Influenced by the college’s location and value, most new Carroll Community College students applied for admission only to Carroll. This was among the findings of a survey completed by 262 students attending new student orientation this fall.

For most incoming students, Carroll Community College was their first choice. Nearly nine in ten (88 percent) did not apply to any other colleges or universities. Though especially true for part-time students (95 percent of whom did not apply to any other institutions), this held true for 80 percent of the full-time students as well. For those that did apply elsewhere, the most popular alternatives were Towson University, UMBC, the University of Maryland College Park, Salisbury University, and McDaniel College.

The college’s location near their home or work, and the value offered by the college’s relatively low tuition were the top two reasons students chose to attend Carroll. Half of the entering students also had family members, co-workers, or friends who recommended Carroll based on their experiences in attending.

Other top-rated reasons the students gave for coming to Carroll included the college’s small classes, up-to-date technology, and small campus atmosphere. The competitive advantages promoted in the college’s Better Freshman Year marketing campaign—better learning support, better class size, better technology, and better value—appear to be among the most influential reasons students chose to come to the college.

Two-thirds (68 percent) of the full-time students, and 57 percent of the part-time students, intend to earn an Associate degree at Carroll. Three-fourths of the students new to Carroll this fall plan to transfer and pursue the baccalaureate degree. Full-time students were more likely to be planning to transfer (87 percent), but two-thirds (67 percent) of the part-time students had the same goal.

Ninety-two percent of the new students have access to the Internet at home. Sixty-four percent had accessed the college’s website prior to attending the college.

The new students were asked what sources of information they had used that influenced their choice of college. The class schedules mailed to their homes and other direct mail pieces from the college were most often cited, by 51 percent and 46 percent, respectively. Thirty-six percent indicated the college’s website had been a source. Other marketing efforts cited by more than ten percent of the respondents included giveaway items imprinted with the college’s brandmark, television commercials, the magnets attached to the local phone directory, and Open Houses hosted by the college.

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