Student Perceptions of Institutional Facilities and Services: An Exploratory Factor Analysis

Abstract: Student perceptions of institutional facilities and services provide important evidence for evaluating institutional quality and identifying areas requiring improvement. The present study examines the underlying structure of students' perceptions of institutional facilities and services using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). Primary data were collected from 91 students through a structured questionnaire consisting of 11 statements measured on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree. The variables covered institutional premises, canteen, library, scholarship assistance, teaching, extracurricular activities, sports, annual social gathering, bus facility, placement initiatives, and mega placement drive. The data demonstrated strong suitability for factor analysis, with a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) value of 0.880 and a highly significant Bartlett's Test of Sphericity (χ² = 932.715, df = 55, p < 0.001). The overall internal consistency of the 11-item instrument was excellent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.946). The first eigenvalue was 7.289 and explained 66.26% of the total variance, while the second eigenvalue was 1.106 and explained 10.06%. Although the Kaiser criterion would indicate a two-factor solution, parallel analysis indicated that only the first empirical eigenvalue exceeded the corresponding random-data eigenvalue. A one-factor Principal Axis Factoring solution therefore provides the most parsimonious interpretation of the present data. Factor loadings were generally strong, ranging from 0.440 to 0.930, although the canteen item showed comparatively weaker commonality. The findings suggest that students tend to perceive institutional facilities, academic support and student-oriented services as interconnected components of a broader institutional experience rather than as completely independent dimensions. The study provides practical implications for institutional quality improvement and recommends further validation using a larger sample and Confirmatory Factor Analysis.

Keywords: Student perception, higher education, institutional facilities, student satisfaction, exploratory factor analysis, KMO, Bartlett's test, parallel analysis, service quality