Gen Z is less likely to care about prestigious reputations, location, or campus life when choosing a college.

Gen Z is less likely to care about prestigious reputations, location, or campus life when choosing a college. With hybrid and online-only school environments becoming the new normal in the last year and a half, young people who are considering pursuing higher education are reassessing what factors will really set them up for success. According to a survey conducted by Tallo (an online career platform), more than half of respondents say they’re selecting a post-secondary institution based on their academics or majors, and 22% are selecting institutions based on financial aid and scholarships. Pre-COVID, colleges / universities “prided themselves on their admission selectivity, their location, and their campus life,” notes Casey Welch, co-founder and chief executive at Tallo, but now students are looking for what colleges have to offer when you take away the physical aspects, like how much debt they’ll accrue during their learning years or what schools will help them score their ideal jobs post-grad. Welch says colleges that provide high-quality education, flexible pathways, and career services will win over aspiring college students in the future. YPulse’s education research found that tuition cost is the most important factor when choosing a college among middle and high school students who are interested in pursuing higher education. (University Business)