Factors Influencing Higher Education Access for Appalachian

Ohio Students1992 and 2008

Brenda Haas, Ed.D.Ohio Appalachian Center for Higher Education

bhaas@shawnee.edu

Marsha LewisVoinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs

Ohio Universitylewism5@ohio.edu

Appalachian Ohio College Access and Retention Study

1992

Initial

Appalachian

Access and

Success Study

2007

New Appalachian

Access study launched.

1st Report

Released

(Analysis of

secondary data)

2008/2009

Longitudinal Study

of HS Seniors,

Parents,

Counselors,

College Seniors

Desired Outcome: current and better data to support workforce development, regional competitiveness,

opportunities for Appalachian Ohio residents

Partners in Study

• Ohio Appalachian Center for Higher Education (OACHE)

• Ohio Board of Regents• Ohio College Access Network• Ohio College Tech Prep

Study is being conducted by Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs and Center for Higher Education

Secondary Data Analysis

• A lower % of Appalachian Ohio students take a high school curriculum to prepare them for college.

• Postsecondary Options participation roughly equal in Appalachian vs. Non-Appalachian Ohio.

• Advanced Placement participation lower in Appalachian Ohio

Secondary Data Analysis

• 40% of recent HS grads from Appalachian Ohio enrolled in Ohio public (and some private) colleges in 2004, compared to 45% statewide.

• Persistence rate from first to second year lower for Appalachian Ohio students.

Surveys2008

Appalachian Ohio

High School Seniors

2009College Freshmen or

First Year Workforce

• Post HS Plans

• Preparation for College

• Career Plans

• Demographics

• Barriers to Higher Education

• Post HS Plan Outcome

• Preparedness for College

• Career Plan Evolution

• Demographics

• Challenges

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Lawrence

Scioto

GalliaAdams

Pike

Meigs

Jackson

Brown

Clermont

Highland

VintonRoss Athens

Washington

Hocking

Morgan

MonroePerry

Noble

Muskingum

BelmontGuernsey

HarrisonCoshocton

Jefferson

Holmes

Tuscarawas

Carroll

Columbiana

CollinsCareerCenter

Tri-CountyCareer Center

Wellsville HS

RiverValley HS

Waterford HS

VintonCounty HS

Valley HS

SouthWebster HS

Miller HS

Meigs HS

SymmesValley HS

Dawson-Bryant HS

BuckeyeLocal HS

OakHill HS

WestHolmes HS

Whiteoak HSWesternBrown HS

Eastern HS

Trimble HS

Carrollton HS

Marietta HS

Jackson HS

Ironton HS

GalliaAcademy HS

EastLiverpool HS

Map Features

nm Participating High Schools

Appalachian Ohio Counties

Economic Development Regions

Region 7

Region 10

Region 11

/0 40 8020

Miles

High Schools Participating in 2007-2008 College Access Survey

Surveys2008

Appalachian CollegeStudents Finishing a

Degree Program

2009College Grads in First

Year Workforce orGraduate School

• Trajectory while in college

• Post College Plans

• Preparation for College

• Career & Location Plans

• Barriers to Degree Completion

• Post College Outcomes

• Preparedness for Workforce

• Career Plan Evolution

• Location

• Challenges

2008 High School Senior Survey Respondents

1,145 respondents from 25 high schools

96% white

54% female

47% of respondents reported neither parent had any formal education beyond high school

Fall High School Survey Preliminary Findings

Figure 1. Percentage of 12th Graders Planning to Enroll in College Immediately After Graduating, 1992 and 2008

199265%

200881%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Preparedness

• 72 percent of 2008 respondents report that they are educationally prepared for college, compared to 58 percent of the respondents in the 1992 survey.

• 70 percent of the 2008 graduates report participating in a college prep or college tech prep curriculum

Location of College 1992 and 2008

Table 4. High School Seniors' Planned Location of College 1992 and 2008

 

Planned location of college2008 High School

Sample*1992 High School

Sample

Ohio college within 50 miles of home 47.1% 30.3%

Within Ohio but more than 50 miles of home

24.8% 33.6%

Out of state 14.3% 12.4%

Unsure 13.6% 23.2%

College PlansFigure 2. Students' Plans to Continue Education Right After High School by

Education Level of Parents and Participation in College Access Program

75%83%

93%89%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

All Respondents Respondents who took a specialprogram in high school to help

prepare for college

% p

lan

nin

g t

o g

o t

o c

olle

ge

rig

ht

aft

er

hig

h s

ch

oo

l

neither parent having formaleducation beyond high school

at least one parent with some collegeexperience

Barriers 1992 and 2008

Major problems or difficulties2008 High School

Sample*1992 High School

Sample

Lack of Finances 64.8% 58.1%

Lack of Financial Aid Information 39.4% 38.1%

Lack of Information Regarding College Educational Programs

38.3% 33.4%

Want an Immediate Income 34.5% 31.9%

Poor Grades 21.4% 26.9%

Not Intelligent Enough 22.9% 25.8%

Table 9. High School Seniors' Self-Reported Major Problems Encountered Regarding College, 1992 and 2008

Barriers

• In 2008, 37 percent of students indicate they cannot afford college, compared to 33 percent of the 1992 respondents.

2008 Appalachian Ohio 12th graders' response to question,

"Have your parents saved money for your college education?"

Saved 13%Saved 32%

Unable to save40%

Unable to save26%

Don't Know47%

Don't Know47%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Parents with no collegeexperience

Parents with some collegeexperience

2008 Appalachian Ohio 12th graders' response to question,

"Can you afford to go to college?"

Yes 27%Yes 42%

No44%

No33%

Don't Know30%

Don't Know25%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Parents with no collegeexperience

Parents with some collegeexperience

Career Choices

Figure 4. Fall 2007-08 STEM- and Medical-Related Career Choices of 2008 12th Graders by Gender

STEM 22%STEM 11%

Medical17%

Medical45%

Other53%

Other37%

Undecided 8% Undecided 7%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Male Female

% c

hoos

ing

care

er ty

pe

School Counselor Interviews-Barriers

• Cost and lack of information about the cost and financial aid are cited by counselors as the biggest barriers to high education.

School Counselor Interviews-Perspectives on Parents

• Many counselors think that parents view college as an option in a more positive way than they may have in the past.

• Parents are often overwhelmed by the process of college application and the federal form for student assistance.

• few parents who have planned financially for their child’s education.

Full reports from Appalachian Access studies available at:

http://www.oache.org/downloads/index.php

http://www.voinovichschool.ohio.edu/Publications.aspx