What Are the Driving Factors of Successful Low-Income Students?

• In Event: 18.027 - Success for Underrepresented Students in Higher Education

Abstract

This study examines low-income schools that were successful in OnRamps, an innovative dual enrollment program created by The University of Texas at Austin. The program has enrolled over 20,000 students since its inception in 2011 and partnered with more than 70 school districts across Texas in 2017-18. Participation in dual enrollment and dual credit programs has been linked to higher college completion rates, increased familiarity with higher education expectations, and increased likelihood of attending a 4-year institution of higher education (Adelman, 1999; Hugo, 2003; Karp & Hughes, 2008). Consequently, this study aims to identify and understand why certain students in low-income schools succeed in a rigorous dual enrollment program.

Author

• Shruti Khandekar, The University of Texas at Austin