The academic dropout of higher education students represents one of the most significant challenges that university institutions have to face today. This research analysed the university academic trajectory of students who dropped out of university for good. The aim of this paper is to examine in depth the factors that influence the idea of the…

In this paper, we focus on non-monetary and potential societal benefits of higher education and ask whether the higher education experience fosters political interest, internal political efficacy, and participation irrespective of completing a degree. Increasing enrolment rates in higher education also increase the number of higher education…

Using individual data from PIAAC and aggregate data on GDP and unemployment for the US, Europe, and Spain, we test how macroeconomic conditions experienced at age eighteen affect the following decisions in post-secondary and tertiary education: (1) enrollment; (2) dropping-out; (3) type of degree completed; (4) area of specialization; and (5)…

Despite institutional strategies to prevent student withdrawal, attrition remains a concern across higher education sectors in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. In the case of Australian universities, attrition rates have remained consistently high since 2002. Some level of attrition is inevitable, but universities can influence…

The present study explored possible differences in reasons for withdrawing from higher vocational education between ethnic minority and majority non-completers in the Netherlands. Tinto's model on the departure process was used as a theoretical framework. A total of 1017 non-completers filled in a questionnaire regarding their reasons for…

We studied the effects of academic performance, motivation, and social connectedness on third-year retention, transfer, and dropout behavior. To accommodate the three outcome categories and nesting of data within institutions, we fit a hierarchical multinomial logistic regression path model with first-year academic performance as a mediating…

This paper analyzes (1) the reasons for not attending school given by dropouts from community colleges; (2) the situation of college graduates and the degree of their satisfaction compared with that of dropouts; and (3) the profile of the college dropout. Self-administered questionnaires were sent to college students who failed to register in…

The isolating atmosphere of a college was a significant factor in student attrition and that attrition in turn cost the small college more than one percent of its total annual operating budget of $8,000,000. The methodology of relating student attrition problems to quality of life issues is discussed. (Author)

A four-year follow-up study of underachieving college freshmen measured changes in the self-concept of those still in college and those who had dropped out. Significant differences generally favored college seniors. Findings also indicate that dropping out of college may be a positive experience. (Author)

This study measures the change in political orientation and activism level of students at the University of California at Berkeley during the early 1970s. During this time students became more liberal on some items and less on others, and became much less active politically. Results suggest strong historical effects on political attitudes and…

This report presents the results of a survey which was undertaken in order to develop an understanding of the University of Arkansas' environment as experienced by black students. It assessed the students' causes for leaving the university during their freshman year. Thirty-four black students who had attended school in the Fall of 1976 did not…

This paper presents the results of a study conducted to determine the level of degree completion among Micronesian college students. The report begins with an overview of the social, geographical, and phenomenological context of postsecondary education in Micronesia. Study results are then presented for the following areas of investigation: (1)…

The project reported here considers community college students who quit within a semester of study, as opposed to not finishing an entire college program. The latter subject has commanded the better part of the attention devoted to the college dropout. Community college faculty and administrative staff admit to a fairly high dropout rate for…

Discusses factors which lead to attrition from adult distance learning courses. Learning barriers included situational, institutional, dispositional, and epistemological factors. Comparisons between persisters and withdrawals are presented, and the study's impact on future distance learning programs is discussed. (Contains 26 references.) (SLW)

Describes a project that compared the attitudes of freshman engineering students to their status as sophomores, i.e., whether they remained in the engineering program. Showed that motivation, commitment to engineering, and strong high school records are indices of persistors in engineering. (MLH)