical tests for each comparison occurs when making

multiple comparisons among categories of an independent variable. For example, when making

paired comparisons among different levels of income, the probability of a Type I error for these

comparisons taken as a group is larger than the probability for a single comparison. When more

than one difference between groups of related characteristics or “families” are tested for statistical significance, one must apply a standard that assures a level of significance for all of those

comparisons taken together.

Comparisons were made in this report only when p < .05/k for a particular pairwise comparison, where that comparison was one of k tests within a family. This guarantees both that the

individual comparison would have p<.05 and that for k comparisons within a family of possible

comparisons, the significance level for all the comparisons will sum to p < .05.19

For example, in a comparison of the percentages of males and females who enrolled in

postsecondary education only one comparison is possible (males versus females). In this family,

k=1, and the comparison can be evaluated without adjusting the significance level. When students are divided into five racial–ethnic groups and all possible comparisons are made, then k=10

and the significance level of each test must be p < .05/10, or p < .005. The formula for calculating family size (k) is as follows:

2

j(j - 1) k = (2)

where j is the number of categories for the variable being tested. In the case of race–ethnicity,

there are five racial–ethnic groups (American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian/Pacific Islander,

black non-Hispanic, Hispanic, and white non-Hispanic), so substituting 5 for j in equation 2,

= 10

2

5(5 - 1) k =

 

19The standard that p <.05/k for each comparison is more stringent than the criterion that the significance level of the comparisons should sum to p <.05. For tables showing the t statistic required to ensure that p < .05/k for a particular family size and degrees of freedom, see Olive Jean Dunn, “Multiple Comparisons Among Means,” Journal of the American Statistical Association

56: 52–64.
Appendix D—Technical Notes and Methodology

87

Adjustment of Means to Control for Background Variation

Tabular results are limited by sample size when attempting to control for additional factors

that may account for the variation observed between two variables. For example, when examining the percentages of those who completed a degree or were still enrolled in postsecondary education 5 years after their initial enrollment, it is impossible to know to what extent the observed

variation is due to socioeconomic status (SES) differences and to what extent it is due to differences in other factors related to SES, such as type of institution attended, intensity of enrollment,

and so on. However, if a nested table were produced showing SES within type of institution attended within enrollment intensity, the cell sizes would be too small to identify the patterns.

When the sample size becomes too small to support controls for another level of variation, one

must use other methods to take such variation into account.

To overcome this difficulty, multiple linear regression was used to obtain means that were

adjusted for covariation among a list of control variables.20 Adjusted means for subgroups were

obtained by regressing the dependent variable on a set of descriptive variables such as gender,

race–ethnicity, SES, and so on. Substituting ones or zeros for the subgroup characteristic(s) of

interest and the mean proportions for the other variables results in an estimate of the adjusted

proportion for the specified subgroup, holding all other variables constant. For example, consider

a hypothetical case in which two variables, age and gender, are used to describe an outcome, Y

(such as attaining a degree). The variables age and gender are recoded into a dummy variable representing age, A, and a dummy variable representing gender, G:

Age A

24 years or older 1

Under 24 years old 0

Gender G

Female 1

Male 0

The following regression equation is then estimated from the correlation matrix output from the

DAS:

ˆ

Y = a + b1A+ b2G (3)

 

20For more information about least squares regression, see Michael S. Lewis-Beck, Applied Regression: An Introduction, Vol.

22 (Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, Inc., 1980); William D. Berry and Stanley Feldman, Multiple Regression in Practice,

Vol. 50 (Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, Inc., 1987).
Appendix D—Technical Notes and Methodology

88

where Y is the adjusted mean (or percentage); a is the intercept from the regression model; b1 is

the regression coefficient of the dummy variable representing age; and b2 is the regression coefficient representing gender. To estimate the adjusted mean for any subgroup evaluated at the mean

of all other variables, one substitutes the appropriate values for that subgroup’s dummy variables

(1 or 0) and the mean for the dummy variable(s) representing all other subgroups. For example,

suppose Y represents degree attainment and is being described by age (A) and gender (G), with

means as follows:

Variable Mean

A 0.355

G 0.521

Next, suppose the regression equation results in:

ˆ

Y = 0.15 + 0.17A + 0.01G

To estimate the adjusted value for older students, one substitutes the appropriate parameter

estimates and variable values into equation 3.

Variable Parameter Value

a 0.15 —

A 0.17 1.000

G 0.01 0.521

This results in:

ˆ

Y = 0.15 +(0.17)(1) + (0.01)(0.521) = 0.325

In this case, the adjusted mean for older students is 0.325, and it represents the expected

chance of degree attainment for older students who look like the average student across the other

variables (in this example, gender). In other words, the adjusted percentage of students 24 or

older who attained a degree after controlling for gender is 32.5 percent (0.325 x 100 for conversion to a percentage).

One can produce a multivariate model using the DAS, since one of the DAS output options

is a correlation matrix, computed using pairwise missing values and weighted to account for

sampling design and nonresponse.21 This matrix can be used by most statistical software

 

21Although the DAS simplifies the process of making regression models, it also limits the range of models. Analysts who wish to

use other than pairwise treatment of missing values or to estimate probit/logit models (which are the most appropriate for models

with categorical dependent variables) can apply for a restricted data license from NCES. See John H. Aldrich and Forrest D.

Nelson, Linear Probability, Logit and Probit Models (Quantitative Applications in Social Sciences, Vol. 45) (Beverly Hills, CA:

Sage, 1984).
Appendix D—Technical Notes and Methodology

89

packages as the input data for least-squares regression. That is the approach used for this report,

with an additional adjustment to incorporate the complex sample design into the statistical significance tests of the parameter estimates (described below). For tabular presentation, parameter

estimates and standard errors were multiplied by 100 to match the scale used for reporting unadjusted and adjusted percentages.

Most statistical software packages assume simple random sampling when computing standard errors of parameter estimates. Because of the complex sampling design used for the BPS

survey, this assumption is incorrect. A better approximation of their standard errors is to multiply

each standard error by the design effect associated with the dependent variable (DEFT),22 where

the DEFT is the ratio of the true standard error to the standard error computed under the assumption of simple random sampling. It is calculated by the DAS and is part of the correlation matrix

output file.

 

22The adjustment procedure and its limitations are described in C.J. Skinner, D. Holt, and T.M.F. Smith, eds., Analysis of Complex Surveys (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1989).