• In 1995-96, about 40 percent of all first-time beginning postsecondary students enrolled in 4-year institutions (25 percent at public institutions and 15 percent at private, not-for-profit institutions) (table 1). Another 46 percent enrolled in public 2-year institutions. The overall enrollment pattern of 1995-96 first-time beginners resembles that of their 1989-90 counterparts.
• In 1995-96, 25 percent of financially dependent students from families with incomes of $60,000 or more enrolled in private, not-for-profit 4-year institutions, a considerably higher percentage than that for students from families with incomes in the $30,000 to $59,999 range (16 percent) or with incomes less than $30,000 (14 percent) (table 1 and figure 1a).
• Among students who enrolled in less-than-4-year institutions, the primary reasons for enrolling varied by age (table 1 and figure 1b). For example, 18- to 19-year-olds were more likely to cite transferring to a 4-year institution as their primary reason for enrolling, while students age 20 or older were more likely to cite obtaining job skills as their primary reason for enrolling.

Table 1.-Percentage distribution of first-time beginning postsecondary students, by type of institution, primary reason for enrolling in a less-than-4-year institution, and selected student and institutional characteristics: Academic years 1989-90 and 1995-96

Figure 1a.-Percentage of first-time beginning postsecondary students enrolling in public and private, not-for-profit 4-year institutions, by dependency status and income: Academic year 1995-96

Figure 1b.-Percentage distribution of first-time beginning postsecondary students in less-than-4-year institutions, by primary reason for enrolling and age: Academic year 1995-96