An assessment of cultural capital and its influence on the academic performance of students at UNAH-Choluteca Campus, 2023–2024

Abstract

This study aims to understand the influence of accumulated cultural capital on the academic performance of first-year university students at UNAH Choluteca campus during the year 2023. The main propositions arise from Bourdieu’s theoretical postulates, in which the increase in cultural capital helps explain the results obtained by students from different social classes regarding academic success. The data found suggest that family income is not a direct determinant of academic performance; although it can provide access to more educational resources, it does not guarantee superior academic performance. The study’s data reveal that academic performance is strongly influenced by the mother’s education level, while factors such as the number of books at home and family income have a more ambiguous relationship among other factor found. This underscores the importance of cultural and educational capital in the family environment as a key factor in academic success. This initial diagnosis aims to contribute to the implementation of institutional strategies that expand the cultural capital of the university community in Choluteca, thus promoting the cultural and intellectual development of its future professionals.