African-American students are less likely to attend and successfully complete college than their Asian and White peers. Possible explanations for this disparity include racial and ethnic segregation, socioeconomic challenges, persistent shortages of qualified teachers, and scant access to college-preparatory curricula. In the context of such significant challenges, faith-based institutions (most notably the African-American Church) play an important role in helping students to overcome these obstacles and prepare for success in college. This qualitative study employing personal interviews and artifact analysis has explored how ten African-American students who have been academically successful in college believe their involvement in the activities of faith-based institutions before college has had an impact on their aspirations to attend college and on their preparedness for success in college. Social capital theory, particularly as applied to religious contexts, has been utilized as a framework for examining these dynamics, as well as the growing literature on student spirituality and the influence of religious involvement on educational outcomes. The findings of the study reveal that involvement in faith-based institutions provided students with a network of supportive relationships and helped them to develop a belief in their own ability to succeed, a way of interpreting personal challenges constructively, and a mindset that embraces opportunities for personal growth. These findings provide direction for practitioners and the research community to consider how educational institutions might partner with faith-based institutions in supporting African-American youth in their preparation for college. [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.]