This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Taylor & Francis via the DOI in this recordThis project investigated the postsecondary education aspirations of 27 secondary schoolaged students living in greater London, England and greater Boston, Massachusetts, USA. An
innovative research design was implemented to support a technology-facilitated international
focus group allowing for exchanges between the U.S. and English students. Using human
ecology theory, the findings show that differences in students’ exosystems, specifically the
financial aid and loan repayment processes, influence student postsecondary education and
career aspirations.
U.S. student concerns about affordability and loan repayment made aspirations lower and
more localized. In contrast, English participants felt comforted by their government’s deferred
loan repayment process, so they did not express as strong constraints on aspirations based on
financial considerations. Both English and U.S. students were influenced similarly by the
mesosystem when making decisions about which postsecondary institution to attend. In
conclusion, altering exosystem policy and influencing mesosystem relationships could impact
postsecondary education aspirations for low-income students
