Purpose and Method of Study: This study focused on the relationship between the cost of undergraduate education (COUE) and graduation rates in four-year institutions in Oklahoma. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the cost of undergraduate education (COUE) and graduation rates at four-year higher education…

Greater educational attainment is associated with an increase in expected income, lowering of internal discount rates, and improved financial and health literacy. Income transfers have the potential to positively impact educational attainment by either reducing the direct cost of college attendance or by an inducing an income effect that nudges…

Enrollment of underrepresented African American (URAA) males in higher education has declined significantly over the last decades. Past studies have identified interrelated factors that impact degree attainment for underrepresented students. Researchers typically attribute those factors to African American males' success and degree attainment.…

This study focused on the historical perspectives surrounding first-year African American male students at both Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). Through an examination of archival documents, narratives, and scholarly analyses, this research illuminated the evolving perceptions of…

While higher education has been known as the great equalizer, the racial wealth gap of college graduates is overlooked: Among college-educated households (2013) the median net worth was $359,928 for white households; $250,637 for Asian households; $49,606 for Hispanic households; and $32,780 households for Black households. Although MSIs…

This dissertation examines relations between education-related self-beliefs and socioeconomic (SES)-based disparities in education. SES academic achievement gaps are a serious problem in the United States; however, they are not fully accounted for by objective family resources alone. I build from the premise that there is a subjective,…

Low student completion rates have increased pressure on college and university administrators across the country to raise retention and graduation rates and have forced the review of many practices on campus. This qualitative study aimed to examine the effects of financial aid on higher educational persistence among African American males.…

The purpose of this quantitative study is to investigate the funding equitably across community college districts in Michigan. Pursuant to this investigation, the disproportionate effect that community college funding has on underserved populations was examined. This research utilized a quantitative approach, including descriptive statistics,…

Social determinants of health (SDH) are social and economic systems that directly contribute to health disparities and inequalities. This study examined SDH and their relation to education, also an SDH. The relationship between SDH and online undergraduate achievement, as measured by grade-point average (GPA), was studied. Cumulative inequality is…

First-generation low-income students are faced with many challenges during their transition to college. Early involvement is critical for their success. The purpose of this research was to discover the impact that Student Support Services had on first-generation low-income students' retention. The purpose was to determine if student's GPAs, family…

Using data collected from the United States Census and the National Center for Educational Statistics, the purpose of this study was to examine the causal effect of wealth and its impact on the higher education outcome of low-income Black students. A quantile threshold model was used to investigate the effect of household wealth on low-income,…

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the impact of an undergraduate short-term experiential learning nutrition course on influencing students' perceptions toward individuals experiencing poverty and food insecurity (FI). The Undergraduate Perception of Poverty Tracking Survey (UPPTS) was the tool used to measure perception. Student…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to discuss the predictability between demographic, academic, and family-related factors on the retention rate of freshman college students. The researcher analyzed, through statistical analysis, each student's high school grade point average, first-semester grade point average, ACT/SAT scores, mother's…

Attainment of advanced (graduate and professional) degrees provides benefits for individuals including higher earnings, access to high status occupations, and social standing, all factors in social mobility. These benefits are in addition to those from attainment of the bachelor's degree. Over time, advanced degree holders have been increasing…

The Uniformed Services University (USU) created the Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program (EMDP2) in 2014 with the goal of diversifying their student body. The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether certain independent variables (gender, age, race/ethnicity, underrepresented in medicine (URM) status, years of military…