NSCG
2013 National Survey of College Graduates

Conducted for the National Science Foundation by the United States Census Bureau and US Department of Commerce: Economics and Statistics Administration

The information collected in this questionnaire is solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Act of 1950, as amended. The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting this survey under the authority of Title 13, Section 8 of the United States Code. Title 13, Section 9 of the United States Code or the Confidentiality Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 require the U.S. Census Bureau and the NSF keep all information about you strictly confidential. The information you provide will be used for statistical purposes only. Your response is voluntary and failure to provide some or all of the requested information will not in any way adversely affect you. Actual time to complete the questionnaire may vary depending on your circumstances but on the average, it will take about 25 minutes. If you have any comments on the time required for this survey, please send them to the National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 295, Arlington, VA 22230, Attn: NSF Reports Clearance Officer.

Please make any name/ address changes below:

_________________________________________________
First Name M.I.
_________________________________________________
Last Name
_________________________________________________
Number and Street
__________________________________________________
City/Town
_________________________________________________
State ZIP Code

OMB No.: 3145-0141
Approval Expires: 11/30/2015

Part A - Employment Situation

A1.

Were you working for pay or profit during the week of February 1, 2013?
Working includes being a student on paid work-study, self-employed, or on any type of paid or unpaid leave, including vacation.
Use an X to mark your answer.

1 [ ] Yes (Go to question A8)
2 [ ] No

A2.

(If No) Did you look for work during the four weeks preceding February 1, 2013? This would be between January 4th and February 1st.

1 [ ] Yes
2 [ ] No

A3.

What were your reasons for not working during the week of February 1, 2013?
Mark Yes or No for each item.

1 Retired

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No
If Yes, Year retired: ___ ___ ___ ___

2 On layoff from a job

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

3 Student

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

4 Family responsibilities

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

5 Chronic illness or permanent disability

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

6 Suitable job not available

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

7 Did not need or want to work

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

8 Other ? Specify: ________________________________

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

A4.

Prior to the week of February 1, 2013, when did you last work for pay or profit?
0 [ ] Mark this box if you never worked for pay or profit and then go to page 7, question D1

LAST WORKED:
Month: ___ ___ Year: ___ ___ ___ ___

A5.

What was the title of the last job you held prior to the week of February 1, 2013?
Example: Financial analyst

_________________________________________

A6.

What kind of work were you doing on this last job ? that is, what were your duties and responsibilities on your last job? Please be as specific as possible, including any area of specialization.
Example: Analyzed financial information, prepared technical reports. Specialized in asset management.

______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________

A7.

Using the JOB CATEGORY list on pages 18-19, choose the code that best describes the last job you held prior to the week of February 1, 2013.

CODE ___ ___ ___
NOTE: Job category codes range from 010 to 500
(Go to page 5, question A36)

A8.

Although you were working during the week of February 1, had you previously retired from any position?
Examples of retirement include mandatory retirement, early retirement, or voluntary retirement.

1 [ ] Yes Year retired: ___ ___ ___ ___
2 [ ] No

Principal Employer

A9.

Who was your principal employer during the week of February 1, 2013?
If you had more than one job, report the one for which you worked the most hours that week.
If your employer had more than one location, report the location that employed you.
If you worked for a contracting or consulting company, report the name of that company, not the client organization.

Employer Name: ________________________________
Department/Division: ____________________________
City/Town: _____________________________________
State: _________________________________________
ZIP code: ______________________________________

A10.

What was that employer's main business or industry ? that is, what did that employer make or do?
If your principal employer had more than one type of business, report the type of business primarily performed at the location where you worked.
Example: Production of microprocessor chips

EMPLOYER'S MAIN BUSINESS
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________

A11.

Counting all locations where this employer operates, how many people work for your principal employer? Your best estimate is fine.
Mark one answer.

1 [ ] 10 or fewer employees
2 [ ] 11 - 24 employees
3 [ ] 25 - 99 employees
4 [ ] 100 - 499 employees
5 [ ] 500 - 999 employees
6 [ ] 1,000 - 4,999 employees
7 [ ] 5,000 - 24,999 employees
8 [ ] 25,000 or more employees

A12.

Did your principal employer come into being as a new business within the past 5 years?

1 [ ] Yes
2 [ ] No

A13.

Which one of the following best describes your principal employer during the week of February 1, 2013? Were you...
Mark one answer.

SELF-EMPLOYED or a BUSINESS OWNER
1 [ ] in a non-incorporated business, professional practice, or farm
2 [ ] in an incorporated business, professional practice, or farm
PRIVATE SECTOR employee
3 [ ] in a for-profit company or organization
4 [ ] in a non-profit organization (including tax-exempt and charitable organizations)
GOVERNMENT employee
5 [ ] in a local government (e.g., city, county, school district)
6 [ ] in a state government (including state colleges/ universities)
7 [ ] in the U.S. military service, active duty or Commissioned Corps (e.g., USPHS, NOAA)
8 [ ] in the U.S. government (e.g., civilian employee)
9 [ ] OTHER type of employee ? Specify type of employer ____________________________

A14.

Was your principal employer an educational institution?

1 [ ] Yes
2 [ ] No (Go to page 3, question A16)

A15.

(If Yes) Was the educational institution where you worked a...
Mark one answer.

1 [ ] Preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school or system
2 [ ] Two-year college, community college, or technical institute
3 [ ] Four-year college or university, other than a medical school
4 [ ] Medical school (including university-affiliated hospital or medical center)
5 [ ] University-affiliated research institute
6 [ ] Other ? Specify

Principal Job

A16.

What was the title of the principal job you held
during the week of February 1, 2013?
Example: Financial Analyst

____________________________________________

A17.

What kind of work were you doing on this job ? that is, what were your duties and responsibilities on your principal job? Please be as specific as possible, including any area of specialization.
Example: Analyzed financial information, prepared technical reports. Specialized in asset management

A18.

Using the JOB CATEGORY list on pages 18-19, choose the code that best describes the principal job you held during the week of February 1, 2013.

CODE ___ ___ ___
NOTE: Job category codes range from 010 to 500

A19.

Did your duties on this job require the technical expertise of a bachelor's degree or higher in...
Mark Yes or No for each item.

1 Engineering, computer science, math, or the natural sciences

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

2 The social sciences

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

3 Some other field (e.g., health, business, or education) ? Specify: _______________________

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

A20.

During what month and year did you start this job (that is, the principal job you held during the week of February 1, 2013)?

PRINCIPAL JOB STARTED:
Month: ___ ___ Year ___ ___ ___ ___

A21.

To what extent was your work on your principal job related to your highest degree? Was it...
Mark one answer.

1 [ ] Closely related (Go to page 4, question A24)
2 [ ] Somewhat related (Go to page 4, question A24)
3 [ ] Not related

A22.

(If Not related) Did these factors influence your decision to work in an area outside the field of your highest degree?
Mark Yes or No for each item.

1 Pay, promotion opportunities

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

2 Working conditions (e.g., hours, equipment, working environment)

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

3 Job location

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

4 Change in career or professional interests

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

5 Family-related reasons (e.g., children, spouse's job moved)

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

6 Job in doctoral degree field not available

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

7 Some other reason ? Specify: _______________________________

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

A23.

Which two factors in question A22 were your most important reasons for working in an area outside the field of your highest degree?
Enter number of appropriate reason from question A22 above.

1 _____ Most important reason
2 _____ Second most important reason (Enter "0" if no second reason)

A24.

The next question is about your work activities on your principal job. Which of the following work activities occupied at least 10 percent of your time during a typical work week on this job?
Mark Yes or No for each item.

1 Accounting, finance, contracts

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

2 Basic research ? study directed toward gaining scientific knowledge primarily for its own sake

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

3 Applied research ? study directed toward gaining scientific knowledge to meet a recognized need

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

4 Development ? using knowledge gained from research for the production of materials, devices

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

5 Design of equipment, processes, structures, models

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

6 Computer programming, systems or applications development

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

7 Human resources ? including recruiting, personnel development, training

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

8 Managing or supervising people or projects

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

9 Production, operations, maintenance (e.g., chip production, operating lab equipment)

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

10 Professional services (e.g., health care, counseling, financial services, legal services)

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

11 Sales, purchasing, marketing, customer service, public relations

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

12 Quality or productivity management

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

13 Teaching

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

14 Other ? Specify: _____________________________________

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

A25.

On which two activities in question A24 did you work the most hours during a typical week on this job?
Enter number of appropriate activity from question A24 above.

1 ___ ___ Activity most hours
2 ___ ___ Activity second most hours (Enter "0" if no second most)

A26.

Did you supervise the work of others as part of the principal job you held during the week of February 1, 2013?
Mark "Yes" if you recommended or initiated personnel actions such as hiring, firing, evaluating, or promoting others.
Teachers should not count students.

1 [ ] Yes
2 [ ] No (Go to question A28)

A27.

(If Yes) How many people did you typically...

1 Supervise directly? _____ (Number supervised) (If none, enter "0")
2 Supervise indirectly through subordinate supervisors? _____ (Number supervised) (If none, enter "0")

A28.

Thinking about your principal job held during the week of February 1, please rate your satisfaction with that job's...
Mark one answer for each item.

1 Salary

1 [ ] Very satisfied 2 [ ] Somewhat satisfied 3 [ ] Somewhat dissatisfied 4 [ ] Very dissatisfied

2 Benefits

1 [ ] Very satisfied 2 [ ] Somewhat satisfied 3 [ ] Somewhat dissatisfied 4 [ ] Very dissatisfied

3 Job security

1 [ ] Very satisfied 2 [ ] Somewhat satisfied 3 [ ] Somewhat dissatisfied 4 [ ] Very dissatisfied

4 Job location

1 [ ] Very satisfied 2 [ ] Somewhat satisfied 3 [ ] Somewhat dissatisfied 4 [ ] Very dissatisfied

5 Opportunities for advancement

1 [ ] Very satisfied 2 [ ] Somewhat satisfied 3 [ ] Somewhat dissatisfied 4 [ ] Very dissatisfied

6 Intellectual challenge

1 [ ] Very satisfied 2 [ ] Somewhat satisfied 3 [ ] Somewhat dissatisfied 4 [ ] Very dissatisfied

7 Level of responsibility

1 [ ] Very satisfied 2 [ ] Somewhat satisfied 3 [ ] Somewhat dissatisfied 4 [ ] Very dissatisfied

8 Degree of independence

1 [ ] Very satisfied 2 [ ] Somewhat satisfied 3 [ ] Somewhat dissatisfied 4 [ ] Very dissatisfied

9 Contribution to society

1 [ ] Very satisfied 2 [ ] Somewhat satisfied 3 [ ] Somewhat dissatisfied 4 [ ] Very dissatisfied

A29.

How would you rate your overall satisfaction with the principal job you held during the week of February 1, 2013?
Mark one answer.

1 [ ] Very satisfied
2 [ ] Somewhat satisfied
3 [ ] Somewhat dissatisfied
4 [ ] Very dissatisfied

A30.

As of the week of February 1, 2013, what was your basic annual salary on your principal job, before deductions?
Do not include bonuses, overtime, or additional compensation for summertime teaching or research.
If you are not salaried, please estimate your earned income, excluding business expenses.

$___,___ ___ ___,___ ___ ___.00
ANNUAL SALARY OR EARNED INCOME

A31.

Was this salary based on a 52-week year, or less than that?
Include paid vacation and sick leave.

1 [ ] 52-week year
2 [ ] Less than 52 weeks NUMBER OF WEEKS PER YEAR________

A32.

During a typical week on your principal job, how many hours did you work?

NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED PER WEEK _____

If fewer than 35 hours, go to question A33.
If 35 or more hours, go to question A35.

A33.

(If fewer than 35 hours) Did you want to work 35 or more hours per week on your principal job?

1 [ ] Yes
2 [ ] No

A34.

For which of the following reasons did you usually work fewer than 35 hours per week on the principal job you held during the week of February 1, 2013?
Mark Yes or No for each item.

1 Previously retired or semi-retired

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No
If Yes, Year retired ___ ___ ___ ___

2 Student

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

3 Family responsibilities

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

4 Full-time job not available

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

5 Held more than one job

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

6 Did not need or want to work more hours

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

7 Other ? Specify ____________________________

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

A35.

Concerning your principal job during the week of February 1, 2013, were any of the following benefits available to you, even if you chose not to take them?
Mark Yes or No for each item.

1 Health insurance that was at least partially paid by your employer

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

2 A pension plan or a retirement plan to which your employer contributed

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

3 A profit-sharing plan

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

4 Paid vacation, sick, or personal days

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

A36.

Thinking back now to 2012, was any of your work during 2012 supported by contracts or grants from the U.S. government?
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Please answer "No."
Mark one answer.

0 [ ] Did not work in 2012 (Go to page 6, question B1)
1 [ ] Yes
2 [ ] No (Go to question A38)
3 [ ] Don't know (Go to question A38)

A37.

(If Yes) Which Federal agencies or departments were supporting your work?
Mark all that apply.

1 [ ] Department of Defense (DOD)
2 [ ] Department of Education
3 [ ] Department of Energy (DOE)
4 [ ] National Institutes of Health (NIH)
5 [ ] Department of Health and Human Services (except NIH)
6 [ ] National Science Foundation (NSF)
7 [ ] Other ? Specify __________________________
8 [ ] DON'T KNOW SOURCE AGENCY

A38.

Counting all jobs held in 2012, what was your total earned income for 2012, before deductions?
Include all wages, salaries, bonuses, overtime, commissions, consulting fees, net income from businesses, summertime teaching or research, or other work associated with scholarships.

$___,___ ___ ___,___ ___ ___.00
TOTAL 2012 EARNED INCOME

Part B - Past Employment

B1.

Were you working for pay or profit during both of these time periods ? the week of October 1, 2010, and the week of February 1, 2013?

1 [ ] Yes
2 [ ] No (Go to question C1)

B2.

(If Yes) During these two time periods ? the week of October 1, 2010, and the week of February 1, 2013 ? were you working for...
Mark one answer.

1 [ ] Same employer and in same type of job (Go to question C1)
2 [ ] Same employer but in different type of job
3 [ ] Different employer but in same type of job
4 [ ] Different employer and in different type of job

B3.

(If Different) Why did you change your employer or your job?
Mark Yes or No for each item.

1 Pay, promotion opportunities

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

2 Working conditions (e.g., hours, equipment, working environment)

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

3 Job location

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

4 Change in career or professional interests

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

5 Family-related reasons (e.g., children, spouse's job moved)

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

6 School-related reasons (e.g., returned to school, completed a degree)

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

7 Laid off or job terminated (includes company closings, mergers, buyouts, grant or contract ended)

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

8 Retired

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

9 Some other reason ? Specify: _____________________________

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

Part C - Other Work-Related Experiences

C1.

During the past 12 months, did you take any work-related training, such as workshops or seminars?
Include conferences or professional meetings only if you attended a training session at the conference or meeting.
Do not include college coursework for which you were enrolled in a degree program.

1 [ ] Yes
2 [ ] No (Go to question C4)

C2.

(If Yes) For which of the following reasons did you take training during the past 12 months?
Mark Yes or No for each item.

1 To improve skills or knowledge in your current occupational field

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

2 To increase opportunities for promotion or advancement in your current occupational field

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

3 For licensure or certification in your current occupational field

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

4 To facilitate a change to a different occupational field

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

5 Required or expected by employer

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

6 For leisure or personal interest

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

7 Other ? Specify: __________________________________

1 [ ] Yes 2 [ ] No

C3.

What was your most important reason from question C2 for taking training?
Enter number of appropriate reason from question C2 above.

MOST IMPORTANT REASON _____

C4.

During the past 12 months, did you attend any professional society or association meetings or professional conferences?
Include regional, national, or international meetings.

1 [ ] Yes
2 [ ] No

C5.

To how many regional, national, or international professional societies or associations do you currently belong?

If none, enter "0."
NUMBER _____

C6.

When thinking about a job, how important is each of the following factors to you?
Mark one answer for each item.

1 Salary

1 [ ] Very important 2 [ ] Somewhat important 3 [ ] Somewhat unimportant 4 [ ] Not important at all

2 Benefits

1 [ ] Very important 2 [ ] Somewhat important 3 [ ] Somewhat unimportant 4 [ ] Not important at all

3 Job security

1 [ ] Very important 2 [ ] Somewhat important 3 [ ] Somewhat unimportant 4 [ ] Not important at all

4 Job location

1 [ ] Very important 2 [ ] Somewhat important 3 [ ] Somewhat unimportant 4 [ ] Not important at all

5 Opportunities for advancement

1 [ ] Very important 2 [ ] Somewhat important 3 [ ] Somewhat unimportant 4 [ ] Not important at all

6 Intellectual challenge

1 [ ] Very important 2 [ ] Somewhat important 3 [ ] Somewhat unimportant 4 [ ] Not important at all

7 Level of responsibility

1 [ ] Very important 2 [ ] Somewhat important 3 [ ] Somewhat unimportant 4 [ ] Not important at all

8 Degree of independence

1 [ ] Very important 2 [ ] Somewhat important 3 [ ] Somewhat unimportant 4 [ ] Not important at all

9 Contribution to society

1 [ ] Very important 2 [ ] Somewhat important 3 [ ] Somewhat unimportant 4 [ ] Not important at all

Part D ? Education Background

D1.

Have you ever taken courses at a community college?

1 [ ] Yes
2 [ ] No (Go to page 9, question D5)

D2.

(If Yes) Did you take courses at a community college during any of the following time periods?
Mark Yes or No for each item.

1 Before graduating from high school or earning a high school equivalency certificate
[ ] Yes [ ] No
2 After high school and before ever enrolling in a 4-year college or university
[ ] Yes [ ] No
3 While enrolled in a 4-year college or university and before receiving your first bachelor?s degree
[ ] Yes [ ] No
4 After leaving a 4-year college or university without receiving your first bachelor?s degree
[ ] Yes [ ] No
5 After receiving your first bachelor?s degree
[ ] Yes [ ] No

D3.

Thinking back to the time(s) you attended community college, for which of the following reasons did you take community college courses
Mark Yes or No for each item.

1 To earn college credits while still attending high school
[ ] Yes [ ] No
2 To complete an associate?s degree
[ ] Yes [ ] No
3 To prepare for college/increase chance of acceptance to a 4-year college or university
[ ] Yes [ ] No
4 To earn credits for a bachelor?s degree
[ ] Yes [ ] No
5 For financial reasons (e.g., cost of a 4-year school)
[ ] Yes [ ] No
6 To gain further skills or knowledge in your academic or occupational field
[ ] Yes [ ] No
7 To facilitate a change in your academic or occupational field
[ ] Yes [ ] No
8 To increase opportunities for promotion, advancement, or higher salary
[ ] Yes [ ] No
9 For leisure or personal interest
[ ] Yes [ ] No
10 Other ? Specify____________________________
[ ] Yes [ ] No

D4.

Which two reasons in question D3 were your most important reasons for taking community college courses?
Enter number of appropriate reason from question D5 above.

1 _________ Most important reason
2 _________ Second most important reason
(Enter ?0? if no second reason)

D5.

The next question asks about the type of financial support you may have received to finance any undergraduate or graduate degrees you completed before February 1, 2013.
Mark all that apply in each column.

1 Did not earn a degree at this level
[ ] Undergraduate [ ] Graduate
2 Financial support from parents, spouse, other relatives, not to be repaid
[ ] Undergraduate [ ] Graduate
3 Loans from the school you attended, banks, federal or state government
[ ] Undergraduate [ ] Graduate
4 Loans from parents or other relatives
[ ] Undergraduate [ ] Graduate
5 Financial assistance from your employer
[ ] Undergraduate [ ] Graduate
6 Tuition waivers, fellowships, grants, scholarships
[ ] Undergraduate [ ] Graduate
7 Assistantships or work study
[ ] Undergraduate [ ] Graduate
8 Earnings from employment
[ ] Undergraduate [ ] Graduate
9 Other ? Specify: ___________________________________
[ ] Undergraduate [ ] Graduate

D6.

The next question asks about the TOTAL amount you have borrowed to finance undergraduate and graduate degrees you completed before February 1, 2013, and how much you still owed as of February 1, 2013.
Mark one answer in each of the four columns below.

1 Did not earn a degree at this level