DigitalCommons@Linfield

Factors Affecting Retention at Private Baccalaureate Liberal Arts and Sciences Colleges

Jereld R. Nicholson Library

This paper attempts to analyze the factors that affect retention at private liberal arts colleges. Using the model’s estimated parameters, the effects of acceptance rate, average loans, average grants, and educational related expenditures were estimated using a panel data model. We found that increases in average grants and average loans led to higher levels of retention at Private Baccalaureate Colleges. We also found that a college’s acceptance rate is negatively correlated with the retention rate. Taken together, these calculations indicate the degree of importance each explanatory variable has on retention across the sample of schools. This analysis is intended to help Private Baccalaureate Colleges understand the factors that enhance the ability to successfully retain students.