Results Two research questions are the focus of this inquiry. Based on the findings of
this study, the results for each question are addressed separately.
Question One
What factors (background characteristics, aspirations, high school experience,
college experience, price and subsidies, debt variables, and Beginning
Postsecondary Survey variables) significantly influence the decision to enroll in a
two-year college? Of these factors, 27 are significant at the p≤ .001 level.
Background. In the background category six variables are significant. Two
ethnicity variables are significantly associated with the two-year choice decision.
These variables indicate that Latino students and students listing their ethnicity
as “other” are less likely to choose a two-year college. Only one dependency
variable is significant, indicating that independent students are more likely to
choose a two-year college. Along the same lines, one variable pertaining to
parent’s educational attainment is significant; students whose fathers had no
higher education are more likely to attend a two-year college. Also in the
background category, two location variables are significant. Students who
choose a college that is over 100 miles from home are less likely to attend a two-
year college while students who choose a college less than 30 miles from home
are more likely to attend a two-year college.
Aspirations. In the aspiration category, degree expectation is the only variable
that is significant in the two-year/four-year choice dichotomy. Students whose
educational goal is an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree are more likely to
choose a two-year college than those students aspiring to an advanced degree.
High school experience. Seven variables in the high school experience category are
significant. Students with no high school degree are more likely to attend a two-
year college when compared to students who completed a GED or a high school
certificate program. Students who obtain a regular high school degree are also
more likely to attend a four-year college.
High school achievement as measured by a student’s GPA is also a variable
associated with two-year college choice. Students whose GPA is between 1.75
and 2.75 are more likely to choose a two-year college when compared to
students with slightly higher or lower GPAs. Similarly, a student whose ACT
score is below 21 is more likely to attend a two-year college while a student
whose ACT score is above 21 is less likely to chose a two-year college.
College experience. Five variables in the college experience category are
significant. A college’s reputation is significant in the choice dichotomy. A
student is more likely to choose a two-year college if it is perceived by the
student to have a good reputation.
Residency, i.e., living on or off campus, is also significant in the choice
decision. Students wanting to live on campus are less likely to choose a two-year
college while students wanting to live off-campus are more likely to attend a
two-year college.
Although the amount of time a student works is statistically significant for all
students, those who work full-time (more than 35 hours a week) are somewhat
more likely to choose a two-year college than those who work part-time or do
not work.
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators 7
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