This study examined the motivating factors that influenced prospective graduate students' choice in pursuing an advanced degree and choosing an institution at which to study. This article articulates the qualitative piece of a larger study which sought to understand these reasons and why they were important. Interviews from 15 current graduate…

"College undermatching" occurs when high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds apply to or enroll in less selective postsecondary institutions despite meeting the academic criteria. Students of color tend to "college undermatch" due to lack of college preparation materials and resources, socioeconomic status, and…

In 2018-2019, North Carolina implemented a loan forgiveness program to recruit talented postsecondary students into teaching majors in needed subject areas. This qualitative case study analyzes the influence of the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program (NCTFP) on 10 student participants' college, major, and career plans in STEM education to…

Dual enrollment participation promotes college attendance following high school, and college administrators view the program as a valuable student recruitment opportunity. Yet, less than one-third of participants choose to matriculate with the host institution, especially at a community college. The literature contains minimal information…

Internationalization and the concomitant flow of cultural diversity often associated with it are highly prized by universities; many tertiary institutions claim internationalization of the campus, the curriculum, research, and the student body as a major goal, a key performance indicator. However, in the current climate of global international…

Research on the role brand image plays in higher education (HE) suggests that it is crucial to understand students' perceptions of their university. This study builds on existing empirical work by Alcaide-Pulido, Alves, and Gutierrez-Villar (2017) exploring themes of national and international recognition, economic value, university campus…

Women continue to be underrepresented within the STEM field. This qualitative, narrative, research student explores the expectations and experiences of women enrolled in a STEM program during their second year. Focusing on understanding their relationships with academic advising, faculty, and peers of all genders. Semi-structured interviews were…

Where do Black and Brown STEM doctoral students want to live post-graduation and what are their criteria for making these decisions? This study explored the decision-making process of doctoral students and graduates with respect to their future career destinations. It investigated the regions that were most appealing to racially underrepresented…

Geography of opportunity research has identified places with few or no college options: so-called "education deserts." This study extends this geography of opportunity research, exploring how geographical constraints affect students' choices, particularly the choice to attend a for-profit college. Using the Education Longitudinal Study…

This study investigates how personality and individual experiences influence decision-making processes during the transition into Higher Education (HE). It offers insights into application choices, where applicants employ different quantitative hedging strategies against non-admission. These strategies are assessed by the number of applications…

Higher education has witnessed unprecedented changes in the last two decades -- a highly competitive global market, varying nature of work, industry expectations, learning preferences, advancement in technology, and to top it all a pandemic. To sustain and remain competitive Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) have shown an increased interest…

While the preference for university by school leavers has been researched extensively, this article seeks to explore if religious influence might also come to play when selecting a university, with particular reference to Australia, a country whose higher education environment is largely made up of public, secular universities. The data used is…

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are racially diverse institutions. As such, this qualitative study examines the interconnected aspects of the college choice processes and campus experiences of White students attending a public HBCU. Utilizing (Renn and Arnold, "The Journal of Higher Education," 2003, 74, 261)…

This guide presents what Minnesota has to offer for higher education. With two-year and four-year public and private institutions as well as accredited cosmetology and specialized trade schools, the profiles found in the beginning of the guide get right to the facts on tuition, fees, class sizes and required exams. The program grid, found in the…

Each year, only 60% of high school graduates in Washington transition to postsecondary education within one year. Family engagement is a critical part of the college search and transition process. Families are often involved in campus visits, financial planning, and the shifting of norms and responsibilities when a student begins their higher…