College students’ votes — which may continue to be a key factor in this year’s presidential election — hinge on social issues, according to a report released this week by a national career-services provider.

A survey conducted by Experience Inc., a career network with members at 3,800 colleges, found that for 42 percent of students, social issues matter most in choosing a candidate.

Twenty-six percent of students ranked the economy first, 24 percent said foreign policy was their top priority, and nine percent picked the environment. In those three categories, students’ biggest concerns were recession, the war in Iraq, and global warming, respectively.

More than half of students want to become involved in political campaigns, in part to advance their careers, the survey also found.