Persistence From Freshman to Sophomore Year Among First-Generation Students in Community College
Year: 2026
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The problem addressed in this study was that approximately 25% of first generation college students (FGCS) do not persist to the second year in community colleges across the United States.Grounded in Bean and Metzner's nontraditional undergraduate student attrition model, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the factors that influenced the persistence of FGCS from freshman to sophomore year.For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with nine participants who were at least 18 years of age and identified as FGCS enrolled in their sophomore year.The thematic analysis revealed four emerging themes: FGCS credited their success to ( a) internal motivation fueled by a personal 'Why'; (b) institutional support through active participation in services; (c) community college attributes, such as flexibility and clear career paths; and (d) external support from family and community connections.Based on these findings, the implications for positive social change are that college administrators could strategically leverage these findings, which might improve FGCS persistence and thereby improve institutional stability by reducing appropriations.Successful students might benefit by completing their college degree and securing their career pathway.
Source: ScholarWorks (Walden University)
Author: Stellmacher, Monica D
Institution: Walden University
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7168439165