Research Symposium

BIO

Brock Bole is a freshman Presidential Scholar at Florida State University pursuing a degree in finance. He is from Tampa and participates in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), where he is developing his research and analytical skills.

Bright Future award retention dynamics: Event history analysis

Abstract

This project examines how the loss of the Bright Futures Award affects college students’ ability to remain enrolled and complete their degrees. Because many students rely on Bright Futures funding to cover tuition and other educational expenses, losing this support can create significant financial strain that may disrupt academic progress. Understanding not only whether students leave school, but when they are most at risk after losing the award is central to this study. To address this question, we use event history analysis, a method designed to examine changes in risk over time. This approach allows us to analyze the timing of enrollment disruption following the loss of Bright Futures funding and identify critical periods when students may be especially vulnerable. In addition, we conducted a review of existing research on financial aid, merit-based scholarships, and student retention. While prior studies consistently demonstrate that financial aid improves persistence, fewer focus specifically on the timing and dynamic effects of losing merit-based aid. By combining prior research with event history methods, this project aims to better understand the retention dynamics associated with Bright Futures Award loss and its impact on students’ pathways to graduation.

Keywords: Bright Futures, Event History Analysis, Literature Review