Beyond Higher Secondary Schooling: Exploring Family, School, and Community Influences on Students' Access to College Education in India

Access to higher education is widely recognized as a critical factor in promoting socio-economic mobility, human capital development, and inclusive national growth. Despite significant expansion in India’s higher education sector, disparities persist in students’ transition from higher secondary schooling to college. The present study titled “Beyond Higher Secondary Schooling: Exploring Family, School, and Community Influences on Students’ Access to College Education in India” investigates the multi-dimensional determinants that shape students’ access to higher education. The study adopts a comprehensive analytical framework to examine the influence of family background factors (such as socio-economic status, parental education, aspirations, and financial capacity), school-related factors (including career counselling, teacher support, and institutional resources), and community-level influences (such as social norms, peer networks, and geographical accessibility of colleges). Data were collected from higher secondary students using appropriate research tools, and findings were analyzed to understand patterns of college enrollment and non-enrollment. The results indicate that access to college education is shaped by the cumulative interaction of economic resources, institutional support systems, and socio-cultural environments. Students from economically stable families, supportive schools, and enabling community contexts demonstrate higher transition rates to college. Conversely, financial constraints, limited academic guidance, and restrictive social norms act as significant barriers. The study concludes that equitable access to higher education requires integrated interventions addressing family-level support, strengthened school guidance mechanisms, and improved community infrastructure. The findings have implications for policymakers, educators, and stakeholders working toward inclusive higher education in India.