Date of Award

7-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Department

Education

First Advisor

Mitch Nasser

Second Advisor

Sherrie Wisdom

Third Advisor

Kevin Winslow

Abstract

The student veteran population in higher education is a unique group of individuals with different skills and life experiences not typically found among traditional students. Through a comprehensive analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, this study explores the complex challenges that student veterans face in higher education. It aims to explore the challenges, barriers, and support programs experienced by student veterans throughout their higher education journey, as well as compare the graduation and retention rates of student veterans and traditional students.

The researcher first gathered and analyzed qualitative data from student veterans’ responses to a survey utilized to gain their perspective on what challenges they faced when transitioning out of the military and into higher education. The survey also aims to compile data regarding programs that the university was offering specific to veterans, and if those programs were truly beneficial to the student veteran. Additionally, the researcher gathered student veteran’s perspective of what higher education institutions can do better in the future. The data revealed financial insecurity and social isolation as the top challenges that student veterans face in their higher education journey. They noted that the Student Veteran Group and Military Tuition Assistance (GI Bill) are significant factors that contribute to the continuance and success of their higher education roadmap.

The second portion of this study was to analyze student veterans' graduation and retention rates by comparing veterans who use VA programs against those who do not, as well as a comparison of the student veteran population against the traditional student population. The data revealed no significant difference in graduation and retention rates for any hypothesis of this research study.

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