Scoping Review of Asian Doctoral Students’ Experiences and Persistence in United States Higher Education

Abstract

Doctoral persistence in the United States remains a significant concern, yet the experiences of Asian doctoral students remain understudied. This scoping review analyzed 26 studies that included Asian doctoral participants to identify factors that shape their persistence. Guided by Perna and Thomas’s student success conceptual model, findings show that most reviewed studies (77%) focused on academic environment and relationships, while only 23% considered family-related influences. Additionally, nearly all studies (n = 25) included Asian doctoral students with other racial/ethnic groups, except for one study that only sampled Asian doctoral students. In general, most studies (n = 25) treat Asian students as a monolithic group without considering the heterogeneity and uniqueness of Asian doctoral students. Several future study ideas to address the diverse needs of Asian doctoral students are discussed.

Keywords

Asian Asian American and Pacific Islander doctoral experiences doctoral persistence ethnic minority students family support in higher education

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