First-Year Student Financial Behavior and Academic Succes

A survey to measure student financial wellness was developed and conducted for students during the spring of their first year in college. The survey instrument included questions pertaining to objective, subjective and behavioral measures regarding personal finance. Survey results, together with enrollment and admissions data, were analyzed to determine the relationship of personal financial characteristics with academic success measures. The academic success measures included were grade point average and hours earned, both outcome measures are known to correlate with time-to-degree. A viable structural equation model was identified that supports the inclusion of personal finance variables in predicting student academic success. Time-to-degree related policies and university programs related to student personal finance are discussed in relation to study findings.