Refugees' Postsecondary Pursuits in a “College for All” Landscape

ABSTRACT This paper furthers the study of refugees' postsecondary experiences by situating their aspirations and perspectives about college within a sociopolitical context characterized by a “college for all” hegemony which claims that social mobility and economic security are only possible with a college degree. Drawing on ethnographic data gathered among 11 refugees attending a community college in New York State, this project explores students' varied positions towards higher education, social mobility, and opportunity in the United States.