Refining a Theory of Adult Student Attrition in Two-Year Colleges: Risk Factor Changes Since 2000

• In Event: 28.043 - Adult Student Success in Higher Education

Abstract

The percentage increase of students age 25 and over has been larger than the percentage increase of younger students, and projected a rise of 14% in enrollments of students 25 and over from 2011 to 2021. College student attrition is a significant issue facing U.S. postsecondary education, and previous research indicates that two-year colleges experience student attrition rates of 50% over 3 years. This longitudinal quantitative study used BPS data from 2000/01, 2008/09, and 2012/14 to test Bean and Metzner’s 1985 Student Attrition Model with adult students at two-year colleges (N=1500) using three different measures of persistence. Results from linear multiple regression models produced five primary findings involving student background characteristics, attendance, and financial aid.

Authors

• Lisa Oden, Southern Arkansas University

• Amanda L. Nolen, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

• Jim Vander Putten, University of Arkansas at Little Rock