Access to private career colleges: an investigation into students' decision to apply for admission

Toor, Arif M. (2015) Access to private career colleges: an investigation into students' decision to apply for admission. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

Private career colleges have been around for more than one hundred (100) years and play an important role in Canadian post secondary education. It is only recently that researchers are attempting to know more about the composition of private colleges and type of students who enroll in the programs they offer. The purpose of this study was to explore students’ decision making process towards private career college programs in Canada and to investigate factors that affect their decision. This study used a qualitative research methodology involving 16 randomly selected students from a private career college in Toronto, Ontario. Analyses of the data collected through semi-structured interviews using open ended questions revealed that a majority of the students in this private career college were female and selected post secondary education programs to enhance their skills in order to meet job market requirements. They shared distinct characteristics, and self identified as having evaluated available alternatives when making college selection and were satisfied with the outcome of their decisions.

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