Student Satisfaction on Scholarship Services and Its Relation to College Persistence in Private Higher Education Institution

This study assessed the relationship of scholarship services satisfaction and college persistence of scholarship recipients in a private higher education institution in Tagum City, Philippines. Hypotheses were developed from Tinto’s Theory of Student Integration (1975) and Oliver’s Expectancy-Disconfirmation Theory (1980) to indicate that students with more satisfaction with scholarship services will be more likely to persist in completing their college education. The study used a quantitative descriptive-correlational design. The respondents were 194 Academic and Athletic scholarship recipients, purposively selected. Data were collected using adapted and validated survey questionnaire. Scholarship service satisfaction included scholarship updates, staff assistance, organizational support, scholarship-related problem support, and benefits. College persistence included academic integration, social integration, support services satisfaction, degree commitment, institutional commitment, and academic conscientiousness. Statistical analyses such as mean, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation revealed high level of scholarship services satisfaction (M=4.22, SD=0.727) and high college persistence (M=4.20, SD=0.792). In addition, satisfaction with scholarship services was significantly positively related to college persistence (r = 0.332, p < 0.001). The findings suggest that developments in scholarship services could increase student commitment to degree programs while boosting student retention.

scholarship services, student satisfaction, college persistence, private higher education institutions, Philippines.

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