ERIC Number: ED562971
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 147
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 978-1-3034-7841-3
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Factors Influencing College Choice for Students in Agriculture Programs: A Comparative Study of Community College and Land-Grant University Students
Cunningham, Shannon Kaye
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, Oklahoma State University
The purpose of this study was to identify factors that influenced college choice of students who recently enrolled (current freshmen and sophomores) in agriculture programs at Oklahoma's land-grant university, as compared to recently enrolled students (current freshmen and sophomores) in selected agriculture programs at public community colleges in the state of Oklahoma. This study focused on student characteristics, the influence of significant persons, efforts of the institution to communicate with students, and fixed college characteristics, in terms of their influence on student choice of institution. The convenience sample consisted of 210 recently enrolled students in a land-grant university agriculture program, and 162 recently enrolled students in community college agriculture programs. Students in both groups were found to be very similar in terms of their gender, ethnicity, state of residence, and time when they began the college choice process, finalized their college choice, and finalized their major. A significant difference was found in ACT composite scores for each group. Both groups of students were found to use similar sources of information related to their college choice, reporting campus visit, Internet, and university/college website information, as the most useful sources of information used during the college choice process. Academic reputation, academic programs, and scholarships were reported as influential in the college choice process for both groups. Land-grant university students more frequently ranked prestige, quality of facilities, and location as more influential in college decision, while cost was more influential for community college students in the college choice process. Both groups most frequently ranked "parent or guardian" as the most influential individual in their college choice. Relative to other individuals represented, land-grant university students more frequently reported "relative who attended this university/college" as more influential in the college choice process. Conversely, community college students more frequently reported "friend from high school" and "high school agriculture teacher" as more influential in their college decision. Both groups most frequently ranked "student organizations" as the most influential opportunity for social interaction in their college decision. Community college students more frequently ranked "agricultural competitive teams" as a more influential factor than did land-grant university students. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: College Choice, Land Grant Universities, College Students, Agricultural Education, Student Characteristics, Two Year College Students, Influences, Student School Relationship, Institutional Characteristics, Community Colleges, Public Colleges, Comparative Analysis, Information Sources, Majors (Students), Reputation, Courses, Parent Influence, Family Influence, Peer Influence, Teacher Influence, Student Organizations
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Two Year Colleges
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Oklahoma
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A