Analyzing the Determinants of Entrepreneurial Intentions between Business and Non-Business Students at a State University

Given the crucial role of entrepreneurship in driving economic growth and job creation, understanding the factors that shape entrepreneurial intentions has become essential for developing effective support systems and educational strategies. This research aims to investigate the influence of perceived educational (university) support (PES), perceived relational (family) support (PRS) and perceived structural (government/institutional) support (PSS) on the entrepreneurial intentions (EI) of both business and non-business students. It further seeks to determine whether significant differences exist between these two groups regarding their perceived support and entrepreneurial intention levels. Using a purposive sampling technique, a total of 300 students, comprising 150 business and 150 non-business students, from five state university colleges participated in the study through a Google Form questionnaire. A comparative causal research design was employed to explore the relationships among the variables. The findings revealed that PES, PRS, and EI were higher among business students, while PSS was lower. However, the Mann-Whitney U test indicated no significant difference between business and non-business students regarding their perceptions of support and entrepreneurial intentions. Moreover, multiple linear regression analysis showed that PES, PRS, and PSS significantly and positively influence students’ entrepreneurial intentions. The study recommends that universities, families, peer networks, and government institutions strengthen their support mechanisms to foster a more conducive environment for nurturing entrepreneurial aspirations among students, regardless of academic discipline.