It turns out, why a person pursues postsecondary education might be a major factor in predicting whether or not they graduate.

A recent Gallup poll of 86,000 U.S. adults found that 58% reported job and career outcomes as the most important motivating factor for seeking a degree beyond high school. The second-most popular motivation, a general desire to gain knowledge, clocked in at 23%. But perhaps most importantly, those who said they went to college without linking their aspirations to career success were less likely to finish school.

The takeaway? Helping students identify a concrete career goal—even in loose terms—is incredibly important—and shouldn’t be overlooked in the lead-up to enrollment.