An analysis of supports for persistence for the military student population

Abstract

This study sought to describe the correlation of academic, financial, and social supports to the persistence of a military student population: veterans, active duty and their families. The study also contrasted these relationships with those of nonmilitary students and looked at the results of both groups together to determine how supports correlated to persistence. Results confirmed the emphasis in the persistence literature on the importance of academic support mechanisms and noted their positive relationship to the military student population. Financial supports varied for the military student population, nonmilitary population and the overall group, with the military student population being negatively impacted by loans, nonmilitary students by university scholarships and the overall group by government grants and aid. An additional finding of this study was that institutional support emerged as a key support mechanism. This study recommends enhancing academic and institutional support for the military student population to reinforce their persistence.