International Students' Degree Completion: The Role of Social and Academic Integration and Students' Financial Situation

• In Event: Dynamics of Engagement

Abstract

An increasing number of international students enroll in undergraduate degrees at U.S. postsecondary institutions. However, they experience unique struggles in completing their degree. I investigate what factors predict international students’ completion, with the focus on social and academic integration and students´ financial situation. Preliminary results show that, when adjusting for students’ background characteristics and college experiences, students who were highly integrated academically were more likely to complete their degree six-years after enrollment. However, when correcting for the financial situation of the student, the effect of academic integration was no longer significant. This study aims at creating more insight in the relationship between academic integration and completion for students in different financial situations to support international students in completing their degree.

Author

• Suzan Kommers, University of Massachusetts - Amherst