Student expectations and experiences in higher education: A comparison of state and private universities in Germany

Abstract

In this chapter, the authors analyze various factors influencing students’ choice of higher education institutions in Germany. Private universities offer small classes and strong alumni networks to compete with state universities. Using a cross-sectional analysis, the selection and evaluation criteria of students in both state and private universities are compared in terms of ranked importance. The results reveal that perceived employability is rated as more important for private universities than for state universities. Similarly, academic reputation and company connections are rated as more important for private universities than for state universities. These results are not surprising because students at private universities normally expect a reasonable return on their investment by paying higher tuition fees.