Retention rate is the percentage of a school’s first-time, first-year undergraduate students who continue at that school the next year. For example, a student who studies full-time in the fall semester and keeps on studying in the program in the next fall semester is counted in this rate.
Calculating Retention Rate
Schools record retention data on first-time students admitted in a certain class then compare it to the data on returning students the next year, expressing it as a ratio or percentage. For instance, if 1,000 students were admitted in 2017, and 700 of them are still enrolled in 2018, statisticians divide the second number by the first and come up with .70 or 70 percent.
Factors affecting Retention Rate
Many variables affect retention. Students may have family problems, become homesick, run out of money or have poor grades, for example. Another variable is gender. Women seem to be more likely to persevere than men. Asian-American and White students had higher retention rates than other races. Of course, there are factors inherent in that statement such as income and other issues that make that percentage difficult to support. First-year college grades are predictors too because a student who is doing well is less apt to drop out.
More Facts on Retention Rate
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According to a US News and World Report, public community colleges seem to have the lowest retention rates, followed by private, liberal arts schools, public research universities and private universities.
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The national average for all schools is a retention rate of 65.7%
Colombia University and University of Chicago and Yale retains 99 % of its freshmen.
Tennessee State University retains 47 % of its freshmen.
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Broader admission policies can affect the retention rate at colleges. This is likely one of the reasons why the University of Nebraska at Lincoln is grappling with a relatively low rate says an article in The Daily Nebraskan.
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Students can find the retention percentage for different schools by searching the US News and World Report rankings. It helps students to better choose their schools to learn and succeed.
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