Hi,

I'm trying to do some market research on what products and services
the college population is buying.  I am really trying to understand
their buying habits from the necessities to fringe purchases (specific
products to broad categories).  I would also be interested in knowing
which websites college students frequent the most, broken up by
category (i.e. retail, informational, etc, etc (again specific sites
and broad categories).  Any CURRENT trends, articles and market
research would be greatly appreciated in both subjects.

Thank you in advance.  
David

<A study carried out in April 2000 into the spending habits of
students at Ohio State University found that students spent their
money as follows:
 97 % - eating out
80% - going to the movies, renting videos and, buying clothes.
70 % - alcohol
60 % - CDs and pleasure reading
50% - attending athletic events
Full details of the study can be seen at 
http://studentaffairs.osu.edu/assessment/PDFs/spendinghabits/general.pdf

What students do online.
The Pulsefinder On-Campus Market Study shows that over 90 % of
students own a computer. Over two-thirds have downloaded software with
games being the most popular application (69%). Yahoo games is the top
games site on the internet. A ranking of the top 10 games websites is
given at  http://www.wisecat.com/pages/games.htm

81% of students have made online purchases.
The most popular items are CD’s (64%), books (58%), clothing (42
percent) and event tickets (32%). Most students buy their books from
Amazon.com. For more details see
http://www.sellingtoschools.com/advice/articles/bmoc.html

What students want to buy.
CD-ROM based games are top of their wish list of items they plan to
buy.
Digital cameras are the top accessory they want to buy. 
The most wanted computer items are printers and scanners.


Where students shop.
According to Student Watch, students shop most often in supermarkets.
Other survey results can be found at
http://www.campus-clients.com/Audience/audience.html>

Popular college student websites:
College club.com
http://www.collegeclub.com/

Student.com 
http://www.student.com/

College sports.com
http://www.collegesports.com/


Student Advantage is a website that works in partnership with over
1100 college, universities and campus organisations and more than
15,000 merchant locations to develop products and services that enable
students to make purchases less expensively and more conveniently on
and around campus. http://www.studentadvantage.com/buyandsave/>


<Additional links>

<Campus College students – internet habits>
<http://www.e-learning.nl/nieuws/nieuwsbericht.asp?ID=123>

<78% of students do their back to school shopping online>
<http://www.gcis.ca/english/cdne-239-aug-19-2002.html>

<Yahoo games>
<http://games.yahoo.com/>

<Amazon.com>
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/subst/home/home.html/102-8752927-2120103>



<Search strategy>

<"college students" "spending habits">
<://www.google.com/search?q=%22college+students%22+%22spending+habits%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=20&sa=N>

<"college students"  "online habits">
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=+%22college+students%22++%22online+habits%22>

<Hope this helps.>

---

Request for Answer Clarification by dwk020-ga on 10 Mar 2003 08:55 PST

Hi Belindalevez,

I think you've done a decent job with providing answers to the broad
market habits of college students, but can you provide more detail on
specific prodcuts college students are buying?  Moreover, I was hoping
to know the major products as well as the fringe purchases.  For
example, you mention cd rom games.  I would love to know which games
they are buying if there are any trends to be seen.  If possible a top
25-100 list of specific brands and products would be best of all the
products they are purchasing.

Also I didn't think you really answered the question about what
websites college students are surfing to.  Can you provide a list of
the top 25 or 100.  Perhaps you have access to Media Metrix or
something of the same nature.  Furthermore, in regards to wisecat.  Is
that the top 10 games for college students or is that the top 10 games
downloaded for all age groups?  I am looking for concrete data and
research that lists specific sites and categories that college
students are interested in.

If there isn't a specific demographic that lists college students then
the next best thing would be 18-25 year olds.

I hope this helps to further clarify what I am after.

Thank you.

---

Clarification of Answer by belindalevez-ga on 13 Mar 2003 02:58 PST

<Sites most visited by students can be found at Jobtrack.com. This
lists two categories. Students targeted sites and general sites most
visited by college students.
http://static.jobtrak.com/mediacenter/press/ranked_030699.html


Despite an extensive search I can’t find details of specific titles
that students are buying. However the best selling CD-Rom games are
listed at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/229575/ref=vg_hp_ls_1_9/102-8752927-2120103

The wisecat figures apply to games sites in general.>


<Additional links:>

<Survey of students>
<http://www.tulane.edu/~tuhulla/19981002/news/surveyj.shtml>


<Hope this helps.>

Very good answer.  It has difficult and the research did his/her very best