The Relation Between Program Factors and Doctoral Completion and Time to Degree

• In Event: 31.091 - Roundtable Session 10
  In Roundtable Session: 31.091-15 - Factors Facilitating Doctoral Success

Abstract

This study examines program factors that influence doctoral completion and time to degree among 5,004 doctoral programs at 212 universities in the United States. Regression analyses determined the relationships between program factors and doctoral completion and time to degree, controlling for program characteristics and six broad fields. Analyzing the National Research Council (NRC)’s data collected for 2005-2006 academic year, we found that doctoral programs’ research activity, faculty characteristics, student support and diversity significantly predicted doctoral completion and median time to degree. There findings provide a better understanding of how program characteristics, resources and services are related to both doctoral completion and time to degree.

Author

• Enyu Zhou, University of Missouri-Columbia