Through its student survey, The College Student Report, the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) annually collects information at the university about first-year and senior students' participation in programs and activities that the University of South Carolina provides for their learning and personal development. The results provide an estimate of how undergraduates spend their time and what they gain from attending college.
NSSE provides the institution with a variety of reports that compares University of South Carolina students' responses with those of students at self-selected groups of comparison institutions. Survey items from the NSSE represent empirically confirmed "good practices" in undergraduate education. NSSE does not assess student learning directly, but survey results point to areas where the university is performing well and aspects of the undergraduate experience that could be improved.
To learn more about NSSE, please visit the National Survey of Student Engagement website: http://nsse.indiana.edu/
Respondent Profile - NSSE 2023
A total of 717 first-year students and 756 seniors responded to the NSSE Survey in 2023. The overall response rate was 11.5%, with 12% of surveyed first-year students responding and 11% of surveyed seniors responding. A basic breakdown of respondents looks like this:
- First-Year Students
- 58% Female; 42% Male
- 67% White; 5% Multiracial; 13% Black or African American; 6% Hispanic or Latino; 5% Asian; 2% Foreign or nonresident
- 100% full-time; 0% part-time
- Seniors
- 55% Female; 45% Male
- 74% White; 4% Multiracial; 8% Black or African American; 6% Hispanic or Latino; 4% Asian; 3% Foreign or nonresident
- 96% full-time; 4% part-time
The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is an annual survey administered at colleges and universities nationwide that assesses the extent to which students engage in educationally effective activities. The guiding premise is that student participation in these activities at reasonable levels is a meaningful proxy for collegiate quality.
NSSE 2023 Reports
Snapshot
Multi-Year Report
Engagement Indicators
High-Impact Practices
Frequencies and Statistical Comparisons
Respondent Profile - NSSE 2021
A total of 599 first-year students and 609 seniors responded to the NSSE Survey in 2021. The overall response rate was 10%, with 11% of surveyed first-year students responding and 9% of surveyed seniors responding. A basic breakdown of respondents looks like this:
- First-Year Students
- 53% Female; 47% Male
- 72% White; 5% Multiracial; 9% Black or African American; 6% Hispanic or Latino; 4% Asian; 4% Foreign or nonresident
- 99% full-time; 1% part-time
- Seniors
- 54% Female; 46% Male
- 74% White; 3% Multiracial; 10% Black or African American; 5% Hispanic or Latino; 5% Asian; 2% Foreign or nonresident
- 95% full-time; 5% part-time
The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is an annual survey administered at colleges and universities nationwide that assesses the extent to which students engage in educationally effective activities. The guiding premise is that student participation in these activities at reasonable levels is a meaningful proxy for collegiate quality.
NSSE 2021 Reports
Snapshot
Multi-Year Report
Engagement Indicators
High-Impact Practices
Frequencies and Statistical Comparisons
Respondent Profile - NSSE 2019
A total of 468 first-year students and 628 seniors responded to the NSSE Survey in 2019. The overall response rate was 8%, with 8% of surveyed first-year students responding and 8% of surveyed seniors responding. A basic breakdown of respondents looks like this:
- First-Year Students
- 67% Female; 33% Male
- 68% White; 6% Multiracial; 8% Black or African American; 4% Hispanic or Latino; 13% Asian
- 97% full-time; 3% part-time
- Seniors
- 64% Female; 36% Male
- 74% White; 8% Black or African American; 2% Hispanic or Latino; 7% Multiracial; 4% Asian
- 92% full-time; 8% part-time
The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is an annual survey administered at colleges and universities nationwide that assesses the extent to which students engage in educationally effective activities. The guiding premise is that student participation in these activities at reasonable levels is a meaningful proxy for collegiate quality.
NSSE 2019 Reports
Snapshot
Multi-Year Report
Engagement Indicators
High-Impact Practices
Frequencies and Statistical Comparisons
- Item-by-item student responses and statistical comparisons with peer groups [pdf] (See “Selected Comparison Groups” report below for lists of peer groups.)
Selected Comparison Groups
Respondent Profile - NSSE 2017
A total of 431 first-year students and 638 seniors responded to the NSSE Survey in 2017. The overall response rate was 9%, with 8% of surveyed first-year students responding and 9.3% of surveyed seniors responding. A basic breakdown of respondents looks like this:
- First-Year Students
- 64% Female; 36% Male
- 69% White; 5% Two or more races/ethnicities; 6% Black or African American; 5% Hispanic or Latino; 10% Asian; 5% Unknown race/ethnicity
- 94% full-time; 6% part-time
- Seniors
- 63% Female; 37% Male
- 75% White; 12% Black or African American; 4% Hispanic or Latino; 4% Two or more races/ethnicities; 3% Asian; 2% Unknown race/ethnicity
- 92% full-time; 8% part-time
The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is an annual survey administered at colleges and universities nationwide that assesses the extent to which students engage in educationally effective activities. The guiding premise is that student participation in these activities at reasonable levels is a meaningful proxy for collegiate quality.
NSSE 2017 Reports
Snapshot
Multi-Year Report
Engagement Indicators
High-Impact Practices
Frequencies and Statistical Comparisons
- Item-by-item student responses and statistical comparisons with peer groups [pdf] (See “Selected Comparison Groups” report below for lists of peer groups.)
Selected Comparison Groups
Respondent Profile - NSSE 2015
A total of 1,285 first-year students and 1,822 seniors completed NSSE in 2015. The overall response rate was 23%, with 23% of surveyed first-year students responding and 23% of surveyed seniors responding. A basic breakdown of respondents looks like this:
- First-Year Students
- 54% Female; 46% Male
- 79% White; 6% Two or more races/ethnicities; 6% Black or African American; 4% Hispanic or Latino; 3% Asian; 1% Unknown race/ethnicity
- 98% full-time; 2% part-time
- Seniors
- 55% Female; 45% Male
- 79% White; 8% Black or African American; 5% Hispanic or Latino; 5% Two or more races/ethnicities; 2% Asian; 1% Unknown race/ethnicity
- 92% full-time; 8% part-time
The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is an annual survey administered at colleges and universities nationwide that assesses the extent to which students engage in educationally effective activities. The guiding premise is that student participation in these activities at reasonable levels is a meaningful proxy for collegiate quality.
NSSE 2015 Reports
Snapshot
Engagement Indicators
High-Impact Practices
Frequencies and Statistical Comparisons
- Item-by-item student responses and statistical comparisons with peer groups [pdf] (See “Selected Comparison Groups” report below for lists of peer groups.)
Selected Comparison Groups
Respondent Profile - NSSE 2014
A total of 348 first-year students and 546 seniors completed NSSE in 2014. The overall response rate was 22%, with 17% of surveyed first-year students responding and 27% of surveyed seniors responding. A basic breakdown of respondents looks like this:
- First-Year Students
- 64% Female; 36% Male
- 79% White; 11% Two or more races/ethnicities; 5% Black or African American; 4% Hispanic or Latino; 1% Unknown race/ethnicity
- 97% full-time; 3% part-time
- Seniors
- 65% Female; 35% Male
- 76% White; 12% Black or African American; 5% Hispanic or Latino; 5% Two or more races/ethnicities; 1% American Indian or Alaska Native; 1% Unknown race/ethnicity
- 92% full-time; 8% part-time
The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is an annual survey administered at colleges and universities nationwide that assesses the extent to which students engage in educationally effective activities. The guiding premise is that student participation in these activities at reasonable levels is a meaningful proxy for collegiate quality.
NSSE 2014 Reports
Snapshot
Engagement Indicators
High-Impact Practices
Frequencies and Statistical Comparisons
- Item-by-item student responses and statistical comparisons with peer groups [pdf] (See “Selected Comparison Groups” report below for lists of peer groups.)
Selected Comparison Groups
Topical Modules
- Optional additional sets of questions on current topics in higher education and student engagement
Respondent Profile - NSSE 2013
A total of 289 first-year students and 385 seniors completed NSSE in 2013. The overall response rate was 16%, with 14% of surveyed first-year students responding and 18% of surveyed seniors responding. A basic breakdown of respondents looks like this:
- First-Year Students
- 71% Female; 29% Male
- 78% White; 8% Black or African American; 5% Two or more races/ethnicities; 5% Hispanic or Latino; 4% Foreign or nonresident alien
- 98% full-time; 2% part-time
- Seniors
- 68% Female; 32% Male
- 79% White; 9% Black or African American; 6% Hispanic or Latino; 4% Two or more races/ethnicities; 1% Foreign or nonresident alien
- 96% full-time; 4% part-time
The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is an annual survey administered at colleges and universities nationwide that assesses the extent to which students engage in educationally effective activities. The guiding premise is that student participation in these activities at reasonable levels is a meaningful proxy for collegiate quality.
NSSE 2013 Reports
Snapshot
Engagement Indicators
High-Impact Practices
Frequencies and Statistical Comparisons
- Item-by-item student responses and statistical comparisons with peer groups [pdf] (See “Selected Comparison Groups” report below for lists of peer groups.)
Selected Comparison Groups
Topical Modules
- Optional additional sets of questions on current topics in higher education and student engagement
Respondent Profile - NSSE 2012
A total of 503 first-year students and 539 seniors completed NSSE in 2012. The overall response rate was 26%, with 25% of surveyed first-year students responding and 27% of surveyed seniors responding. A basic breakdown of respondents looks like this:
- First-Year Students
- 68% Female; 32% Male
- 76% White (non-Hispanic); 8% Black/African American; 5% Asian/Asian American/Pacific Islander; 1% Mexican/Mexican American; 1% Puerto Rican; 2% Other Hispanic or Latino; 2% Multiracial; 2% Other; 4% I prefer not to respond
- 98% full-time; 2% part-time
- Seniors
- 67% Female; 33% Male
- 76% White (non-Hispanic); 8% Black/African American; 5% Asian/Asian American/Pacific Islander; 1% Other Hispanic or Latino; 3% Multiracial; 5% I prefer not to respond
- 94% full-time; 6% part-time
The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is an annual survey administered at colleges and universities nationwide that assesses the extent to which students engage in educationally effective activities. The guiding premise is that student participation in these activities at reasonable levels is a meaningful proxy for collegiate quality.
NSSE 2012 Reports
Benchmark Comparisons
Frequency Distributions
- Item-by-item student responses - frequencies for USC and selected comparison groups [pdf] (See “Selected Comparison Groups” report below for lists of peer groups.)
Mean Comparisons
- Means for USC and selected comparison groups [pdf] (See “Selected Comparison Groups” report below for lists of peer groups.)
Selected Comparison Groups