Study: Cost key in decision to attend college | Interactive Feature

Even though many students are qualified to enroll in postsecondary schools, they may decide not to earn a college degree.

In a recent study conducted by the Institute for Higher Education Policy and supported by The Education Resource Institute, students and guidance counselors cited the high price of college tuition and insufficient financial-aid opportunities as the main reasons many students choose not to enroll in college.

Understanding why some qualified students don't pursue higher education "is an important step to improving college access and success for all students," IHEP President Michelle Cooper said in a press release.

Of the more-than-1,800 college-qualified students who responded to the IHEP survey, approximately 1,000 chose not to enroll in a postsecondary institution.

All students who participated in the study met its minimum standard of college qualification - they had at least a 2.5 grade point average, took a college preparatory curriculum and completed at least one high-level mathematics course.

The study also includes responses from more than 600 college guidance counselors.

Over 80 percent of those who opted not to attend college and over 70 percent of guidance counselors said the availability of grant aid was "extremely" or "very" important in college enrollment decisions.

In fact, because of financial concerns, most of the surveyed students did not even begin to take steps to enroll in college.

Of the students who did not enroll, only 15 percent applied to a school, 12 percent applied for financial aid and only 10 percent took the SAT.

Many of these students described "an aversion to borrowing" loans, Willis Hulings, president and CEO of TERI, said.

At Penn, taking on student loans will soon be one less worry for potential students.

Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, all undergraduate students eligible for financial aid will receive loan-free packages.

Penn has several other programs intended to reach out to low-income students and let them know that financial aid is available.

Penn partnered with QuestBridge, a non-profit program that links low-income students with scholarship opportunities at top colleges, for the first time this year.

In addition, Penn is participating in a College Board pilot program that helps schools recruit students from low-income backgrounds.

These programs demonstrate the University's "commitment to identify and enroll deserving students from economically deprived backgrounds," Dean of Admissions Eric Furda said.

According to the IHEP study, another main reason college-qualified students do not enroll is because "there is pressure to continue to work," Hulings said. "Students see money as a must, especially if they are supporting themselves."

He said the study raises the question of whether college is right for everyone.

"We know today from studies that 80 to 90 percent of employers are looking for people to have education beyond secondary school," Hulings said.

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