Factors Influencing First-Year College Students’ Choice of Food-Related Program

The aim of this research was to determine the motivating factors of freshmen students in taking food-related programs at the Cebu Technological University-Main Campus and Cebu Eastern College Inc. during Academic Year 20252026. The data was gathered using a quantitative descriptive correlational design on 100 first-year students with majors in Hospitality Management, Food Service Management, and Industrial Technology, majoring in Food Preparation and Home Economics. The findings revealed that individual concerns like interest, self-efficacy, and compatibility with career goals were the most significant factors that contributed to program selection. Parental, peer, and teacher influence of social factors were also a major contributor. The moderate influence on decision-making was on environmental factors, such as school facilities, exposure to food-related activities, and the reputation of the program. Other factors that influenced the choice of students were economic factors, especially employability, job security, and expectations of income. Statistical analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between factors of influence and demographic factors that were chosen. The findings indicate that better career guidance, more powerful promotional methods, and more effective learning environments are required to help interested individuals in making informed choices about their program selections as new college students.