Determinants of Final-Year High School Students’ Decisions in Selecting University Study Programs

Yusuf Istanto; Sri Mulyani; Evanita Evanita

doi:10.58905/jse.v7i1.775

Authors

Yusuf Istanto Universitas Muria Kudus, Indonesia
Sri Mulyani Universitas Muria Kudus, Indonesia
Evanita Evanita Universitas Muria Kudus, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58905/jse.v7i1.775

Keywords:

Study program selection, higher education institution, career prospects, personal interest, parental support

Abstract

Final-year high school students’ decisions in selecting university study programs have become increasingly complex amid the rapid growth of higher education institutions and the demand for alignment with labor market requirements. Although prior studies have examined individual determinants, research integrating multiple factors into a single structural model within a specific regional context remains limited. This study analyzes the determinants of Grade XII students’ study program selection decisions by examining the influence of higher education institution factors, career prospects, location, personal interest, and parental support in the Pati Residency region. A quantitative survey was conducted on 473 senior and vocational high school students, and the data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 3. The results reveal that higher education institution factors, career prospects, and parental support positively influence students’ decisions, with institutional perception emerging as the most dominant determinant, whereas location and personal interest show no significant effect. These findings indicate that students’ decisions are driven more by institutional and rational-economic considerations reinforced by family support than by geographical or intrinsic factors. The study extends the Theory of Planned Behavior to educational decision-making and offers strategic im-plications for study program development.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

I. A. Aziz, “Benarkah Jumlah Perguruan Tinggi di Indonesia Terlalu Banyak?,” GoodStats Data. Accessed: Feb. 14, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://data.goodstats.id/statistic/benarkah-jumlah-perguruan-tinggi-di-indonesia-terlalu-banyak-tL6hl

A. Abdalnabi, S. Daraghmeh, and A. Hawash, “Fuzzy Logic in Suggesting The Appropriate University Major for Students According to Their Preferences,” in 2022 International Conference on Computer Engineering, Network, and Intelligent Multimedia (CENIM), Nov. 2022, pp. 252–258. doi: 10.1109/CENIM56801.2022.10037457.

A. Manchekar, H. Gaikwad, and A. Gaikwad, “Career Forecast System,” Int. J. Res. Appl. Sci. Eng. Technol., vol. 10, no. 11, pp. 1150–1155, Nov. 2022, doi: 10.22214/ijraset.2022.47536.

M. N. Efendi, “Puluhan Siswa Pati Penyandang Difasilitasi Kuliah Kedinasan - Suara Merdeka Muria,” Puluhan Siswa Pati Penyandang Difasilitasi Kuliah Kedinasan - Suara Merdeka Muria. Accessed: Feb. 19, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://muria.suaramerdeka.com/pendidikan/0716458358/puluhan-siswa-pati-penyandang-difasilitasi-kuliah-kedinasan

databoks.katadata.co.id, “71,040 Pati Residents Have Higher Education as of December 2023 | Pusat Data Ekonomi dan Bisnis Indonesia | Databoks.” Accessed: Feb. 19, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://databoks.katadata.co.id/en/demographics/statistics/ada5c91d4c15e46/71040-pati-residents-have-higher-education-as-of-december-2023

R. Zulfikar, N. Suryadi, Y. V. Prasarry, S. Barqiah, and Dedy, “Penggunaan Theory of Planned Behavior dalam Kajian Perilaku Konsumen Hijau,” JKBM J. KONSEP BISNIS DAN Manaj., vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 28–41, Nov. 2023, doi: 10.31289/jkbm.v10i1.10496.

E. J. Acevedo and M. L. Matriz, “Assessing Program Satisfaction and Employment Outcomes Among Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Graduates of Notre Dame of Jolo College,” Eur. Sci. J. ESJ, vol. 21, no. 10, pp. 94–94, Apr. 2025, doi: 10.19044/esj.2025.v21n10p94.

J. Li, “The Impact of Perceived Behavioral Control and Subjective Norms on the Adoption of Online Learning in Chinese Folk Dance Courses,” Pak. J. Life Soc. Sci. PJLSS, vol. 22, no. 2, 2024, doi: 10.57239/PJLSS-2024-22.2.000185.

Z. Darajat and I. W. Sakti, “The Influence of Accreditation, Promotion, Location, and Facilities on Decision-Making in Choosing the S1 Management Study Program at Widyatama University,” Int. J. Humanit. Educ. Soc. Sci. IJHESS, vol. 4, no. 3, Dec. 2024, Accessed: Feb. 19, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://ijhess.com/index.php/ijhess/article/view/1431

V. T. T. Dung and L. M. Chien, “Job Opportunities for Students in their Major after Graduation - A Case Study at Da Lat University,” VNU J. Sci. Policy Manag. Stud., vol. 39, no. 4, Dec. 2023, doi: 10.25073/2588-1116/vnupam.4455.

A. Tadjibaeva, “From Participation to Passion: Enhancing Motivation and Engagement in the Classroom,” Feb. 14, 2025, Preprints: 2025021124. doi: 10.20944/preprints202502.1124.v1.

A. Ramadhan, H. Handayani, and D. Rahdiani, “The Influence of Parents Support to Children on the Result of Student Competency Test Achievements,” presented at the International Conference on Educational Assessment and Policy (ICEAP 2020), Atlantis Press, Apr. 2021, pp. 86–89. doi: 10.2991/assehr.k.210423.069.

S. Brownie, A.-R. Yan, P. Broman, L. Comer, and D. Blanchard, “Geographic location of students and course choice, completion, and achievement in higher education: A scoping review,” Equity Educ. Soc., vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 92–112, Apr. 2025, doi: 10.1177/27526461231200280.

J. F. Hair, J. J. Risher, M. Sarstedt, and C. M. Ringle, “When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM,” Eur. Bus. Rev., vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 2–24, Jan. 2019, doi: 10.1108/EBR-11-2018-0203.

Muh. S. Hidayat and Y. Yusuf, “The Influence of Facilities, Study Program Image and Word of Mouth on Students’ Decisions in Choosing a Management Study Program (S2) Faculty of Economics and Business Halu Oleo University Kendari,” Int. J. Adv. Eng. Manag., vol. 6, no. 11, pp. 671–680, Nov. 2024, doi: 10.35629/5252-0611671680.

A. Puspitasari and F. D. Patrikha, “Analisis Faktor-Faktor Yang Mempengaruhi Keputusan Pemilihan Universitas Pada Siswa Kelas XII SMA Negeri 22 Surabaya,” JPEKA J. Pendidik. Ekon. Manaj. Dan Keuang., vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 1–10, Jun. 2018, doi: 10.26740/jpeka.v2n1.p1-10.

I. Y. Basri, M. Giatman, N. Syah, and E. Elfina, “Analysis of student decision factors in choosing a study program,” J. Kependidikan Penelit. Inov. Pembelajaran, Nov. 2024, doi: 10.21831/jk.v7i2.62110.

S. A. Putri and N. Umami, “Analisis Pengambilan Keputusan Mahasiswa Memilih Program Studi Pendidikan Ekonomi Universitas Bhinneka PGRI Tulungagung Tahun Akademik 2024/2025,” AKSIOMA J. Sains Ekon. Dan Edukasi, vol. 2, no. 7, pp. 1610–1622, Jul. 2025, doi: 10.62335/aksioma.v2i7.1492.

M. Ali, “Relevansi Pengambilan Keputusan Memilih Jurusan PAUD Mahasiswa Laki-Laki dengan Career Outcome Expectations,” WISDOM J. Pendidik. Anak Usia Dini, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 60–81, Jun. 2024, doi: 10.21154/wisdom.v5i1.8820.

R. Dorot and N. Davidovitch, “Parental influence on adult children’s choice of career,” SCIREA J. Educ., vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 263–286, Nov. 2023, doi: 10.54647/education880498.

A. A. Sebayang, Z. M. Hazaa, A. Faisal, and I. H. Sirait, “Analysis of Determinant Factors in Student Decision Making in Choosing a Study Program in a Pesantren-based College,” Nidhomul Haq J. Manaj. Pendidik. Islam, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 557–569, Aug. 2025, doi: 10.31538/ndhq.v10i2.164.

J. Janio, J. Janio, J. Ayudtod, S. L. Quilang, and J. Salait, “The Role of Parental Support in Career Decision-Making among Grade 12 Students of Malitbog, Bukidnon for the School Year 2024-2025,” DITADS Int. Multidiscip. Res. J., p. 74, Apr. 2025, doi: 10.63941/DIT.ADSimrj.2025.05.

D. Ananda, H. Sofyani, and R. Amalia, “Faktor – Faktor Yang Mempengaruhi Keputusan Mahasiswa Dalam Memilih Program Studi Akuntansi,” J. Akunt. Inov., vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 129–147, Jul. 2024, doi: 10.59330/jai.v2i2.45.

F. N. Romadhon, S. Putra, A. Budiriyanto, E. Winanto, and J. Widodo, “Determinasi Religiusitas, Lokasi, dan Faktor Sosial dalam Pemilihan Program Studi Bahasa Arab di STIM Surakarta,” Nusant. J. Pendidik. Indones., vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 165–177, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.14421/njpi.2023.v3i1-9.