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Identifying Barriers to Success: College Persistence and First-Generation Students

Maciel, Miranda Eileen
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1732057699033241

Abstract Details

2024, Doctor of Education , University of Dayton, Educational Administration.
This dissertation studies the educational journeys of first-generation college students at Sonoran Catholic High School, a Catholic diocese in the Southwest Region Diocese in the U.S. The school serves predominantly Hispanic students and families, with over 80% of its students identifying as first-generation (first in their families to attend college). While Catholic institutions boast high secondary graduation and college enrollment rates, first-generation students face distinct challenges. National statistics indicate that only 27% of these students complete their degrees within four years, in contrast to their non-first-generation peers. Internal data from Sonoran Catholic reveals a troubling decline in four-year graduation rates, alongside a significant decrease in students persisting beyond their second year of college. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study integrates quantitative data analysis from a survey and qualitative interviews to explore the self-identified internal and external factors affecting the college persistence of Sonoran Catholic alumni from the graduating classes of 2015 - 2018. The identified barriers include financial strain, lack of support, balance, and the implications of first-generation student status. The qualitative interviews with alumni provide deeper insights into these challenges, highlighting personal experiences students faced with these barriers. The findings of this research culminate in a program designed to empower students and families by addressing these obstacles and fostering college success. By understanding and addressing the specific needs of first-generation students, this study aims to contribute to the broader discourse on educational equity and access, ultimately promoting improved outcomes for future generations of Sonoran Catholic graduates.
Aaliyah Baker, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
89 p.
Education; Higher Education
First-Generation; College Preparation; Nepantla; Intersectionality

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Maciel, M. E. (2024). Identifying Barriers to Success: College Persistence and First-Generation Students [Doctoral dissertation, University of Dayton]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1732057699033241

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Maciel, Miranda. Identifying Barriers to Success: College Persistence and First-Generation Students. 2024. University of Dayton, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1732057699033241.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Maciel, Miranda. "Identifying Barriers to Success: College Persistence and First-Generation Students." Doctoral dissertation, University of Dayton, 2024. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1732057699033241

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

dayton1732057699033241
36
© 2024, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Dayton and OhioLINK.