Best questions for college graduate student survey about diversity and inclusion

Here are some of the best questions for a college graduate student survey about diversity and inclusion, and also tips on how to create them. Need a hand? With Specific, you can build a conversational survey in seconds—just describe what you want.

Best open-ended questions for diversity and inclusion: why they matter

Open-ended questions let us hear the real stories and opinions, uncover unexpected insights, and surface deeper context. They’re perfect when we want honest feedback or examples—especially on complex topics like diversity and inclusion. Here are 10 sharp open-ended questions to spark candid input from college graduate students:

1. How would you describe your experience with diversity and inclusion during your time in college?

2. Can you recall a time when you felt especially included (or excluded) on campus? What made it stand out?

3. What’s one thing the college could do to strengthen its culture of inclusion?

4. How did your background influence your college experience and access to opportunities?

5. Were there groups or spaces on campus where you felt you truly belonged—or didn't belong? Why?

6. What does “diversity” mean to you in the context of campus life?

7. In your view, how well do college leaders and professors model inclusive behavior?

8. Describe any barriers you faced related to your identity (race, gender, socioeconomic status, etc.) and how you navigated them.

9. What role did peers play in supporting (or undermining) diversity and inclusion within the college community?

10. If you could change one policy or tradition at your college to benefit diversity or inclusion, what would it be—and why?

Open-ended answers often go beyond surface-level opinions and reveal true sentiment. For example, recent research found that satisfaction rates among graduate students differ sharply by background—84% of white students rate their experience positively, but only 67% of Black students do the same. These nuanced stories and perspectives shouldn’t be flattened into simple checkboxes. [1]

Best single-select multiple-choice questions for college graduate student surveys

Single-select multiple-choice questions are great when we want quick stats, clear trends, or when respondents might need a nudge to reflect. They give us quantifiable data—a great way to spot broad patterns before diving deeper. They can also help spark a richer conversation, especially if paired with a well-timed follow-up.

Question: How included did you feel in campus activities?

• Very included

• Somewhat included

• Somewhat excluded

• Very excluded

Question: Did you ever participate in groups or events focused on diversity and inclusion?

• Often

• Sometimes

• Rarely

• Never

Question: Which factor most impacted your sense of belonging in college?

• Campus culture

• Faculty/staff support

• Peer relationships

• Personal background

• Other

When to follow up with “why”? If a student chooses “Somewhat excluded,” it makes sense for the AI to ask “Can you tell me more about what made you feel excluded?” That’s where we uncover the meaningful details.

When and why to add the “Other” choice? “Other” lets people surface perspectives or factors we might not have considered. When we ask a follow-up like “Can you specify?” after they choose “Other,” we capture those unexpected gems and deeper context.

Remember, quantifying is key—but don’t miss the rich stories lurking behind the stats. For example, diverse organizations capture new markets at a rate 70% higher than less diverse peers. [3] Your respondents’ “Other” answers may reveal the next big insight.

NPS-type question: does it fit this survey?

Let’s talk about the Net Promoter Score (NPS) approach for a diversity and inclusion survey. NPS measures the likelihood of someone recommending your college—or its culture—on a 0–10 scale. In the context of diversity and inclusion, this can shine light on overall sentiment and willingness to vouch for the environment. For college graduates, asking if they’d recommend their alma mater for its inclusiveness helps track how leadership efforts are landing and where gaps remain.

If you want a ready-to-use NPS-style survey for this audience, you can generate one instantly with Specific: NPS survey for college graduate students about diversity and inclusion.

The power of follow-up questions

Too often, we get responses that don’t quite paint the full picture. That’s why asking smart, AI-driven follow-ups is a game changer. At Specific, our system uses AI to ask clarifying questions—instantly and in real time—so you dig deeper, right when it matters most. That’s the difference between “meh” feedback and actionable stories on diversity or inclusion. Find out more in our article on AI-powered survey follow-up questions.

• College Graduate Student: “I felt the college could do better.”

• AI follow-up: “What specific areas would you like to see improved? Can you share an example?”

How many followups to ask? Two or three targeted follow-ups usually strike the right balance—enough to uncover the important stuff, not so much that it drags. With Specific’s settings, you can control when to move on as soon as you’ve got the insight you need.

This makes it a conversational survey: Every answer can lead to a natural, live conversation, not a robotic form experience. That’s what moves the needle on feedback quality.

AI analysis. Open-text answers. Insights with clarity. Even when follow-up responses pile up, analyzing everything is a snap. AI distills themes, highlights top issues, and summarizes key trends. If you're curious how this works, we go in-depth in our article on AI survey response analysis.

Curious about these automated followups? Try to generate a survey and see just how smooth it is.

Prompting ChatGPT (or Specific) for the best college graduate student diversity questions

If you want to brainstorm question ideas using ChatGPT or another AI—context is everything. Start with a broad prompt like this:

Suggest 10 open-ended questions for college graduate student survey about diversity and inclusion.

But you’ll get far better results by offering more context—describe your goal, student population, and what you plan to do with the results. For example:

We’re surveying recent college graduates to understand their experiences related to diversity and inclusion. Our goal is to identify barriers, highlight what’s working, and recommend improvements. Suggest 10 open-ended questions that address campus culture, sense of belonging, participation in DEI programs, and support systems.

Next, ask the AI to organize questions into themes:

Look at the questions and categorize them. Output categories with the questions under them.

Finally, if some themes pop out—like “sense of belonging”—use this prompt:

Generate 10 questions for the category “sense of belonging” specifically for college graduate students.

This process brings structure and focus, instead of a random list—and works even better in Specific’s AI survey editor, where you can tweak surveys live by chatting.

What is a conversational survey—and why AI makes a difference

A conversational survey feels like a real dialogue, not a static form. Instead of racing through tick-boxes, your respondents are guided by questions that respond to their answers. We probe, clarify, and adapt—so even complex topics like diversity and inclusion become approachable, authentic, and engaging. Specific’s conversational surveys do exactly this, elevating the feedback experience on both sides.

Why use AI for college graduate student surveys? AI tools don’t just make survey creation (and editing) fast—they get you to the heart of what students truly feel. Technologies like Specific gather, probe, and analyze diversity data, surfacing blind spots and opportunities you’d likely miss with a static approach. [6] You sidestep manual follow-ups, error-prone analysis, and the fatigue that often leads students to skip surveys altogether.

For step-by-step guidance, check our guide on how to create a graduate student survey on diversity and inclusion.

See this diversity and inclusion survey example now

Get the most from every graduate’s story—see what a conversational survey can uncover. With automated follow-ups and powerful AI analysis, you unlock stronger insights, richer stories, and a survey experience that’s truly engaging. See what’s possible and start your own today.