Who Belongs? An Analysis of Student Identity and Sense of Belonging at Elite Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

As both an intrinsic psychological need and a key predictor for college completion, sense of belonging is a critical factor in understanding students’ college experiences. The existing literature commonly finds significantly lower levels of sense of belonging in minority and underrepresented race, class, and gender groups. This study aims to better understand sense of belonging and its relationship to other individual characteristics from a broader, macro perspective. Specifically, this study examines the salience of traditionally used identity characteristics on sense of belonging by analyzing data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Freshmen. Using linear regression and data visualization techniques, I find that while there are statistically significant differences in sense of belonging along race and gender lines, these differences may not be as pronounced as the literature would suggest. Additionally, I find that non-identity-based characteristics, such as perceptions of racial prejudice, are more explanatory of differences in sense of belonging.