This study used data on the distribution of college students by income background to analyze college choice, particularly examining how family income and college choice correlations have changed over time. The study, using data from the national American Freshmen Survey, compared results from 1993 and computed their constant dollar equivalents in two previous years, 1989 and 1980. Data were analyzed to examine the distribution of students in a particular income group across institutional types and to examine the income distribution of students attending a particular type of institution. Results showed that, while the share of middle income students in all of higher education declined, in 1980 21.5 percent of middle income students were enrolled at private, four-year colleges and universities and in 1993, 21.2 percent were in those institutions. Low income students were increasingly represented at public two-year colleges, while representations of middle and upper income students in these colleges declined. Also the number of middle income students at public two-year institutions has declined and the number at public four-year institutions has increased. Private four-year colleges have been enrolling a declining share of upper income students, and public colleges' share of wealthier students has increased. Thus private colleges have a steady proportion of middle income students but a decline in upper income students. (JB)