This report is based on data from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09), a nationally representative, longitudinal study of more than 23,000 ninth-graders in 2009. The cohort was surveyed again in spring 2012 when most students were in eleventh grade. This survey included questions about characteristics that would influence choosing a school or college after high school. Data for the following questions are presented: (1) What factors do students rate as important when they are choosing a school or college to attend after high school?; and (2) How do self-reported ratings of the importance of cost of attendance vary by socioeconomic status (SES)?