The Influence of College on Self-Concept: A Consideration of Race and Gender Differences

Abstract

This study estimated the influence of college on student academic and social self-concept within the structure of a causal model. The sample was 4,597 students who enrolled in 379 four-year colleges and universities in 1971, and who were followed for 9 years. Separate estimations of the model were conducted for black and white men and women. The findings suggest that academic and social experiences during college have significant direct effects on self-concept development even when precollege traits, the characteristics of the institution attended, and post-collegiate experiences are taken into account. Apart from measures of 1971 self-concept, the major influence of both student precollege characteristics and the structural characteristics of the institution attended was mediated by the student’s collegiate and post-collegiate experiences. With a few exceptions, the factors influencing academic and social self-concept were quite similar for race and gender. What differences did exist, however, were found largely in those variables assessing the academic and social experience of college.