The Influence of Sociocultural and Socioeconomic Factors on Academic Success of Community College Students
(CSU, Fullerton)
The career possibilities for young people in the United States are limited if they don’t obtain a college education. A young person’s outlook for a meaningful adult life can be directly affected by getting a college degree. The number of students attending community colleges across the nation has significantly increased over the past decade due to an increase in education costs and high school students’ inability to gain entrance into four year universities right out of high school. The objective of this study is to determine if socioeconomic and sociocultural factors have a direct effect on the academic success and persistence of community college students.
I argue that there are power dynamics between socioeconomic and sociocultural factors which significantly affect community college students’ persistence in school.
It is my goal to continue research on this topic and conduct a longitudinal study over a period of 5-6 years to a cohort of first time students to community colleges in various regional locations in the United States. This longitudinal study would follow students on through their baccalaureate transfer experience.