At English Medium Instruction (EMI) universities, where the English language is used to teach academic subjects in countries where the first language of the majority of the population is not English, students are required to undertake a preparatory year English language program before they are permitted to commence their chosen field of study. The issue of keeping students enrolled in these mandatory language programs is notably challenging. As a result, the initial year of the university becomes a critical period where the likelihood of students leaving is higher. Compared to the ample resources available in the subsequent years of college, the institution's support for first-year students in language programs is comparatively limited. This research aimed to analyze the contrast in retention rates between junior students who had access to comprehensive academic support services and those who didn't, using a mixed methods design, integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches. We sought to investigate the impact of academic support services on the retention rates of junior students at a Turkish university. A total of 430 junior students representing diverse academic disciplines participated in the study, with the autonomy to choose whether to engage with academic support services or solely rely on conventional university support. We used a chi-square test of independence to analyze whether there was a significant association between engaging with academic support services and retention rates. Our findings demonstrated a statistically significant association between utilizing these services and improved retention. Qualitative insights further illuminated students' underlying motivations and commitments, attributing their academic success and sustained enrollment to the diverse support services and resources utilized. In summary, our mixed-methods study underscores the pivotal role of academic support services in fostering student engagement and retention within the Turkish university context and provides a nuanced understanding of how these services positively influence students' educational experiences.