Money, money, money, money.

That's what's first and foremost on the minds of America's incoming freshman, according to the latest Cooperative Institutional Research Program Freshman Survey administered, in part, by UCLA.

According to the numbers …

… nearly 60 percent of freshman — the highest figure yet recorded — were not attending their first choice of a school as a result of cost.

More than 13 percent, another high, said they couldn't afford their first choice, according to the survey.

Two out of three new students said the economy affected their choice of where to attend school, according to the university.

Credit: UCLA / Facebook

Credit: UCLA / Facebook

And nearly 88 percent said their main goal in attending college was “to be able to get a better job,” UCLA says: Nearly 75 percent said the ability “to make more money” was a top reason to go to college.

Nearly 81 percent, another all-time high, said being well-off financially was a top personal goal.

Sylvia Hurtado, director of the the Higher Education Research Institute, which also administered the survey, says:

Students have figured out that increased lifetime earnings result from a college education. It is important to continue to encourage a long-term view of the benefits of college in this recovering economy.

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

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