This study addressed the college and career choices of international graduate students in the United States, particularly those in the STEM fields. International graduate students receive a large percentage of STEM advanced degrees earned at U.S. colleges and universities. The international demand for higher education in the United States creates…

For years, the impending enrollment cliff has been a regular topic amongst higher education officials. With this event slated to hit undergraduate programs by 2025, it is anticipated that graduate schools will begin feeling the impact by 2029. By examining factors influencing graduate student college choice, enrollment managers can identify ways…

This phenomenological study explores the experiences of Black, first-generation (first-gen) students pursuing advanced degrees at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), following the COVID-19 pandemic and racial justice movements like Black Lives Matter. Additionally, this study examines the present-day motivations to pursue…

American Christian higher education has undergone a transformation in ideology since its inception in the Colonial Period. Christian service by students was originally attributed to the manifestation of one's love for Christ, but with successive eras, there has been a secular shift in worldview and discourse as well as service motivation from the…

Doctoral student socialization is the most popular theoretical lens for understanding doctoral education. Socialization perspectives have illuminated the complex processes doctoral students undergo within their doctoral programs. Very little attention has focused on forces external to doctoral education. This study highlighted the ways in which 35…

Beginning in the early 1980s, reduction in the funding of education has been a trend. As a solution to the funding issue, colleges and universities have turned towards tuition to make up the deficit; therefore, a need arises to enroll more students. Marketing higher education programs has now become an integral part to raising enrollment to meet…

In recent years, university-based Intensive English Programs (IEPs) have expanded to serve the growing population of international students who wish to earn their degrees at U.S. universities. Many of these IEPs have shifted their focus to assist these academically bound international students by functioning as a bridge to enrollment in American…

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were established with the main objective of identifying and empowering people of African descent. Over the years, these institutions have grown, enrolling 16% of Black high school graduates and during graduation, almost 20% of African-American graduates. Using a qualitative study design, the…

Every year, potential graduate students hunt through websites and promotional materials searching for the perfect program to fit their needs. The search requires time and patience, especially for those future scholars who seek a doctoral program in Education Policy Studies (EPS) with a focus on interacting with the policymaking process. The…

This research study evaluated graduate orientation programs offered at private institutions of higher education in a New England state. Matriculated master's degree candidates participated in a survey to determine if participation in graduate orientation influenced first semester satisfaction with their college choice. Supporting the…

Institutions of higher learning are experiencing increased difficulty managing the quantity and quality of their graduate student populations (Kallio, 1995). Currently the most important informational resource for potential students engaged in the graduate school search process is the Web (Huddleston & Drexel, 2006). Previous research has…

Using narrative data collected through semi-structured phone interviews with eleven "graduate(d) student athletes," this dissertation examines participants' academic trajectories and experiences. Theories regarding role-conflict, attribution, college choice and career maturity undergird analysis. Findings are divided into four chapters:…