Abstract
This qualitative case study explored the factors—including family and peer relationships, self-related/psychological, institutional, and societal factors—that influenced TRIO students’ academic aspirations and persistence and to what degree. Student participants were also given the opportunity to offer recommendations to educators/practitioners in terms of how to increase the aspirations and persistence of
students from similar low-income, first-generation backgrounds. It was found that having a supportive family was the most important factor in determining aspirations and that students’ high self-motivation levels were the main factor accounting for their persistence. Student participants also offer recommendations for how to improve Southwest Texas State University’s current TRIO programs, Talent Search, Upward Bound, and Student Support Services.
