The traditional college-age population is shrinking: fewer high school graduates pursue higher education each year, resulting in declining student enrollment at colleges across the country. At the same time, there are now more than 40 million Americans who have stopped out of college with some credit and no credential or degree. By opting out or…

The Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002) provides a wealth of information from multiple sources about the factors and circumstances related to the performance and social development of American high school sophomores as they enter and leave various levels of the education system. This First Look report draws upon ELS:2002 second…

This report uses data from the 1995-96 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study to examine the factors that first time students consider when choosing an institution for postsecondary education. Specifically, it describes the importance of reputation, location, price, and influence, and assesses how this varies with student characteristics.…

Nevada high school seniors were surveyed in 1986 to provide high school and college planners with information about students' demographic characteristics, high school experience, and postsecondary plans. Factors influencing students' choice of postsecondary institutions and students' impressions of the University of Nevada System institutions were…

This report from the California Postsecondary Education Commission presents and explains six priorities, based on the Commission's current policies and recommendations, that will be used as guidelines for Commission staff who will work with the California Legislature and the Governor's Office during 1991. The priority issues to be emphasized by…

This report to the Illinois Senate Committee on Higher Education assesses the extent to which students in metropolitan Chicago have real access to higher education and choice among postsecondary institutions. The chapters in part I address issues related to inequality in higher education in Chicago, providing analyses of the causes of inequality,…

The preparation of high school students for the transition from secondary to postsecondary education is discussed by an official of the Chicago public schools. It is suggested that access to postsecondary education should not be linked solely to test scores without regard to achievement within the child's environment. Recent statistics show that…

Current federal student financial assistance programs are described, and their impact on access to and choice of postsecondary education are assessed. In addition, recommendations and policy options for promoting educational opportunity are offered. Findings of the following eight studies are analyzed: (1) changes in college attendance and student…