Exploring Achievement: Factors Affective Native American College Student Success

The purpose of this research is to explore factors that affect Native American student success in post-secondary education. The literature suggests that five factors affect Native American college student’ ability to graduate: 1) previous academic performance; 2) financial aid; 3) familial support; 4) feeling connected; and 5) campus involvement. Semi-structured phone interviews with Native American college graduates were conducted to ascertain the factors they believe affected their college success. This research found that each of the factors predicted by the literature were supported by information collected from the interviews, although at varying levels. Familial support and financial aid were found to be the most important factors in student success while high school GPA and involvement in a first-year group were found to have the least impact.