Beyond Family Socioeconomic Status Academic Engagement and Home Learning Environment in Undergraduate Academic Achievement in China

Abstract

Socioeconomic inequalities can remain relevant to students’ academic experiences after entry into higher education, yet family socioeconomic status alone may not fully account for variation in undergraduate achievement. This study examined the associations of family socioeconomic indicators, home learning environment, and academic engagement with academic performance among undergraduates at North China University of Science and Technology in China. Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, data were obtained from 400 valid student questionnaires selected through a stratified sampling approach. Academic performance was measured by grade point average (GPA), while family socioeconomic status was represented by parental education, family income, and parental occupation. Pearson correlation, multiple regression, and analysis of variance were employed. All three socioeconomic indicators were positively associated with GPA, with correlations of r = .29 for parental education, r = .25 for family income, and r = .21 for parental occupation. Stronger associations were observed for home learning environment (r = .41) and academic engagement (r = .47). The regression model explained 29% of the variance in GPA, with academic engagement (β = .33) and home learning environment (β = .28) showing the largest standardized coefficients among the variables included. Significant differences in GPA were also observed across low-, middle-, and high-SES groups, F(2, 397) = 6.12, p = .002. These findings indicate that socioeconomic background remains associated with undergraduate achievement, while academic engagement and supportive home learning conditions provide additional explanatory value beyond conventional socioeconomic indicators. The study highlights the importance of considering both family resources and students’ learning-related experiences when addressing academic disparities in higher education.