1) Many factors influence where a student chooses to attend college, including amenities, location, core competencies, and relationships. 2) Location is a major factor, with most students (72%) attending college within their home state and region (86%). 3) Relationships, including those formed with representatives of the institution, can significantly impact a student's choice.

1. What Factors Influence
Where a Student Chooses
to Attend College?
Lisa Scheese
November 1, 2011

2.  College access means a student has enough
information to make an informed college
decision.
 College choice theories are based on the
assumption of equitable access.
(Bergerson 2009)
 However, research indicates a stratification of
higher education.
(Radford, Tasoff, & Weko 2009).

3.  Hossler and Gallagher (1987)
 Predisposition
 Search
 Choice
 Paulsen (1990)
 Sociological
 Psychological
 Economic
 Perna (2006)
 Individual Habitus
 School and Community Context
 Higher Education Context
 Social, Economic and Policy Context
 Tierney and Venegas’s Cultural Framework (2009)
 Educational
 Familial
 Community
 Out of Class Environments

6.  Four Main Areas of Influence
 Amenities
 Location
 Core Competencies
 Relationships

7.  Extreme Dorms (Steinberg & Brodie 2011)
 Recreational Facilities
 Campus Dining Options

8.  Median Distance of College Selection = 94 miles
 Nationally 72% stay in their home state
 86% attend college in their home region
 In Missouri, 73% stay in-state
Columbia
(Mattern and Wyatt 2009).

9.  What is a core competency?
 Areas in which the institution excels or offers
expertise better than the competition.
Program
Department
Institution

10.  Anyone the student comes in contact with
that influences him or her to make a choice.

11.  1) Focus on your strengths.
 2) People are often your best strength.
 3) Relationships influence college choice.

13.  Bergerson, A. (2009). College Choice and Access to College. ASHE Higher Education
Report, 35(4), 1-62. doi:10.1002/aehe.3504
 Mattern, K. & Wyatt, J. (2009). Student Choice of College: How Far Do Students Go
For An Education? Journal of College Admission. 203, 18-29.
 Radford, Tasoff, & Weko. (2009).Statistics Issue Tables. National Center for Education
Statistics. Retrieved October 20, 2011 from
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2011033
 Steinberg & Brodie. (2011). Dorms go extreme to lure students. CNN Living.
Retrieved October 20, 2011 from http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/22/living/dorm-
rooms/index.html