Understanding the college persistence experiences of low-income, first-generation, Latinx students

While a number of studies have examined persistence for Latinx, first-generation, and/or low-income students separately (or in combination of two), few have closely examined the experiences of students who are at the intersection of these three identities, particularly those who are from non-urban areas and did not graduate at the top of their class. Through in-depth interviews with fifteen young adults from the Rio Grande Valley, eight who have completed a bachelor's degree and seven who have stopped out, this study investigates the barriers encountered and the sources of strength students drew on in persevering. The findings illuminate how the cumulative effects of challenges derail students, and suggest multiple ways to support these students in finishing their degrees.