Investigation of the relationship between individual characteristics and student's experiences with their academic achievements in Shiraz non-profit higher education institutions

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between individual characteristics and students’ experiences with their academic gains in Shiraz non-profit higher education institutions. The statistical population was comprised of seniors (3000 students) in these institutions in the academic year of 2010-11. 341 students were selected according to Morgan’s table and by using simple proportional classifications sampling method. The research tool included the college students experiences questionnaire of Pace and Kuh (1998)، which was distributed after calculation of reliability and gaining the validity coefficient of 0. 91. The data was analyzed by using the statistical methods such as multiple regressions، independent t-test and one way ANOVA. The results of research showed that all three dimensions of college students’ experiences including perceptions of quality of environment، quality of effort and social integrations were significant anticipator of their academic gains respectively. In addition، the results indicated that the students’ experiences in anticipating their academic gains differ in terms of their gender، place of residence، field of study، level of education and their grade point average. In addition، the results indicated no significant difference between the academic gains of students by gender، place of residence and level of education and significant difference between their academic gains based on their field of study and grade point average (GPA).