FACTORS INFLUENCING STUDENTS' DECISIONS TO STUDY IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

Abstract— The purpose of this research was to study the factors affecting the students' decisions to study in higher education institutions. The sample group used in the study was 400 first-year undergraduate students in the academic year 2021 of Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, using stratified sampling method. The research tool is a questionnaire. Statistics used in data analysis were frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and multiple regression analysis. The results of the research revealed that factors affecting students' decisions to study undergraduate degrees in Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, overall opinions were at a high level. The image of the university is the most important factor, followed by curriculum and teaching management, instructors and personnel, social influence, public relations, and physical environment, respectively. In addition, the results of the hypothesis test revealed that the factors affecting the students' decisions to study undergraduate degrees were the image of the university, curriculum and teaching management, instructors and personnel, and physical environment with the statistically significant at 0.05. While the factor of public relations and social influence had no influence on the students' decisions to study undergraduate degrees in Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University.