Nigerian Graduate Students in the United States

Abstract

This study was written to test the null hypothesis that, among Nigerian graduate students enrolled in institutions of higher education in the United States, there was no difference between the academic achievement of those who received their baccalaureate degree in the United States and those who earned their first degree elsewhere. A sample of the 456 Nigerian graduate students was contacted through a questionnaire. Sixty-five of the ninety-two students in the sample returned a properly completed questionnaire on their academic performance here and at home. A covariance study revealed no evidence on which to reject the null hypothesis. It was concluded that, for economic reasons, Nigeria should discontinue its policy of awarding scholarships for undergraduate study in the United States except for curricula not available in Nigerian universities.