Factors Affecting the Educational Achievement of Chinese College Students

Abstract

China has achieved tremendous economic success over the past three decades. Meanwhile, privatisation and marketisation policies and corresponding implementations also greatly legitimise educational inequality in higher education, namely College Entrance Examinations (CEE), the extra-score policy and the recommendations system. This article comprehensively investigates the causes behind educational underachievement in China’s higher education. This article aims to understand the relationship between social stratification and educational inequality. It surveyed 120 Chinese undergraduate students through an online questionnaire with 15 questions related to the students’ basic information. The results show that urban-rural distinction in household registration and annual income, housing conditions, educational expectations and teacher professionalism are the main factors affecting educational achievement and enrolment in universities. The above issues are worthy of consideration in education policymaking, and the widening gap between advantaged and disadvantaged groups of students still exists. In general, middle-class, and urban students benefit the most in their educational experiences.