Revisiting the Role of the Institution: A Multilevel Approach to Determine How Structural Characteristics and Institutional Climate Impact Degree Attainment for low-Income Students

• In Event: Postsecondary Experiences of Low-Income Students and Families

Abstract

Using multi-institutional data from the Cooperative Institutional Research Program’s (CIRP) 2004 freshmen survey, CIRP’s 2004 Faculty Survey, degree completion data from the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), and IPEDS data, we examine 4-year and 6-year degree attainment for low-income students in the U.S. Through merging these data sources, we create a unique dataset that allows us to analyze how institutional characteristics, particularly revenue and expenditure patterns and aggregated financial aid characteristics, and student and faculty perceived retention climates influence degree completion. We use Hierarchical Generalized Linear Modeling (HGLM) for the dichotomous outcome variables in our analyses to examine the overall impact of the institution, net of students’ characteristics and abilities, financial resources, commitments, and social and academic experiences in college.

Authors

• Ray Franke, University of Massachusetts - Boston

• Linda Deangelo, University of Pittsburgh