Research on factors that influence college choice, including sociologic and economic explanations, is reviewed. It is suggested that the following four factors strongly affect college choice: family background, student achievement or ability, some college attributes, and labor-market conditions. School context and college effects moderately affect…

By showing how the addition of three universities to the State University System of Florida affected enrollment projections for the six older universities, a tool was developed that may be of use for enrollment projections in other settings, when the system changes. County population and K-12 school enrollment project reasonably well the…

A modern marketing approach to student recruitment is offered as a means of facilitating institutional planning, enhancing communication with prospective students, improving enrollment forecasting, and eliminating unexpected shortfalls in tuition income. Marketing is distinguished from mere salesmanship and discussed in a practical program of…

Students who were enrolled at the Grand Valley State Colleges (GVSC) during fall 1977 but did not re-enroll winter 1978 were surveyed. The results showed that (1) 75 percent probably left for reasons the college could not expect to affect; (2) most complimented the college; (3) almost half had not expected to get a degree there to begin with; (4)…

The varying impacts of alternative financial-aid policies and delivery procedures on colleges and potential students are considered. It is concluded that there is little that financial-aid policy itself can do to counter enrollment declines, but that individual policy innovations do have some potential to redistribute enrollment. (Author/JMD)

A study investigated variables affecting college-bound students' decisions to apply to a college after requesting that college entrance examination scores be sent to it. Results indicate that fit between the student's preferences and institutional characteristics had the most substantial impact, especially college location and test scores at or…

A study analyzed demographic, socioeconomic, and financial factors in enrollment behavior of accepted applicants to Iona College (New York). Financial aid had a positive impact on enrollment decisions (excepting upper-income applicants): for every $1,000 increase offered, probability of enrollment increased 1.1 to 2.5%. Work-study was not…

A three-part study conducted at a medium-sized, Christian comprehensive college in Michigan (Calvin College) examined the college choice process including why students apply but do not enroll, as well as the reasons why students enroll. Subjects consisted of: (1) those who made multiple inquiries and had multiple contacts with the college but did…

The impact of a new policy in Minnesota that raised college tuition while also increasing state student aid funding was studied. A literature review examines the influence of economic, psychological, sociological, and cultural factors on student attendance patterns. In addition to access, choice, and persistence, the study considered educational…

Results of a study of trends in college-going decisions of new high school graduates between 1972 and 1980 are presented, along with a model of college choice. The focus is the choice between college and noncollege options. Based on a review of empirical and theoretical work on college choice over the past 25 years, information is provided on key…

In spring 1986, a study was conducted at Fayetteville Technical Institute (FTI), North Carolina, to determine why students decided to continue their education, what factors triggered their enrollment, and what factors influenced their decision to attend FTI. A questionnaire was administered to 119 students enrolled in randomly selected day and…

An annotated bibliography and summaries of major issues pertaining to access and choice in higher education are presented. The introductory section discusses barriers to college attendance, demographic and sector shifts, diversity and pluralism, willingness and ability to finance universal higher education. The bibliography is divided into three…

These 16 institutional research monographs summarize major research efforts at South Oklahoma City Junior College (SOCJC) during fiscal year 1982. The research monographs cover: (1) current educational and employment activities of 1980 graduates of SOCJC; (2) national trends in finance, enrollments, programs, and faculty at two-year colleges; (3)…

Relationships among student and college characteristics are studied in conjunction with colleges students chose and attended. Two data sets, one of students who were college bound in 1971-72, and the other of financial aid applicants who were college freshmen in 1972-73, are used. The relation between family income and college cost is examined.…

A study of persons living in the vicinity of LaGuardia Community College was conducted to determine respondents' views about problems facing their communities and their attitudes toward and experiences with adult or continuing education. Between April and June 1980, 840 interviews were conducted with adults who were not full-time students. During…