University Ownership and Academic Achievement Among Undergraduates in Nigeria (Published)
The study aimed at finding out the level of academic achievement and the significant difference of academic achievement among undergraduates in federal, state and private universities in southwestern, Nigeria. This research adopted an expo-facto descriptive design. The total population 282,834 students in total, with a target population of 72,062 undergraduates in 200 level and the sample size was1,526 respondents. The dominant academic achievement in federal (41.0%) and state universities (44.5%) was second class lower grade, while that of the private university was second class upper (43.1%). Tertiary education, tertiary occupation and high-income status dominated the SES with the respective highest percentages in private universities (84.1%, 79.4% and 75.4%), followed by State universities (55.1%, 52.0% and 39.5%) and Federal universities (54.0%, 50.1% and 30.5%). University Ownership (F (2,1343) =34.906) had significant difference on academic achievement. The study therefore recommended that Government should fund public universities (Federal and State Universities), by reducing tuition fees, so as to leverage equal access to university education both by the rich and poor. Policymakers should formulate an equal scale for admission into public (federal and State) and private universities in Nigerian for every academic programme. Government should renovate public university facilities and equipment to improve the quality and standard of education in public universities.
Keywords: Academic Achievement, Undergraduates, university ownership