This qualitative study investigates the financial stress and financial well-being of 10 diverse at-promise students attending three university campuses in the midwestern United States. The study's data included 29 individual participant interviews conducted during the fall, spring, and summer semesters of the 1st-year of their college careers. Analysis of findings are informed by Garcia-Mata and Zeron-Felix's (2022) theory of financial well-being and Fu's (2020) theory of what shapes financial well-being. The results of the study highlight obstacles individuals from challenging socioeconomic backgrounds face, including limited access to resources, unequal opportunities, and social class-based stigmatization; the importance of personal relationships, such as family, friends, and mentors, in influencing participants' financial well-being by providing emotional and practical support; and the importance of educational support systems within institutions in enhancing or inhibiting student financial well-being for tailored acclimation to the campus financial marketplace. These themes collectively provide insights into the multifaceted nature of financial well-being and the various factors that influence individuals' financial outcomes. These themes spanned five of Garcia-Mata and Zeron-Felix's (2022) propositions of financial well-being. Study implications offer guidance for institutions and leaders to improve support mechanisms within the education systems which can reduce financial stress. [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.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]