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The socio-economic impact of student loan debt on African American graduates of the University of Phoenix residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dissertation   Open access

The socio-economic impact of student loan debt on African American graduates of the University of Phoenix residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Terrence D. Daniels
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Drexel University
May 2017
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-7497
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Abstract

African Americans--Education Universities and colleges--Alumni and alumnae College students--Economic conditions Education
Little is known about the long-term socio-economic impact of student loan debt on African-American graduates of the University of Phoenix who reside in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The purpose of this case study is to examine the socio-economic impact of student loan debt on these students five years after receiving a degree from this for-profit institution. This research study focused on answering the following questions: What factors influence an individual's decision to attend the University of Phoenix?; How do the student services offered at the University of Phoenix prepare its graduates to repay their student loan debt?; How does student loan debt associated with attending the University of Phoenix impact African American borrowers' ability to make major life decisions, such as purchasing a home or starting a family?; and, How does obtaining a degree from the University of Phoenix serve as a vehicle for African-Americans from marginal communities that want to improve their socio-economic lives? The research is structured as a qualitative research method design and based on a case study approach. A qualitative design was selected because it allows the researcher to obtain an extensive and in-depth examination of the contemporary phenomenon of student loan debt within the real-life context of African American alumni from the University of Phoenix.

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