People who earn college degrees are more likely positioned socially, occupationally, and economically for consideration of leadership roles and salary increases. Research conducted by Adams (2008) revealed that regardless of a students' gender, race, social, or economic status, the impact of a college education on lifetime earnings is 20% higher for those who receive a bachelor's degree than those who obtain a high school diploma. Current data from the United States Department of Education (DOE) indicates that African Americans lag in receiving college degrees compared to their White peers. DOE Institute of Education Statistics reports from 2007-2009 indicated that African Americans were awarded approximately 10% of bachelor's degrees conferred in the United States each year. The low percentage of African Americans receiving degrees could be causing them to be under-represented in United States leadership roles and occupations, more of them to live in low-income status, and increase a negative gap in the equity of American talent and wealth distribution (Akom, 2008; Wilson, 2007). This qualitative method study with a hermeneutic phenomenological research design explored negative influencers that could be enabling entropy in the perceptions of African American students in developing aspirations to complete college and earn a degree. The following nine themes emerged from the study: (a) social construct, (b) culture, (c) education, (d) communication, (e) values, (f) leadership, (g) occupation, and (h) financial, and (i) emotionality. The nine themes provided answers and outcomes that suggested that entropy was the leading cause of disorder in the students' perceptions that interfered with their confidence and competence particularly in leadership, social and occupational endeavors. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]