Testing the Efficacy of a Scholarship Program for Single Parent, Post-Freshmen, Full Time Undergraduates

Abstract

This study examines the efficacy of a scholarship program designed to assist single parent, post-freshmen, full time undergraduate students and predictors of success among a sample of said students, where success is defined as progress toward completion, academic achievement, and degree completion. Results of fixed effects regression and hierarchical linear modeling indicated that single parents who participated in the scholarship program had higher levels of academic achievement, degree completion rates, and greater progress toward completion than non-participants. Consistent significant predictors of success included participation in a scholarship program, full-time status, and whether someone already held a Bachelor’s degree. The findings suggest that the structure of a single parent program that includes requirements for GPA, full-time status, and credit accumulation, as well as personal, professional, and financial resources for participants may be an efficacious model for other colleges to implement in order assist in the success of single parent undergraduate students.