College students’ satisfaction and sense of belonging: differences between underrepresented groups and the majority groups

Abstract

Student satisfaction and sense of belonging are key to student retention and success. This study investigated undergraduate students’ satisfaction and sense of belonging based on a survey of 2791 students from one predominantly white institution in the southeast United States. The results revealed that students were overall satisfied and felt they belonged to the campus community. Students in the underrepresented groups (i.e., non-White, non-heterosexual, and non-Christian) reported significantly less satisfaction and a weaker sense of belonging than those in the majority groups. Seniors reported significantly less satisfaction than freshmen and sophomore. Students with a conservative political view reported significantly more satisfaction than those with a moderate or liberal political view. In addition, students’ sense of belonging as well as their ethnicity/race, sexual orientation, religious belief, political view, and student rank significantly predicted their satisfaction, and about 34% of the variation in students’ satisfaction could be explained by these variables. The findings can inform policy making, funding navigation, and intervention programs in higher education, and higher education institutions should commit to equality, diversity, and inclusion in promoting student satisfaction and success.