Exploring Self-Efficacy Toward Higher Education Among Rural High School Students: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Self-efficacy is a psychological factor that plays a crucial role in shaping students' aspirations to pursue higher education. Although the gross enrollment rate in higher education remains substantially lower in rural areas of Indonesia (23.14%) than in urban areas (38.58%), empirical evidence regarding the self-efficacy profile of rural senior high school students is still limited. This preliminary study aimed to describe the self-efficacy profile across Bandura's three dimensions among rural senior high school students in West Bandung Regency. A descriptive quantitative survey design was employed involving 177 eleventh-grade students selected through total sampling. Data were collected using a 25-item valid self-efficacy questionnaire with a four-point Likert scale (α = 0.871) and analyzed descriptively. The results indicated that the overall level of self-efficacy was moderate (M = 69.26%). The generality dimension recorded the lowest score (68.17%) among the three dimensions, and 70.6% of the participants were classified as having a moderate level of self-efficacy. These findings suggest that most rural students demonstrate a moderate level of self-efficacy, particularly in the generality dimension, highlighting the need for structured school guidance and counseling programs to further strengthen self-efficacy in supporting aspirations toward higher education.