NO COLLEGE EARNED BETTER THAN A “D+” |
Rank |
College |
Mean Senior Score (2006) (% correct) |
1. |
Harvard University |
69.56% |
2. |
Grove City College (PA) |
67.26 |
3. |
Washington & Lee University (VA) |
66.98 |
4. |
Yale University |
65.85 |
5. |
Brown University |
65.64 |
6. |
University of Virginia |
65.28 |
7. |
Wheaton College (IL) |
64.98 |
8. |
University of Pennsylvania |
63.49 |
9. |
Duke University |
63.41 |
10. |
Bowdoin College (ME) |
62.86 |
11. |
Princeton University |
61.90 |
12. |
University of Notre Dame |
61.25 |
13. |
Rhodes College (TN) |
61.18 |
14. |
Smith College (MA) |
60.07 |
15. |
University of Rochester (NY)* |
59.32 |
16. |
University of Wisconsin |
57.87 |
17. |
University of Georgia* |
57.76 |
18. |
University of North Carolina |
57.68 |
19. |
Cornell University |
56.95 |
20. |
Carnegie Mellon University* |
56.90 |
21. |
Calvin College (MI) |
56.45 |
22. |
University of California-Berkeley |
56.27 |
23. |
University of Washington |
55.88 |
24. |
Concordia University (NE)* |
55.28 |
25. |
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities* |
53.50 |
26. |
University of Florida |
53.40 |
27. |
Iowa State University* |
52.69 |
28. |
University of Montana* |
52.16 |
29. |
Gonzaga University (WA) |
51.86 |
30. |
University of Michigan |
51.00 |
31. |
Illinois State University* |
50.93 |
32. |
Mississippi State University* |
50.86 |
33. |
Rutgers University* |
49.99 |
34. |
George Mason University (VA) |
49.96 |
35. |
Murray State University (KY)* |
49.75 |
36. |
University of Mississippi |
49.32 |
37. |
IdahoState University* |
48.15 |
38. |
University of Massachusetts-Amherst* |
46.66 |
39. |
Mount Vernon Nazarene University (OH)* |
44.60 |
40. |
Pfeiffer University (NC)* |
44.30 |
41. |
St. Cloud State University (MN)* |
44.26 |
42. |
Texas State University-San Marcos* |
43.99 |
43. |
Georgia College and State University* |
43.68 |
44. |
University of Southern Maine* |
43.58 |
45. |
Marian College (WI)* |
43.10 |
46. |
Texas A&M International University* |
41.14 |
47. |
Eastern Connecticut State University* |
40.99 |
48. |
St. John’s University (NY)* |
39.82 |
49. |
Oakwood College (AL)* |
34.69 |
50. |
St. Thomas University (FL)* |
32.50 |
* Randomly selected school |
EASTERN CONNECTICUT INCREASED CIVIC KNOWLEDGE MOST |
This table ranks the 50 schools in this year’s survey by the difference in average scores between their freshmen and their seniors on the American civic literacy exam. Eastern Connecticut State University ranked first in civic-knowledge “value added.” Cornell University ranked last. |
Rank by Value Added |
College |
Freshman Mean |
Senior Mean |
Value Added |
1. |
Eastern Connecticut State University* |
31.34% |
40.99% |
+9.65% |
2. |
Marian College (WI)* |
33.66 |
43.10 |
9.44 |
3. |
Murray State University (KY)* |
40.63 |
49.75 |
9.12 |
4. |
Concordia University (NE)* |
46.29 |
55.28 |
8.99 |
5. |
St. Cloud State University (MN)* |
35.67 |
44.26 |
8.59 |
6. |
Mississippi State University* |
42.50 |
50.86 |
8.36 |
7. |
Pfeiffer University (NC)* |
36.05 |
44.30 |
8.25 |
8. |
Illinois State University* |
42.74 |
50.93 |
8.19 |
9. |
Iowa State University* |
45.03 |
52.69 |
7.66 |
10. |
University of Mississippi |
41.87 |
49.32 |
7.45 |
11. |
Smith College (MA) |
52.63 |
60.07 |
7.44 |
12. |
Rhodes College (TN) |
53.76 |
61.18 |
7.42 |
13. |
University of Montana* |
45.54 |
52.16 |
6.62 |
14. |
Idaho State University* |
41.76 |
48.15 |
6.39 |
15. |
University of Wisconsin |
51.57 |
57.87 |
6.30 |
16. |
University of Southern Maine* |
37.48 |
43.58 |
6.10 |
17. |
Harvard University |
63.59 |
69.56 |
5.97 |
18. |
University of Notre Dame |
55.66 |
61.25 |
5.59 |
19. |
Mt. Vernon Nazarene Univ. (OH)* |
40.04 |
44.60 |
4.56 |
20. |
Washington & Lee University |
62.46 |
66.98 |
4.52 |
21. |
Calvin College (MI) |
51.99 |
56.45 |
4.46 |
22. |
University of Florida |
48.96 |
53.40 |
4.44 |
23. |
University of North Carolina |
53.26 |
57.68 |
4.42 |
24. |
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities* |
49.18 |
53.50 |
4.32 |
25. |
University of Michigan |
46.68 |
51.00 |
4.32 |
26. |
University of Washington |
51.63 |
55.88 |
4.25 |
27. |
Gonzaga University (WA) |
47.71 |
51.86 |
4.15 |
28. |
University of Rochester (NY)* |
55.69 |
59.32 |
3.63 |
29. |
Grove City College (PA) |
63.64 |
67.26 |
3.62 |
30. |
Georgia College and State University* |
40.28 |
43.68 |
3.40 |
31. |
Bowdoin College (ME) |
59.50 |
62.86 |
3.36 |
32. |
University of Georgia* |
54.48 |
57.76 |
3.28 |
33. |
Carnegie Mellon University* |
54.06 |
56.90 |
2.84 |
34. |
St. Thomas University (FL)* |
29.75 |
32.50 |
2.75 |
35. |
Texas State University-San Marcos* |
41.25 |
43.99 |
2.74 |
36. |
Texas A&M International University* |
38.43 |
41.14 |
2.71 |
37. |
George Mason University (VA) |
47.28 |
49.96 |
2.68 |
38. |
University of Virginia |
62.95 |
65.28 |
2.33 |
39. |
Brown University |
63.42 |
65.64 |
2.22 |
40. |
Wheaton College (IL) |
62.87 |
64.98 |
2.11 |
41. |
University of Pennsylvania |
62.66 |
63.49 |
0.83 |
42. |
University of Massachusetts-Amherst* |
46.10 |
46.66 |
0.56 |
43. |
Oakwood College (AL)* |
35.17 |
34.69 |
-0.48 |
44. |
University of California-Berkeley |
57.03 |
56.27 |
-0.76 |
45. |
Rutgers University* |
50.93 |
49.99 |
-0.94 |
46. |
Princeton University |
63.60 |
61.90 |
-1.70 |
47. |
St. John’s University (NY)* |
41.69 |
39.82 |
-1.87 |
48. |
Duke University |
65.66 |
63.41 |
-2.25 |
49. |
Yale University |
68.94 |
65.85 |
-3.09 |
50. |
Cornell University |
61.90 |
56.95 |
-4.95 |
* Randomly selected school |
PUBLIC COLLEGES OUT-PERFORMED IVY LEAGUE COLLEGES Average Percent Correct by Alternative Measures of Prestige (2006) |
Rank by Value |
Classification |
Freshman Average |
Senior Average |
Value Added* |
1. |
State, Non-Flagship Universities |
41.5% |
47.4% |
+5.9% |
2. |
Private, Secular, Non-Ivy Universities |
56.2 |
60.1 |
+3.9 |
3. |
“Public Ivies” or State Flagship Universities |
50.7 |
54.4 |
+3.7 |
4. |
Catholic Universities |
45.2 |
48.3 |
+3.1 |
5. |
Protestant Universities |
53.8 |
56.6 |
+2.8 |
6. |
Ivy-league Universities |
64.0 |
64.1 |
+0.1 |
|
1. |
25 universities surveyed by ISI that were ranked lowest by U.S. News & World Report |
42.5 |
47.7 |
+5.2 |
2. |
25 universities surveyed by ISI that were ranked highest by U.S. News & World Report |
57.2 |
59.5 |
+2.3 |
|
1. |
Universities omitted from Barron’s “Most Competitive” listing (35 universities) |
45.7 |
50.3 |
+4.6 |
2. |
Universities included in Barron’s “Most Competitive” listing (15 universities) |
60.8 |
62.5 |
+1.7 |
|
1. |
Least expensive 25 universities (out-of-state cost <$22,500) |
43.5 |
48.7 |
+5.2 |
2. |
Most expensive 25 universities (out-of-state cost >$22,500) |
56.9 |
59.1 |
+2.2 |
|
1. |
25 universities whose students receive lower government subsidies
(Average annual subsidy less than $6,100) |
45.9 |
51.6 |
+5.7 |
2. |
25 universities whose students receive higher government subsidies
(Average annual subsidy greater than $6,100) |
54.1 |
56.1 |
+2.0 |
* The difference between the freshman and senior means is statistically significant with confidence of 95% or greater across the 50 schools surveyed. |
COLLEGE RANK BY CIVIC COURSE QUALITY |
Rank by Course Quality* |
School |
Civic Value Added |
Mean Courses Taken ** |
Course Quality (Civic Knowledge Gained per Civic Course)* |
Mean |
|
+3.80 |
4.00 |
+0.95%* |
1. |
Concordia University (NE) |
9.00 |
2.42 |
3.72 |
2. |
Marian College (WI) |
9.44 |
3.24 |
2.91 |
3. |
St. Cloud State University (MN) |
8.59 |
3.21 |
2.68 |
4. |
Murray State University (KY) |
9.20 |
3.58 |
2.57 |
5. |
Eastern Connecticut State University |
9.65 |
3.80 |
2.54 |
6. |
Mississippi State University |
8.36 |
3.72 |
2.25 |
7. |
Pfeiffer University (NC) |
8.25 |
3.94 |
2.09 |
8. |
Iowa State University |
7.66 |
3.71 |
2.06 |
9. |
University of Mississippi |
7.46 |
3.92 |
1.90 |
10. |
Illinois State University |
8.19 |
4.34 |
1.89 |
11. |
Mt. Vernon Nazarene University (OH) |
4.56 |
2.55 |
1.79 |
12. |
University of Southern Maine |
6.11 |
3.60 |
1.69 |
13. |
Idaho State University |
6.39 |
3.86 |
1.66 |
14. |
Smith College (MA) |
7.44 |
4.56 |
1.63 |
15. |
University of Wisconsin |
6.30 |
3.86 |
1.63 |
16. |
University of Montana |
6.62 |
4.30 |
1.54 |
17. |
Rhodes College (TN) |
7.42 |
5.45 |
1.36 |
18. |
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities |
4.32 |
3.17 |
1.36 |
19. |
University of Washington |
4.25 |
3.15 |
1.35 |
20. |
University of Florida |
4.43 |
3 |
1.29 |
21. |
Calvin College (MI) |
4.46 |
3.56 |
1.25 |
22. |
Grove City College (PA) |
3.61 |
2.96 |
1.22 |
23. |
Harvard University |
5.97 |
5.06 |
1.18 |
24. |
University of North Carolina |
4.42 |
3.95 |
1.12 |
25. |
University of Notre Dame |
5.59 |
5.48 |
1.02 |
26. |
University of Michigan |
4.32 |
4.41 |
0.98 |
27. |
Carnegie Mellon University |
2.84 |
2.97 |
0.96 |
28. |
University of Rochester (NY) |
3.63 |
3.91 |
0.93 |
29. |
St. Thomas University (FL) |
2.75 |
3.07 |
0.89 |
30. |
Gonzaga University (WA) |
4.16 |
4.70 |
0.88 |
31. |
Georgia College and State University |
3.40 |
4.36 |
0.78 |
32. |
University of Georgia |
3.28 |
4.26 |
0.77 |
33. |
Texas State University-San Marcos |
2.74 |
4.31 |
0.64 |
34. |
Wheaton College (IL) |
2.12 |
3.33 |
0.64 |
35. |
Washington & Lee University (VA) |
4.53 |
7.62 |
0.59 |
36. |
George Mason University (VA) |
2.69 |
4.54 |
0.59 |
37. |
Texas A&M International University |
2.71 |
5.16 |
0.52 |
38. |
University of Virginia |
2.33 |
5.11 |
0.46 |
39. |
Bowdoin College (ME) |
3.36 |
7.55 |
0.44 |
40. |
Brown University |
2.22 |
5.01 |
0.44 |
41. |
University of Pennsylvania |
0.84 |
5.20 |
0.16 |
42. |
University of Massachusetts-Amherst |
0.56 |
3.57 |
0.16 |
43. |
University of California-Berkeley |
-0.76 |
3.68 |
-0.21 |
44. |
Oakwood College (AL) |
-0.48 |
2.00 |
-0.24 |
45. |
Rutgers University |
-0.93 |
3.40 |
-0.28 |
46. |
Yale University |
-3.09 |
6.10 |
-0.51 |
47. |
Duke University |
-2.25 |
3.93 |
-0.57 |
48. |
St. John’s University |
-1.87 |
2.80 |
-0.67 |
49. |
Princeton University |
-1.70 |
2.48 |
-0.68 |
50. |
Cornell University |
-4.95 |
2.74 |
-1.81 |
* Civic course quality is estimated by average civic learning at a college divided by the average number of relevant courses taken by students.
** Relevant civic courses taken by seniors surveyed based on the number of history, economics, and political science courses as reported by the students. |
TOP 10 THINGS STUDENTS “UNLEARNED” ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY |
Although the average college senior outscored the average college freshman by 3.8 points overall on the American civic literacy exam, seniors were especially less likely than freshmen to correctly answer questions about major themes in American history. Here are the themes of the top 10 history questions that seniors were less likely to answer correctly than freshmen. |
Theme |
Negative Learning |
1. Power of judicial review |
-10.47 |
2. President Washington’s foreign policy |
-8.03 |
3. Monroe Doctrine |
-7.75 |
4. The Federalist Papers |
-4.70 |
5. Settlement of Jamestown |
-2.03 |
6. American Revolutionary War |
-1.83 |
7. War of 1812 |
-1.56 |
8. Civil War events |
-1.54 |
9. Thomas Paine and Common Sense |
-1.49 |
10. Reconstruction |
-0.89 |
FAMILY MATTERS |
This table shows the relative impact on civic learning associated with five factors related to a student’s family. For example, students from families that frequently discussed current events and history gained 2.32 percentage points more on average than students from families that did not. The values in this table represent the unique impact of each factor on civic learning. |
Factor |
Gain in Civic Learning |
Frequent family discussion of current events/history |
+2.32 points |
English was primary language |
+1.80 |
Father has at least a bachelor’s degree |
+0.96 |
Mother has at least a bachelor’s degree |
+0.76 |
Parents married and living together |
+0.70 |
These are coefficients from a multiple regression analysis that account for the unique influences of the individual student, family, college characteristics, the community surrounding the college, and the student’s college peers. |
LESS EXPENSIVE, BETTER PERFORMING COLLEGES These colleges have a “sticker price” less than $15,000 but rank among the top 10 for civic knowledge gained by students. |
College |
Sticker Price* |
Rank by Civic Added |
Civic Value Added |
University of Mississippi |
$10,560 |
10 |
+7.45% |
Mississippi State University |
$10,560 |
6 |
+8.36% |
St. Cloud State University |
$11,673 |
5 |
+8.59% |
Murray State University |
$13,566 |
3 |
+9.12% |
Eastern Connecticut University |
$13,570 |
1 |
+9.65% |
Illinois State University |
$14,730 |
8 |
+8.19% |
* 2005 tuition and fees, or out-of-state cost, as reported to The College Board |
LESS SUBSIDIZED, BETTER PERFORMING COLLEGES |
These colleges ranked among the top ten for civic knowledge gained by students, and their students received a below-average total sum in government grants to freshmen (the average was $6,453 across the 50 schools in the survey). |
College |
Average Total Government Grants to Freshmen |
Endowment in Billions |
Rank by Value Added |
Value Added |
East Connecticut State University |
$3,721 |
$0.0001 |
1 |
+9.65% |
Iowa State University |
$3,946 |
$0.102 |
9 |
+7.66% |
Mississippi State University |
$4,225 |
$0.211 |
6 |
+8.36% |
Concordia University |
$4,250 |
$0.021 |
4 |
+8.99% |
St. Cloud State University |
$4,264 |
$0.01 |
5 |
+8.59% |
University of Mississippi |
$4,316 |
$0.42 |
10 |
+7.45% |
Murray State University |
$4,820 |
$0.014 |
3 |
+9.12% |
Pfeiffer University |
$4,887 |
$0.013 |
7 |
+8.25% |
AVERAGE CIVIC LEARNING BY QUESTION (2006 TESTING)± |
Each question included was intended to test important knowledge. Working with a distinguished board of professors from around the country and outside reviewers, we identified 60 themes that appear in the first column of the following table. This listing illustrates the range of ideas tested in American history (questions 1–17), American government and political thought (18–31), international affairs (32–47) and the market economy (48–60). The themes consist of basic civic knowledge or concepts, not obscure or arbitrarily selected knowledge. |
|
Question Theme (*denotes an NAEP question) |
Freshman Percent Correct |
Senior Percent Correct |
Civic Gain Percent |
Rank by Gain |
1. |
Jamestown colony |
46.42% |
44.39% |
-2.03% |
54 |
2. |
The Puritan religious tradition |
48.54 |
47.87 |
-0.67 |
47 |
3. |
Form of the U.S. government |
54.20 |
57.98 |
3.78 |
32 |
4. |
George Washington’s founding role |
68.30 |
74.50 |
6.20 |
23 |
5. |
The American Revolutionary War |
47.73 |
45.90 |
-1.83 |
53 |
6. |
The inalienable rights enumerated in the Declaration |
80.46 |
85.06 |
4.60 |
29 |
7. |
Chronology of major historical events |
49.25 |
47.71 |
-1.54 |
51 |
8. |
Origin of the doctrine of separation of church and state |
28.07 |
31.84 |
3.77 |
33 |
9. |
Outcome of the War of 1812 |
35.50 |
33.94 |
-1.56 |
52 |
10. |
The thought of Abraham Lincoln |
66.02 |
68.90 |
2.88 |
39 |
11. |
Timing of the Civil War |
58.00 |
61.42 |
3.42 |
37 |
12. |
The New Deal |
80.62 |
84.68 |
4.06 |
31 |
13. |
Reconstruction* |
43.66 |
42.77 |
-0.89 |
49 |
14. |
Women’s suffrage |
56.04 |
58.24 |
2.20 |
41 |
15. |
Roe v. Wade |
56.77 |
65.20 |
8.43 |
12 |
16. |
Brown v. Board of Education |
80.19 |
84.61 |
4.42 |
30 |
17. |
World War II |
68.50 |
70.72 |
2.22 |
40 |
18. |
Declaration of Independence |
45.26 |
45.95 |
0.69 |
44 |
19. |
Plato’s Republic |
18.04 |
24.67 |
6.63 |
19 |
20. |
The concept of representative democracy |
72.37 |
78.63 |
6.26 |
22 |
21. |
The Federalist Papers |
54.63 |
49.93 |
-4.70 |
57 |
22. |
Concept of the separation of powers |
68.42 |
75.27 |
6.85 |
16 |
23. |
Marbury v. Madison |
52.14 |
41.67 |
-10.47 |
60 |
24. |
Federalism defined |
45.93 |
43.76 |
-2.17 |
55 |
25. |
Common law |
45.97 |
56.79 |
10.82 |
4 |
26. |
John Locke and the Declaration of Independence |
72.17 |
72.06 |
-0.11 |
46 |
27. |
Founders’ understanding of moral and political knowledge |
56.57 |
62.69 |
6.12 |
24 |
28. |
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. |
79.93 |
85.74 |
5.81 |
26 |
29. |
Classical thought and relativism |
40.52 |
51.12 |
10.60 |
5 |
30. |
The Bill of Rights |
45.85 |
48.01 |
2.16 |
42 |
31. |
The nature of society |
36.78 |
43.61 |
6.83 |
17 |
32. |
Thomas Paine and Common Sense |
71.12 |
69.63 |
-1.49 |
50 |
33. |
Enumerated powers |
29.28 |
29.32 |
0.04 |
45 |
34. |
President Washington’s foreign policy |
44.65 |
36.62 |
-8.03 |
59 |
35. |
Monroe Doctrine |
29.94 |
22.19 |
-7.75 |
58 |
36. |
Traditional just war criteria |
15.83 |
19.34 |
3.51 |
35 |
37. |
NATO |
39.15 |
42.66 |
3.51 |
36 |
38. |
Alternative forms of government |
42.43 |
49.16 |
6.73 |
18 |
39. |
Alexis de Tocqueville (Democracy in America) |
41.36 |
47.69 |
6.33 |
21 |
40. |
The United Nations |
61.70 |
68.10 |
6.40 |
20 |
41. |
The Cold War and the USSR |
76.11 |
84.79 |
8.68 |
10 |
42. |
The Kennedy Administration |
51.77 |
57.73 |
5.96 |
25 |
43. |
Concept of balance of power |
47.98 |
55.31 |
7.33 |
14 |
44. |
The Vietnam War* |
43.44 |
47.11 |
3.67 |
34 |
45. |
The Cold War |
76.34 |
81.30 |
4.96 |
28 |
46. |
Saddam Hussein |
29.68 |
40.12 |
10.44 |
7 |
47. |
Persian Gulf War 1991 |
53.92 |
68.40 |
14.48 |
1 |
48. |
Inflation and the value of money |
56.03 |
68.55 |
12.52 |
2 |
49. |
Free enterprise defined |
61.29 |
68.75 |
7.46 |
13 |
50. |
Source of market prosperity |
30.98 |
37.84 |
6.86 |
15 |
51. |
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)* |
67.64 |
77.70 |
10.06 |
8 |
52. |
Definition of business profit |
61.19 |
70.05 |
8.86 |
9 |
53. |
Concept of a public good |
36.10 |
44.65 |
8.55 |
11 |
54. |
Keynesian economic thought and policy |
32.47 |
35.61 |
3.14 |
38 |
55. |
Income distribution in America |
24.73 |
25.45 |
0.72 |
43 |
56. |
Gains from trade* |
63.35 |
73.90 |
10.55 |
6 |
57. |
Law of demand* |
54.33 |
59.67 |
5.34 |
27 |
58. |
Monetary policy* |
24.53 |
23.84 |
-0.69 |
48 |
59. |
Tax policy |
53.23 |
64.95 |
11.72 |
3 |
60. |
Federal budget |
24.04 |
20.82 |
-3.22 |
56 |
±Learning equals average percent correct among seniors minus that for freshmen. |