Program
Education Doctorate
Number of Pages
127
Year Approved
2026
First Advisor
Michael Lindstrom
Second Reader
Joel Frederickson
Third Reader
Barry Sullivan
Abstract
This quantitative research analyzed the association between a sense of belonging and academic achievement among 514 undergraduates in a small, all-white institution (PWI), based on the 2025 Campus Life Survey and institutional data. Although national graduation disparities persist (64% of White students graduate within six years versus 54% of Latinx, 44% of Black, and 39% of Native American students), limited quantitative research has investigated belonging in private PWI settings. Variables were perceived sense of belonging, institutional climate, demographic factors (race/ethnicity, sex), academic advancement signs (cumulative GPA, earned credit hours), and seriously considered leaving. Multi-Regression (hierarchical and binary) and binary logistic regression were used. The findings revealed that institutional climate perceptions were a strongly predictive factor of the sense of belonging, with a variation of 42.8 (p < .001). Sense of belonging was a strong predictor of lower odds of considering exit seriously, and every one-unit higher corresponded with 40.6 more departure intention (OR = 0.594, p < .001). Nevertheless, belonging did not predict GPA or credit hours earned significantly, nor did demographic characteristics predict belonging significantly. Such results imply that belonging should be viewed as an essential retention buffer as opposed to being an overt academic performance booster. The research does not center on the lack of individual students but on institutional responsibility and shows that belonging is basically constructed by campus climate. Some recommendations are to incorporate belonging metrics into institutional evaluation, utilize inclusive teaching and learning, and develop deliberate community-building initiatives.
Degree Name
Education Doctorate
Document Type
Doctoral thesis
Recommended Citation
Symonette, J. (2026). Investigating the Relationship between College Students’ Sense of Belonging and Graduation Rates at a Private, Predominantly White Institution [Doctoral thesis, Bethel University]. Spark Repository. https://spark.bethel.edu/etd/1312
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