Undergraduate thesis.

The primary objective of this paper was to determine the factors that influenced students{92} availment of academic scholarships considering the students{92} socioeconomic status, scholarship availed, benefits, challenges and issues after availing the academic scholarship. Since this study was on a quantitative descriptive correlational study, the data were gathered using the survey questionnaires, to identify the highest mean and to determine if there was a significant difference between the variables. This research used a cluster non-random sampling with 44 student assistants, 44 ELO, and 25 athletic scholars, summing up 113 respondents. The study{92}s overall findings illustrated that the factors such as family background, goal commitment, and peer group interaction influenced the academic scholars. When it came to the benefits of the academic scholarship to the respondents, it was evident that it offered more in the way of financial aid than retention. The study also revealed that academic scholars faced difficulties with learning environments, support systems, and schedules. Furthermore, factors influencing students{92} availment showed a significant difference according to the respondents' scholarship availed. It was also revealed that benefits and challenges were no significant difference. Thus, the researchers developed structured guidelines based on the data gathered, which would primarily benefit the students and the higher education institution for its marketing promotion. The study recommended the higher education institutions to add qualifications, strengthen the resulting factors, promote the benefits, and address the challenges and issues to retain students and avoid attrition. Lastly, future researchers may modify the variables used in this research paper for new or additional findings considering other academic scholarships that were offered in the higher education institution.