JOURNAL OF HIGHER EDUCATION THEORY AND PRACTICE

Comparing the Entrepreneurial Attitudes of University and Community

College Students

Author(s): Shanan G. Gibson, Michael L. Harris, Todd D. Mick, Toni M. Burkhalter

Citation: Shanan G. Gibson, Michael L. Harris, Todd D. Mick, Toni M. Burkhalter, (2011) "Comparing the Entrepreneurial Attitudes of University and Community College Students," Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, Vol.11, Iss. 2, pp. 11 - 19

Article Type: Research paper

Publisher: North American Business Press

Abstract:

Students (N = 395) at several U.S. community colleges (N = 220) and universities (N = 175) completed

the Entrepreneurial Attitudes Orientation (EAO) survey. Results indicated that university students

possessed attitudes which were stronger than their community college peers on all four of the

entrepreneurial attitudes. Similarly, university students reported that they felt significantly more prepared

to start their own businesses, wanted to start their own businesses, and felt they were significantly more

likely to start their own businesses than those students from the community colleges. Consideration is

given to potential explanations for these differences and implications for entrepreneurship education.