The Effect of Life Experiences on Alumni Satisfaction with Undergraduate College

This thesis investigates the sociological determinants of the degree of satisfaction with undergraduate education expressed by alumni of Western Kentucky University. Subjects were selected by means of a random sample (h = 1759) of graduates from the years 1922 through 1962. The effects of two major types of independent variables upon alumni satisfaction are explored using Multiple Classification Analysis. The first group of explanatory variables are background factors which include father\u27s educational level, parental income while the subject was attending college, sex, average college grade, and whether or not the subject\u27s present occupation is in the same field as the college major. The second group of predictors are life-experience variables which include the subject\u27s current occupation, income, marital status, number of children, community of residence, and age. The findings indicate that the subject\u27s age is the most powerful predictor of the degree of satisfaction expressed toward Western Kentucky University. The subject\u27s present occupation and income were the next most influential explanatory variables. Results support the major conclusion that events in the lives of alumni subsequent to graduation from college are more important in explaining their satisfaction with undergraduate education than are their own social backgrounds or events occurring while the subject is attending college