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Retention And Persistence Of Low-Income, First-Generation Rural College Students From West Virginia, Rachel D. Nieman
Retention And Persistence Of Low-Income, First-Generation Rural College Students From West Virginia, Rachel D. Nieman
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
A considerable body of research demonstrates that first-generation college students face greater obstacles to college retention, persistence and completion compared to their non-first-generation counterparts. However, the extant literature rarely explores rurality as a salient factor to understand these challenges. Even less visible in the literature are the experiences and voices of West Virginians. West Virginia is a predominantly rural state and ranks 49th in the nation in terms of educational attainment, with only 19.6% of residents over the age of 25 having earned at least a bachelor’s degree. While rural areas may experience multifaceted struggles, the educational attainment of …