The Price of STEM Success: The Impact of Need-Based Financial Aid

  • Research Project

What We Do

This study investigates whether, how, and why need-based financial aid affects the behavior of students in key science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics (STEM) programs by contributing to their chances of success. More specifically, we examine the pathways through which aid affects students’ selection of, continued enrollment in, and successful completion of associate and baccalaureate degrees in STEM.

Project Info

Funder: National Science Foundation

External Project Team Member: Sara Goldrick-Rab

Project Team

Josipa Roksa

Josipa Roksa

  • Professor

In addition to the randomized controlled trial examining the effects of financial aid, the study includes rich survey data that allow for an investigation of the various factors that contribute to success of low-income students in college.

Publication

Roksa, Josipa, and Peter Kinsley. 2018. “The Role of Family Support in Facilitating Academic Success of Low-Income Students.” Research in Higher Education. (published online June 2018)

Conference Presentations

Kinsley, Peter, Josipa Roksa, and Sara Goldrick-Rab.  2016.  “Rationing Scarce Resources: The Impact of Financial Constraints on Undergraduate Engagement.” Association for the Study of Higher Education, Columbus, OH (November).

Roksa, Josipa, and Peter Kinsley. 2018. “The Role of Family Support in Facilitating Academic Success of Low-Income Students.” American Sociological Association, Philadelphia, PA (August).

Roksa, Josipa. 2017. “Family Resources, Siblings, and Exchange of Support Between Low-Income Young Adults Pursuing Higher Education and Their Families.” Research Committee on Social Stratification and Mobility (RC28), International Sociological Association, New York, NY (August).