Choosing College: Differences by Class, Race, and Sex

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: College and Career Decision Making

Abstract

This exploratory descriptive study analyzes data from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09) to document high school graduates’ self-reported college considerations when choosing the postsecondary institution attended in fall 2013. College considerations are ranked by level of “importance” as ascribed by students, and results are disaggregated by class, race, and sex to reveal heterogeneous preferences by sociodemographic group. Study results can inform currently held conceptual understanding of “college match” by moving beyond student/institution academic congruence and incorporating students’ stated college preferences. Practical applications include postsecondary recruitment practices, marketing strategy, and financial aid policy.

Author

• Roman Ruiz, University of Pennsylvania