Navigating Financial Aid Black Students at a Predominately White Institution

• In Event: 73.033 - Financial and Socioeconomic Factors Affecting College Student Success

Abstract

I interviewed over 30 African American juniors and seniors at a private and predominately white institution of higher education to ascertain their understanding and experiences of financial aid. The experiences and backgrounds of the African American students at this predominately white private institution are wide in variety and far from static. While engaging in a constant comparative analysis, three concepts emerged about how African American students of different socioeconomic statuses interpret 1) financial aid at their school 2) the necessity of learning about financial aid and 3) their identity in relation to financial aid.

Author

• Antar Akari Tichavakunda, University of Southern California