Date of Award

Spring 5-1-2000

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

Rebecca Nickoli

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between student background and financial aid variables and persistence for beginning degree-seeking students enrolled in a twoyear college. A specific goal of this study was to determine the extent to which receipt of student aid, amount of aid received and type of student financial aid received (grants versus loans) influence persistence of students beyond the effect of background variables. To accomplish the purpose of the study, a quantitative research design with logistic regression analysis was used on data from an existing college database at Ivy Tech State College. Cohorts of students from the Fall 1992 and Fall 1997 entering classes were studied. The independent variables in the study included measures of social background characteristics (age, gender, ethnicity, income level), academic preparation level (score on ASSET, MAPS, or COMP ASS placement exam), academic experience variables ( degree objective, cumulative GPA, and enrollment status), and student aid variables (receipt of aid, amount of aid, and type of aid received). The dependent variable, persistence, was measured as a dichotomous variable (persisters vs. non-persisters). The :findings of the study included: a) aid recipients were equally as likely to persist as non-aid recipients; b) female students had lower odds of persisting; c) odds of persistence increased as GPA increased; d) minority and non-minority students persisted at the same rate; e) the higher the amount of aid received, the higher the odds of persistence; f) the profile of beginning degree seeking students changed between 1992 and 1997; g) in aid recipients, part-time enrolled students were more likely to persist than full-time enrolled students; and h) aid recipients in the Fall 1997 Cohort were more likely to receive solely loan aid than students in the Fall 1992 Cohort, and conversely, less likely to receive solely grant aid.

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