Abbas Shayestehfar - Payam e Noor University, Tehran, Iran
Mehran Farajollahi - Payam e Noor University, Tehran, Iran
Bahman Saiedipour - Payam e Noor University, Tehran, Iran

Background: Higher education has a great influence on the growth and development of societies. Several social factors depend on public demand for higher education. Objectives: The purpose of this research is to identify the most important social factors affecting the registration of students at Payam-e-Noor University (PNU). Methods: Two methods were used in order to achieve the research goal. In the first part, an analytical documentary method was used to extract the indicators. In the second part, the least squares regression model, was used for data Undergraduate students were studied at PNU in ۲۰۰۱ - ۲۰۱۴. Results: The results of the research showed that the total population of the country (۰.۱۴۶; P = ۰.۰۴۸) and the high education budget (۰.۲۹۴, P = ۰.۰۷۵) had a positive and significant effect on enrollment at PNU. Total state budget (-۰.۰۱۶, P = ۰.۵۸۲) and the number of secondary school students (-۴.۲۴۱, P = ۰.۳۲۹) had a negative impact on student entrance to PNU. Conclusions: Total state population and higher education budget had a considerable impact on the student population in PNU.

Social Factors, PNU, Open and Distance Education