PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH? FINANCIAL AID DECISIONS OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS

This quantitative study focused on financial aid decisions surrounding grant aid such as Pell Grants and Cal Grants at a midsize community college in southern California. The study examined relationships between (a) demographic variables such as race and sex, academic variables such as units enrolled, and extracurricular variables such as participation in affinity groups; and (b) dependent variables such as whether or not a student obtained a Pell Grant, Cal Grant, or Fee Waiver and amount of grant aid obtained. Binomial and multinomial logistic regressions were conducted to identify any statistically significant relationships between the variables. Latino students were found to be more likely to obtain a Pell Grant, Cal Grant, or Fee Waiver than African American, Asian, and Multi Race students. Female students were found to have slightly higher odds of obtaining a Pell Grant, Cal Grant, or Fee Waiver than male students. First-generation students had slightly higher odds of obtaining a Fee Waiver. Full-time students were over six times more likely to obtain a Pell Grant, Cal Grant, or Fee Waiver compared to part-time students. Students who participated in TRIO, CalWORKS, MESA, or the Asian Pacific Islander Club were found to have higher odds of obtaining a Pell Grant, Cal Grant, or Fee Waiver. Students who participated in Undocumented Scholars or athletics were found to have lower odds of obtaining a Pell Grant, Cal Grant, or Fee Waiver. No statistically significant relationships were identified for academic variables such as grade point average or academic major.