Choosing a Postsecondary Institution

Title:	Choosing a Postsecondary Institution
Description:	This report examines the factors that students enrolling in postsecondary education for the first time in 1995-96 considered in choosing their institution. Specifically, it describes the importance of reputation, location, price, and influence and how this varies with student characteristics. The analysis reveals that beginning postsecondary students at both public and private, not-for-profit 4-year institutions were more likely to cite reputation than location, price, or the influence of others as the most important reason for choosing their institution. Beginning postsecondary students at public 2-year institutions mentioned location reasons for choosing their institution more often than reputation, price, or influence factors.
Online Availability:	Download, view, and print the report in a pdf file. (1,022KB) Download the Table Parameter Files (TPF) files used for this report.
Cover Date:	November 1998
Web Release:	November 17, 1998
Print Release:	November 17, 1998
Publication #:	NCES 98080 General Ordering Information
Center/Program:	NCES
Authors:	Susan P. Choy, Cecilia Ottinger
Type of Product:	Statistical Analysis Report
Survey/Program Areas:	Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS) National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) Postsecondary Education Descriptive Analysis Reports (PEDAR)
Keywords:	Choice of School
Questions:	For questions about the content of this Statistical Analysis Report, please contact: Aurora M. D'Amico.