Key Factors That Influence First-Generation College Students To Attend A Historically Black College And University

This study explored the key factors that had the greatest impact on their decision to attend a particular HBCU. Forty to 60-minute semi-structured interviews were conducted with 4 focus groups. The results indicated that cost, campus environment, academic majors, and family were the 4 key factors that influenced their decisions to attend the research institution. From the perspective of cost, the participants, particularly the in-state students, felt as though the university was reasonably priced compared to some of the other schools they saw as an option to attend. Within the campus environment factor many of the participants mentioned the campus environment seemed to be family oriented, thus they felt a connection to the campus when they visited. Family was a 3rd factor. Although their immediate family was important to the participants, none of their immediate family members had gone to college. As a result, participants talked about how many of their family members attended and spoke very highly of the institution. Lastly, academic major was a considered a major factor. The participants decided to attend the institution because their major was offered. The participants in this study were current 1st-generation college students of the research institution.|Keywords: College choice, HBCU, first-generation college students

Grantor dc:publisher

Creighton University

Year dc:date.issued

2017

Author dc:creator

• Alexander, Juan M.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Koonce, Rob

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is retained by the Author. A non-exclusive distribution right is granted to Creighton University and to ProQuest following the publishing model selected above.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10504/114525

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:cdr.creighton.edu:10504/114525