The first goal of this study was to better understand the differences between rural and urban students' selection of academic program upon entering a public university in Pennsylvania. The second goal of this study was to better understand if particular academic programs impacted rural to urban migrations after graduating from the university. The…

This qualitative narrative research study explores the reasons that undergraduate transfer students make college and career planning decisions. The insights of community college students who expressed interest in completing a bachelor's degree but did not enroll at a university were compared with the perspectives of university students enrolled in…

How do students and alumni of for-profit colleges feel about their schools and the value of their education? Do they have distinct expectations, priorities, and needs compared with students who choose to study at not-for-profit institutions? Are prospective students effectively weighing their options before deciding to enroll at for-profit…

Ethnic minority students traditionally pursue degrees and careers in the food and agricultural sciences at rates lower than their non-minority counterparts. To help improve upon this situation, the Food and Agricultural Sciences Institute (FASI) was created to expose academically talented high school students to opportunities within the food and…

Students at seven junior colleges in southwestern Pennsylvania were studied to determine their reasons for choosing a particular college and whether college attendance helped them realize their goals. Results from 261 student questionnaires were categorized and analyzed by individual campus, sex, and type of program--whether terminal or transfer.…

Data from six questionnaire studies are reported. "Reasons Why Harcum Is Recommended," gives the percentage of Harcum students and faculty, and of high school counselors who recommend Harcum for each of ten reasons on the questionnaire. In "The Students View Harcum," student responses to ten possible reasons for attending, to…

The study examines patterns in students' choices of in-state and out-of-state colleges, with regard to certain academic and economic variables such as class standing, parental income, financial support, and costs. It then examines the impact that financial aid would have on their choices. A survey was undertaken of 26,903 Pennsylvania public and…