Apparently future college students are not going to their dream schools, but rather schools they can afford, according to a survey from NACAC:

• Seventy-one percent of respondents indicated an increase in the number of students foregoing their “dream schools” in favor of more affordable options. Counselors at public schools were more likely to report an increase compared to those at private schools.
• Nearly 60 percent of respondents indicated an increase in the number of students planning to enroll in public versus private colleges in Fall 2009, as compared to Fall 2008 numbers. Thirty-five percent reported no change.
• Thirty-seven percent of respondents indicated an increase in the number of students planning to enroll in community colleges versus four-year colleges.
• Almost 40 percent of respondents indicated that the average number of applications per student had increased from 2007-08 levels. Forty-six percent indicated no change.
• Counselors at public schools were more likely to report changes in student behaviors than those at private schools,
• including increases in number foregoing “dream school,” number delaying postsecondary education, enrolling in public versus private colleges, and enrolling in community colleges versus four-year colleges. In fact, counselors at public schools were three times as likely to report both increases in delay of postsecondary education percent) and community college versus four-year college enrollment (63 percent versus 21 percent).
• Only 15 percent of respondents indicated an increase in the number of students planning to delay postsecondary education for financial reasons. Eighty-four percent reported no change.
• Counselors at schools with higher percentages of students eligible for the Free and Reduced Price Lunch program (FRPL) were more likely to report increases in the number of students delaying postsecondary education or opting to attend a community college instead of a four-year institution.