A new national survey shows the majority of freshmen have at least one serious concern in common.

When it comes to paying tuition bills, almost 67% of first-year students are worried, according to UCLA researchers.

This is the highest percentage to have this concern in 12 years.

Other findings from the study:

• There has been a 4% rise in the number of students with loans
• 4.5% of students said their fathers were without jobs (the highest percentage in 44 years)
• 8% said their mothers were unemployed (the largest number in 30 years)

These concerns appear to reflect a shift in how students are selecting which colleges to attend.

More than half – 56.5% – said their choice of college was partially based on how well grads do in getting hired for good jobs.

Their choice of majors has also been affected. The smallest percentage of freshmen in the past 35 years say they plan to major in a business-related field, falling from last year’s 17% to 14%.

How is your school feeling the impact of students’ financial concerns? Let us know in the comments section below.

Tags: UCLA