The Link of Academic/Social Integration and Degree Completion of First-Generation College Students

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 16
  In Roundtable Session: College Student Retention: Barrier and Boosters

Abstract

This work highlights the effect of academic and social integration of first-generation college students on their degree obtainment in four-year institutions. Based on Bean’s (1990) attrition model, it examined the relationships between the main variables within and across institutions. Through a multilevel regression technique, the results showed that the first-generation status predicted a lower level of third-year academic integration in every institution compared to their peers. Regarding social integration, the effect of an average level of parental education became more dominant in their third-year social integration. For both groups of first-generation students and students whose parents had at least a BA degree, the third-year academic integration was a significant factor to help them to persist unto their degree obtainment.

Author

• Hyun Ju Park, The Pennsylvania State University