ORCID Identifier(s)

0009-0005-5329-4983

Graduation Semester and Year

2023

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Department

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

First Advisor

Maria Trache

Abstract

As first-generation students make the decision to pursue postsecondary education and choose a specific college, they are currently met with the reality of rising tuition costs and a student loan debt crisis. First-generation students come often from low socio-economic backgrounds and their comprehension of the higher education financial system can vary significantly. This quantitative study uses data from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 to examine the financial factors that contribute to first-generation students’ postsecondary education participation and choice by age 22. The guiding theoretical framework is Bourdieu's theory of capital that supports the notion that acquisition of college finance capital can be beneficial to navigate the higher education financial system. In addition, Gudmunson and Danes’ (2011) theory of financial socialization contends that children's financial well-being will be related continuously and over the course of their lives to what children learn (and do not learn) about money from their parents. Findings from this study confirm financial socialization and college finance capital factors seem to have an impact on both participation and choice in higher education.

Keywords

First-generation, Financial aid, Financial literacy, Financial socialization, College choice, Postsecondary education

Disciplines

Education | Educational Leadership

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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