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A new study by higher education consulting firm Noel-Levitz found that college students today are generally more satisfied than their counterparts from 15 years ago.

The study, entitled "National Student Satisfaction and Priorities 15-Year Trend Report," compares responses to Noel-Levitz's Student Satisfaction Inventory survey, instrument by hundreds of thousands of students in 1995 and 2010.

Student satisfaction, the study found, increased across four-year colleges and universities as well as two-year public institutions. Four-year public institutions had the most significant positive shift in overall student satisfaction, increasing 10 percent from 47 percent in 1995 to 57 percent in 2010. Career and private schools were the only sector with a decline in student satisfaction, dropping from 58 percent to 54 percent.

How college costs factor in

When it comes to tuition, still only 44 percent of students at private four-year colleges and universities in 2010 said student tuition was a worthwhile investment. At four-year public colleges and universities, 52 percent said so.

The study also examined the issues that affect a student's decision to attend a given institution. Cost and financial aid were the top two factors in enrollment at public two-year colleges and public four-year colleges. At four-year private colleges and universities, financial aid was the leading factor, followed by academic reputation and cost.

A look at the student body

At four-year public, four-year private, and career institutions, the proportion of African American students increased from 1995 to 2010 by an average of 4 to 11 percent, while the proportion of Hispanic students increased by an average of 4 to 6 percent.

Across all institution types, more students were enrolling full time and fewer were working part time in 2010 than in 1995.

"These shifts in our study reflect overall shifts in higher education," Julie Bryant, associate vice president for retention solutions at Noel-Levitz and head of the research project, said in a statement. "Campuses are seeing greater diversity in the student body. As far as enrollment and working goes, that result could stem from fewer employment opportunities for students in today's job market, as well as a greater urgency to complete one's degree in order to minimize the cost to attend and get into a career."

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