Choice of institutions of higher education and academic expectations: the impact of cost-benefit factors

This research delves into the reasons and expectations, indicated by three samples of MA students—16 attending a state university, 26 a private college, and 21 an extension of a foreign university, all located in Israel—for choosing an institution of higher education. It was assumed that high cost (tuition) motivates development of high expectations regarding the benefits to be gained in terms of professional interest, teaching quality and completion of a degree. Unexpectedly an absolute majority of students in the private college and the extension noted convenience rather than professional interest, teaching excellence or personal or professional enrichment as the main force motivating their choice. In contrast, the majority of reasons noted by the sample of university students were related to interest, professional development and skill acquisition despite the lower expectations regarding the outcomes of their studies.