Factors that Influence Student College Choice

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 the eleventh grade. The 2012 survey included questions about characteristics that would influence choosing a school or college after high school. Notable findings from this report include: The three factors with the highest percentages of "very important" ratings were academic quality/reputation (74 percent), having a desired program of study (74 percent), and job placement (73 percent). Regardless of SES, over 95 percent of respondents rated the cost of attendance to be a “somewhat important” or “very important” factor in their choice of college.