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Survey of American College Students, 2022: Use of 3D Printers

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    Report

  • 83 Pages
  • February 2022
  • Region: United States
  • Primary Research Group
  • ID: 5532608
This study looks closely at how many and which students are using 3D printers at their colleges, or other locales, and how much they are using them.  The report also presents their opinions on the value to them of 3D printers and their level of awareness of their availability in their academic libraries.  The report helps college and university officials to estimate the current and likely future level of demand for 3D printing and the source of the likely demand. It is also a highly useful aid in planning marketing or information literacy aids aimed at current or prospective users of 3D printers in colleges or universities. Data in the report is based on a representative sample of 1076 college students from 4-Year colleges in the USA.

Just a few of the report’s many findings are that:

  • 46% of students majoring in engineering/mathematics/computer science had ever used a 3D printer, the highest of any major or range of academic fields in the sample.
  • Older students aged 26 to 35 were much more likely than others to find a 3D printer valuable or very valuable.
  • Students raised abroad used 3D printers three times as much as students raised in the United States.
  • More than 64% of students from the lowest income strata were unaware if their academic libraries offered a 3D printer.

Data in the report is broken out by more than 20 personal and institutional variables, so, for example, readers can get specific data on 3D printer use by first year students vs. juniors or seniors, or for students in level 1 research universities vs. doctoral institutions, or for male vs. female or vs. transgender students, or for business/economics majors vs fine arts majors, etc., etc.

Breakouts include age, year of school standing, major or intended major, religion, gender, sexual orientation, income level, SAT/ACT scores, college grades, regional origins, race/ethnicity, level of school tuition, size of school of institution attended and many other variables. This is a critical resource for policymakers in government and in universities and colleges as well as a unique data source for social scientists and others studying higher education and information technology.

Table of Contents

THE QUESTIONNAIRE    
  • Characteristics of the sample    

SUMMARY OF MAIN FINDINGS    
  • Ever Used a 3D Printer    
  • Ever Used a 3D Printer at Your College?    
  • Evaluation of the Importance of Having Access to a 3D Printer    
  • Number of Days in the Last Year the Respondent Used a 3D Printer    
  • Awareness of the Availability of 3D Printers at the Academic Library
List of Tables
Table 1.1 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer?    
Table 1.2 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer? Broken out by age    
Table 1.3 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer? Broken out by population density of place of origin    
Table 1.4 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer? Broken out by geographic region of origin    
Table 1.5 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer? Broken out by student school year    
Table 1.6 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer? Broken out by annual income of family of origin    
Table 1.7 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer? Broken out by relationship with organized religion    
Table 1.8 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer? Broken out by political views    
Table 1.9 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer? Broken out by college grades    
Table 1.10 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer? Broken out by field of study    
Table 1.11 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer? Broken out by gender    
Table 1.12 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer? Broken out by current housing situation    
Table 1.13 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer? Broken out by current employment status    
Table 1.14 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer? Broken out by sexual orientation    
Table 1.15 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer? Broken out by SAT or ACT scores    
Table 1.16 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer? Broken out by religion    
Table 1.17 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer? Broken out by race or ethnicity    
Table 1.18 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer? Broken out by public or private college    
Table 1.19 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer? Broken out by enrollment    
Table 1.20 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer? Broken out by carnegie class or type of college    
Table 1.21 Have you ever used a 3D printer that creates objects rather than printing text like a traditional printer? Broken out by tuition, $    
Table 2.1 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college?    
Table 2.2 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college? Broken out by age    
Table 2.3 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college? Broken out by population density of place of origin    
Table 2.4 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college? Broken out by geographic region of origin    
Table 2.5 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college? Broken out by student school year    
Table 2.6 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college? Broken out by annual income of family of origin    
Table 2.7 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college? Broken out by relationship with organized religion    
Table 2.8 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college? Broken out by political views    
Table 2.9 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college? Broken out by college grades    
Table 2.10 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college? Broken out by field of study    
Table 2.11 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college? Broken out by gender    
Table 2.12 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college? Broken out by current housing situation    
Table 2.13 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college? Broken out by current employment status    
Table 2.14 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college? Broken out by sexual orientation    
Table 2.15 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college? Broken out by SAT or ACT scores    
Table 2.16 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college? Broken out by religion    
Table 2.17 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college? Broken out by race or ethnicity    
Table 2.18 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college? Broken out by public or private college    
Table 2.19 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college? Broken out by enrollment    
Table 2.20 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college? Broken out by carnegie class or type of college    
Table 2.21 Have you ever used such a 3D printer at your college? Broken out by tuition, $    
Table 3.1 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer?    
Table 3.2 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer? Broken out by age    
Table 3.3 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer? Broken out by population density of place of origin    
Table 3.4 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer? Broken out by geographic region of origin    
Table 3.5 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer? Broken out by student school year    
Table 3.6 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer? Broken out by annual income of family of origin    
Table 3.7 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer? Broken out by relationship with organized religion    
Table 3.8 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer? Broken out by political views    
Table 3.9 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer? Broken out by college grades    
Table 3.10 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer? Broken out by field of study    
Table 3.11 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer? Broken out by gender    
Table 3.12 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer? Broken out by current housing situation    
Table 3.13 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer? Broken out by current employment status    
Table 3.14 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer? Broken out by sexual orientation    
Table 3.15 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer? Broken out by SAT or ACT scores    
Table 3.16 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer? Broken out by religion    
Table 3.17 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer? Broken out by race or ethnicity    
Table 3.18 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer? Broken out by public or private college    
Table 3.19 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer? Broken out by enrollment    
Table 3.20 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer? Broken out by carnegie class or type of college    
Table 3.21 How valuable is it for you to have access to a 3D printer? Broken out by tuition, $    
Table 4.1 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.”    
Table 4.2 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.” Broken out by age    
Table 4.3 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.” Broken out by population density of place of origin    
Table 4.4 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.” Broken out by geographic region of origin    
Table 4.5 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.” Broken out by student school year    
Table 4.6 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.” Broken out by annual income of family of origin    
Table 4.7 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.” Broken out by relationship with organized religion    
Table 4.8 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.” Broken out by political views    
Table 4.9 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.” Broken out by college grades    
Table 4.10 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.” Broken out by field of study    
Table 4.11 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.” Broken out by gender    
Table 4.12 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.” Broken out by current housing situation    
Table 4.13 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.” Broken out by current employment status    
Table 4.14 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.” Broken out by sexual orientation    
Table 4.15 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.” Broken out by SAT or ACT scores    
Table 4.16 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.” Broken out by religion    
Table 4.17 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.” Broken out by race or ethnicity    
Table 4.18 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.” Broken out by public or private college    
Table 4.19 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.” Broken out by enrollment    
Table 4.20 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.” Broken out by carnegie class or type of college    
Table 4.21 Over the past year on how many days have you used a 3D printer of any kind in any place? (if you are unsure try to give it your best quantitative guess, avoiding terms like “a few” or “many times.” Broken out by tuition, $    
Table 5.1 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer?    
Table 5.2 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer? Broken out by age    
Table 5.3 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer? Broken out by population density of place of origin    
Table 5.4 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer? Broken out by geographic region of origin    
Table 5.5 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer? Broken out by student school year    
Table 5.6 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer? Broken out by annual income of family of origin    
Table 5.7 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer? Broken out by relationship with organized religion    
Table 5.8 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer? Broken out by political views    
Table 5.9 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer? Broken out by college grades    
Table 5.10 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer? Broken out by field of study    
Table 5.11 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer? Broken out by gender    
Table 5.12 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer? Broken out by current housing situation    
Table 5.13 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer? Broken out by current employment status    
Table 5.14 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer? Broken out by sexual orientation    
Table 5.15 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer? Broken out by SAT or ACT scores    
Table 5.16 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer? Broken out by religion    
Table 5.17 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer? Broken out by race or ethnicity    
Table 5.18 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer? Broken out by public or private college    
Table 5.19 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer? Broken out by enrollment    
Table 5.20 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer? Broken out by carnegie class or type of college    
Table 5.21 To the best of your knowledge does your college library offer access to a 3D printer? Broken out by tuition, $    

Samples

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Methodology

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