Factors Influencing Students' Decisions to Pursue Agricultural Degrees at Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture
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| Title: | Factors Influencing Students' Decisions to Pursue Agricultural Degrees at Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Jay K. Solomonson, Trent Wells, Bryan D. Rank, Blessing Ugwuanyi |
| Source: | NACTA Journal. 2023 63:289-299. |
| Availability: | North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture. 1014 6th Avenue, Huntington, WV 25701. Tel: 208-957-7001; e-mail: support@nacta.org; Web site: https://nactateachers.org/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 11 |
| Publication Date: | 2023 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Agricultural Education, Agricultural Colleges, Land Grant Universities, School Choice, Student Attitudes, College Enrollment, Student Costs, Career Pathways, Family Influence, Student Organizations, College Freshmen, Transfer Students |
| ISSN: | 0149-4910 |
| Abstract: | Recently, enrollments at numerous American universities have been trending downward. This has led to an increasingly competitive atmosphere for attracting new students, creating the need to better understand why students ultimately attend their chosen institution. Prior research has explored factors that influence students to pursue agricultural degree programs at Land-Grant Universities with limited research addressing why students opt to study agriculture at Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCAs). The purpose of our study was to describe the factors influencing students' decisions to pursue agricultural degrees at NLGCAs. We distributed a valid and reliable instrument to all first-semester students enrolled at our NLGCAs. Regarding enrollment factors, we found that: (1) students most frequently used degree program information on a university website to help make their enrollment decision; (2) cost of attendance was most frequently cited as an "Influential" or "Very influential" university-related factor; (3) career opportunities available for graduates was most frequently cited as an "Influential" or "Very influential" major selection-related factor; (4) a parent or guardian was most frequently cited as an "Influential" or "Very influential" individual-related factor; and the (5) availability of student organizations was most frequently cited as an "Influential" or "Very influential" social interaction-related factor. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2024 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1450351 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Recently, enrollments at numerous American universities have been trending downward. This has led to an increasingly competitive atmosphere for attracting new students, creating the need to better understand why students ultimately attend their chosen institution. Prior research has explored factors that influence students to pursue agricultural degree programs at Land-Grant Universities with limited research addressing why students opt to study agriculture at Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCAs). The purpose of our study was to describe the factors influencing students' decisions to pursue agricultural degrees at NLGCAs. We distributed a valid and reliable instrument to all first-semester students enrolled at our NLGCAs. Regarding enrollment factors, we found that: (1) students most frequently used degree program information on a university website to help make their enrollment decision; (2) cost of attendance was most frequently cited as an "Influential" or "Very influential" university-related factor; (3) career opportunities available for graduates was most frequently cited as an "Influential" or "Very influential" major selection-related factor; (4) a parent or guardian was most frequently cited as an "Influential" or "Very influential" individual-related factor; and the (5) availability of student organizations was most frequently cited as an "Influential" or "Very influential" social interaction-related factor. |
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| ISSN: | 0149-4910 |
