Birky, Hannah

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Valparaiso University

Valparaiso UniversityValpoScholarGraduate Academic Symposium Graduate SchoolSpring 5-2-2018First-year Retention Rates of Four-year, Not-for-Profit Colleges and Universities and InstitutionalCharacteristicsHannah Birkyhannah.birky@valpo.eduFollow this and additional works at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/gasThis Oral Presentation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ValpoScholar. It has been accepted for inclusion inGraduate Academic Symposium by an authorized administrator of ValpoScholar. For more information, please contact a ValpoScholar staff member atscholar@valpo.edu.Recommended CitationBirky, Hannah, "First-year Retention Rates of Four-year, Not-for-Profit Colleges and Universities and Institutional Characteristics"(2018). Graduate Academic Symposium. 49.https://scholar.valpo.edu/gas/49First-year	Retention	Rates	of	Four-year,	Not-for-Profit	Colleges	and	Universities	and	Institutional	Characteristics		Hannah	Birky		Abstract	This	paper	explores	the	correlations	between	retention	rates	and	various	university	characteristics	at	American	four-year,	not-for-profit	colleges	and	universities,	using	data	from	the	Integrated	Postsecondary	Education	System.	The	study	estimates	ordinary	least	squares	regressions	and	finds	that	cohort	size,	average	size	of	student	loan,	percentage	of	in-state	students,	percentage	of	women	in	the	cohort,	and	in-state	tuition	are	positively	correlated	with	first-year	retention	rates,	while	the	percentage	of	the	cohort	receiving	aid,	the	percentage	receiving	loans,	percentage	of	domestic	minorities	in	the	cohort,	and	the	percentage	doing	distance	education	are	negatively	correlated	with	first-year	retention	rates.			 The	paper’s	finding	that	minorities	have	lower	success	rates	after	the	first	year	reinforces	the	idea	that	colleges	and	universities	need	to	put	forth	effort	to	meet	the	needs	of	diverse	student	bodies,	especially	by	making	sure	that	university	faculty	and	staff	are	adequately	representative	of	the	student	body.		

First-year Retention Rates of Four-year, Not-for-Profit Colleges and Universities and Institutional Characteristics

ValpoScholar

Valparaiso University
ValpoScholar
Graduate Academic Symposium Graduate School
Spring 5-2-2018
First-year Retention Rates of Four-year, Not-for-
Profit Colleges and Universities and Institutional
Characteristics
Hannah Birky
hannah.birky@valpo.edu
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/gas
This Oral Presentation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ValpoScholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in
Graduate Academic Symposium by an authorized administrator of ValpoScholar. For more information, please contact a ValpoScholar staff member at
scholar@valpo.edu.
Recommended Citation
Birky, Hannah, "First-year Retention Rates of Four-year, Not-for-Profit Colleges and Universities and Institutional Characteristics"
(2018). Graduate Academic Symposium. 49.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/gas/49
First-year	Retention	Rates	of	Four-year,	Not-for-Profit	Colleges	and	Universities	and	
Institutional	Characteristics	
	
Hannah	Birky	
	
Abstract	
This	paper	explores	the	correlations	between	retention	rates	and	various	university	
characteristics	at	American	four-year,	not-for-profit	colleges	and	universities,	using	data	from	
the	Integrated	Postsecondary	Education	System.	
The	study	estimates	ordinary	least	squares	regressions	and	finds	that	cohort	size,	
average	size	of	student	loan,	percentage	of	in-state	students,	percentage	of	women	in	the	
cohort,	and	in-state	tuition	are	positively	correlated	with	first-year	retention	rates,	while	the	
percentage	of	the	cohort	receiving	aid,	the	percentage	receiving	loans,	percentage	of	domestic	
minorities	in	the	cohort,	and	the	percentage	doing	distance	education	are	negatively	correlated	
with	first-year	retention	rates.		
	 The	paper’s	finding	that	minorities	have	lower	success	rates	after	the	first	year	
reinforces	the	idea	that	colleges	and	universities	need	to	put	forth	effort	to	meet	the	needs	of	
diverse	student	bodies,	especially	by	making	sure	that	university	faculty	and	staff	are	
adequately	representative	of	the	student	body.	
	


https://scholar.valpo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1086&amp;context=gas

First-year Retention Rates of Four-year, Not-for-Profit Colleges and Universities and Institutional Characteristics

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