Institutions can make the case for their unique attributes with the use of comparative alumni research, according to a panelist at a Presidents Institute
session.
    James Day, principal, Hardwick Day Inc., a higher education research firm, has conducted a number of alumni surveys forcolleges and universities (affiliated with a particular denomination, within-a-state, faith-based, and liberal arts institutions) that compare outcomes for students from private and public institutions. The data from these surveys effectively make the case for private institutions, Day said, particularly given research which shows that “consumers today do not understand the difference between public and private colleges,” and see little difference between publics and privates on such indicators as “reputation for excellence in major” or “good academic facilities.”
    What’s more, a survey of high school sophomores and juniors in four states in fall 2002 showed that “regardless of GPA or income, a large number of students won’t consider private colleges.” In Iowa, for example, 55 percent of students surveyed said that they would consider only public universities, while 11 percent said they would consider only privates.

  
  However, Hardwick Day’s Comparative Alumni Research Project shows big differences in student outcomes and satisfaction levels between alumni from public versus private colleges and universities. The research shows that “the undergraduate experience students encounter at small, residential liberal arts colleges is more effective in producing meaningful and lasting benefits than the education experienced at large, public universities and other institutions of higher education. These experiences include: close interaction with peers and faculty, active participation in learning, and participation in extracurricular activities,” Day said, adding that “the survey indicates that a residential, liberal arts education not only leads to a number of immediate positive outcomes, but that these outcomes are present in and important to liberal arts college alumni long after their college experience has ended.”
An alumni survey that Hardwick Day conducted for the Lutheran Educational Conference of North America in fall 2002, for example, shows that graduates of private colleges are more likely to be active, contributing members in their communities (see chart) and they place a higher value on community concerns than do graduates of flagship public universities. Forty-five percent of Lutheran college respondents versus 28 percent of flagship public respondents said that promoting racial equality or other social justice issues was important; 41 percent private versus 26 percent public placed a higher value on contributing to the community; and 27 percent versus 15 percent said that affiliating with organizations that help the disadvantaged was important.
    In addition, private college alumni (surveyed for a variety of groups) consistently rated the following experiences much higher than alumni from public institutions:

    Powerpoint presentations on some of these studies can be found on the Hardwick Day website at www.itsacademic.com.

Independent
The Council of Independent Colleges
One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 320 • Washington, DC 20036
tel: (202) 466-7230 • Fax: (202) 466-7238 • e-mail: mailto:cic@cicnche.edu • www.cic.edu

Last updated: March 2003
Copyright © 2003 The Council of Independent Colleges