Socio-Economic Profile and Problems Encountered by Agriculture Students Recommendations for Enhancement of University Student Programs and Services

In developing countries, students' educational challenges are often linked to their socio-economic status. Arising educational problems and the socio-economic profile of students may be useful information that could be used by academic institutions to improve their programs and services for students in need. This study aims to describe the socio-economic profile of Agriculture students in a state university and use the findings to enhance student programs and services. Data were collected from 349 Bachelor of Science in Agriculture students during the second semester of the academic year 2018–2019 using a descriptive-survey research design. Findings revealed that most of the respondents belonged to low-income families, though their parents generally owned land and lived in permanent houses with access to electricity for lighting and owned basic home appliances. They relied on community water systems or hand pumps, and motorcycles were the common vehicle used for mobility. Financial difficulties were the most common challenge, particularly a lack of funds for daily expenses and limited internet access. Students also faced difficulty of the subject and lessons, many assignments, long travel distances, and insufficient campus photocopying services. Based on these findings, recommendations were made to enhance the university’s programs and services to better support student needs.