This study examined whether first-time full-time freshman students’ sense of purpose predicted their progress towards a degree. Freshman students (N = 421, 62.2% females) completed self-report measures of sense of purpose and academic commitments within the first month of starting college; a year later, the data on first-year progress towards a degree were matched with their responses. Structural equation modeling showed that while a sense of purpose did not directly predict progress towards a degree, awakening to purpose and altruistic purpose both had indirect positive effects on first-year GPA, academic standing, and retention through degree commitment. Additionally, altruistic purpose had indirect positive effects on first-year GPA through academic identity. The findings highlight that a sense of purpose may play an important role in persistence and attainment of a degree among college students.

这项研究调查了初学者的全日制学生的目标意识是否可以预测他们取得学位的进度。新生（N = 421，其中62.2％的女性）在上大学的第一个月内完成了关于目的感和学业承诺的自我报告；一年后，第一年取得学位的进展数据与他们的回答相吻合。结构方程模型表明，尽管目标感并不能直接预测学位课程的进展，但唤醒目标意识和无私目标对第一年的GPA，学业成绩和通过学位承诺的保留率都有间接的积极影响。此外，利他的目的通过学术身份对第一年的GPA有间接的积极影响。研究结果表明，目标感可能在大学生的持久性和学位获得中起重要作用。