Barry Render

A spatial interaction model for the allocation of higher education enrollments

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to present the results of research efforts in developing an enrollment forecasting system for the State of Ohios higher education system. The model constructed employs the concept of spatial interaction in attempting to determine the “market share” which each of the 60 competing public colleges would be able to attract each year. An analogy is drawn between the educational process of college selection and the attraction to shopping centers of residents in surrounding communities. The article also addresses itself to the subjects of data bases, cost function development and the forecasting of actual enrollments at each rank for each institution.