How to Improve Student Retention in Higher Education
Student retention is one of higher education’s most urgent challenges, and one of its greatest opportunities for lasting impact. Individual institutions, educators, and leaders have a powerful role to play in driving meaningful, long-term change.
Each year, millions of students enter college with the drive and potential to succeed. Yet, according to a 2024 survey by Sallie Mae, one in four current undergraduates are at risk of not completing their degree. By recognizing the academic, financial, and social-emotional barriers that stand in their way, especially for first-generation, part-time, and underrepresented students, institutions can strengthen support systems and create better pathways to graduation.
Retention isn’t just about keeping students enrolled. It’s about fulfilling the promise of opportunity and success in higher education. Improving student retention requires moving beyond reactive strategies and building proactive systems that support all aspects of the student experience, especially the cultural and relational dynamics that help students believe they belong and can succeed.
In this article, we explore several of the critical factors that play a role in improving student retention, and we offer faculty practical retention strategies that prioritize creating classroom and school environments where all students feel supported and motivated to stay on track.
Overview of the Student Retention Crisis
According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, only about 60% of students at four-year institutions complete their degrees within six years, and the numbers are even lower for community colleges, where fewer than 40% earn a credential within three years.
Research by Gonclaves, Sierra ,Rafaeli, and others shows that the reasons behind attrition are multifaceted and include academic underpreparedness, financial barriers, and social disconnection. Students who enter college without adequate preparation often struggle in coursework, which lowers their confidence and increases the risk of dropping out. At the same time, rising tuition costs and limited access to financial aid continue to disproportionately affect students from low-income backgrounds, further compounding the risk of attrition.
Beyond academic and financial hurdles, social disconnection plays a major role in student retention. This article by the University of Washington Magazine illustrates that many students report feeling invisible or out of place on campus, especially when they don’t see their identities or experiences reflected in the learning environment. Strategies that foster connection and belonging are increasingly essential—not only to help students stay enrolled, but also to improve their academic performance and long-term success.
Impact on Institutional Success, Funding, and Long-Term Student Outcomes
When students leave college before earning a degree, the ripple effects are significant. Students may face lost momentum, burdensome debt, and diminished career prospects, but they aren’t the only ones who experience negative consequences. Institutions with low retention rates face declining revenue, lower rankings, and weakened public trust which can exacerbate existing retention problems.
The Cost of Low Student Retention for Learners
When students leave college with significant debt but no credentials, it undermines their long-term financial stability and job opportunities. For example, students who withdraw without completing a degree are three times more likely to default on their student loans, with low-income and historically marginalized students disproportionately affected (NPR, 2019).
Additionally, according to Carnevale, Rose, and Cheah (2011), individuals with some college but no degree earn 15–25% less over their lifetimes compared to those with an associate's or bachelor’s degree. Both of these dynamics contribute to economic immobility and inequity.
The Financial Strain on Institutions
Low student retention doesn’t just affect individuals; it also poses serious risks to institutional health and sustainability. Colleges and universities lose tuition revenue, may experience reputational harm, and face increasing pressure from performance-based funding models when students withdraw before earning a credential.
The Bipartisan Policy Center (2023) shows how state funding plays a critical role in shaping institutional capacity to support student success. When state appropriations decline, institutions often respond by raising tuition or reducing spending on instruction and student services, both of which can negatively impact student retention and completion rates.
A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research shows that a 10% drop in funding can result in a 3.6% decrease in graduation rates for bachelor’s-seeking students at public research universities. These financial constraints disproportionately affect low-income and underrepresented students, who rely more heavily on institutional support services.
The consequences of student attrition are clear and understanding and addressing the root causes is essential to reversing the trend.
Barriers to Student Retention
Behind every student departure is a story that often goes untold. While retention data typically highlights the outcomes, it rarely captures the systemic or environmental factors that shape a student’s decision to withdraw. Academic preparedness, financial stress, and personal motivation all play a role—but so do the institutional structures, policies, and campus cultures that may unintentionally create friction or exclusion. To build effective, sustainable student retention strategies, institutions must first understand what’s pushing students out and where they can remove barriers to help them stay.
Financial Pressures and Affordability Gaps
For many students, financial strain is not just a stressor—it’s a tipping point. Rising tuition costs, limited access to emergency aid, and the need to balance work and school can make persistence difficult, especially for first-generation and low-income students. Even those receiving financial aid often struggle to pay for necessary expenses like housing, transportation, and food.
A Gallup and Lumina survey shows financial concerns remain one of the most commonly cited reasons students leave college before earning a degree. Addressing affordability challenges through flexible payment options, emergency aid, and clear communication about financial resources is essential to keeping students enrolled and on track toward graduation.
Social Disconnection and Belonging
Beyond financial challenges, social disconnection is a significant contributor to student attrition, and one that is often overlooked. Research by Pedler, Willis, and Nieuwoudt (2022) found that students with a stronger sense of belonging reported higher levels of motivation and enjoyment in their studies. Similarly, those who frequently considered leaving college had significantly lower levels of perceived belonging than their peers.
Even as college campuses become more diverse, many students still struggle to find a sense of connection within institutional cultures that may not reflect or affirm their identities. When students don’t feel seen, heard, or valued—whether in classrooms, peer groups, or campus life—it can lead to disengagement and, eventually, withdrawal.
Unless institutions recognize and address these social and cultural disconnects, they risk losing students because of isolation and a lack of belonging.
The Need for a Holistic Approach to Student Retention
While rising college costs and affordability challenges must be addressed through thoughtful policy and institutional action, a proactive framework for improving student retention must also consider the cultural and relational dimensions of the student experience.
PERTS' research consistently highlights the importance of structured, supportive learning environments on retention. Practices such as active learning, regular formative assessments, and collaborative group work enhance academic performance and promote deeper engagement, especially when paired with strategies that build students' confidence and sense of belonging. Institutions that invest in these approaches see improvements in students’ motivation, resilience, and long-term commitment to educational goals, which inevitably lead to improved academic outcomes.
Additionally, fostering a sense of belonging is crucial for student retention (Harackiewicz and Priniski, 2017). Targeted interventions that enhance students' perceptions of belonging and self-efficacy across diverse student demographics support academic achievement and also contribute to a more positive and inclusive campus culture.
Equally important is the cultivation of a campus culture that affirms student identity and fosters meaningful social connections. When students feel seen, valued, and supported, they are more likely to stay in school and succeed. Targeted interventions that support social and emotional development, identity affirmation, and inclusive learning environments are essential components of any comprehensive retention strategy. To move the needle on student success, institutions must prioritize human-centered elements as much as they do financial or structural reforms.
Evidence-Based Student Retention Strategies
When students are engaged in positive learning environments where their voices are acknowledged and their contributions are respected, they are more likely to stay enrolled and succeed academically.
The following research-based retention strategies for college students can help institutions address both academic and non-academic barriers to success.
Build a Sense of Belonging Early and Consistently
A strong sense of belonging is one of the most powerful predictors of student retention. When students feel that they are respected and included in the learning environment, they are more likely to stay engaged and committed to their academic goals. Institutions can create a culture of belonging through inclusive pedagogy, proactive communication, and relationship-building. Early-term efforts to build connections can have lasting effects on retention throughout a student’s academic journey.
Provide Opportunities for Students to Share Their Voice and Experiences
Student voice, which involves giving students opportunities to express their perspectives and reflect on their experiences, strengthens engagement and enhances their sense of ownership over learning. Structured feedback mechanisms, reflection prompts, and classroom practices that encourage dialogue can help students contribute meaningfully and engage more deeply in their learning. These practices not only strengthen the connection between students and educators but also surface valuable insights that can inform institutional improvements. Together, these efforts support stronger student retention outcomes.
Promote Growth Mindset and Motivation
Students who believe that their abilities can develop through effort and effective strategies are more resilient in the face of academic challenges. Framing setbacks as opportunities for learning and emphasizing process over outcomes promotes a growth mindset and can foster motivation and persistence. Research has shown that students who internalize these beliefs are more likely to stay enrolled, especially when they encounter difficult coursework or transition periods. As part of broader student retention strategies in higher education, growth mindset interventions support persistence and academic resilience.
Use Formative Assessments to Guide Support
Formative assessments that gather student feedback on their course experience can shed light on the impact of various retention strategies. When instructors receive timely insight into how students are engaging with course content, classroom climate, and instructional clarity, they can respond with targeted support. These low-stakes assessments help surface challenges before they escalate and encourage more responsive teaching. By showing students that their experiences matter, formative assessments strengthen engagement, boost confidence, and support academic persistence.
A study conducted by the Student Experience Project demonstrates that when students feel they belong, they’re more likely to stay enrolled and succeed in class. In fact, small changes to the learning environment led to fewer D/F/W grades and more A/Bs, especially for students from underserved backgrounds.
Research Reveals How Belonging Drives Student Retention and Success
How Colleges Are Improving Student Retention With Ascend
PERTS’ Ascend is a data-driven professional learning program that helps college instructors and administrators understand how students are experiencing their courses and what changes can be made to create more engaging and supportive environments that drive student retention.
How Ascend Works to Improve Student Retention
Through brief, research-backed surveys, Ascend captures students’ perceptions of critical classroom conditions linked to academic success and persistence. The feedback allows educators to reflect, respond, and refine their teaching practices in ways that strengthen motivation, belonging, and ultimately, retention.
The Ascend survey focuses on core learning conditions tied to student belonging. Students are asked to rate their level of agreement with a series of statements that reveal their perceptions of support and connection. Here’s a preview of three key areas the survey addresses:
-
Social Connectedness: Do students feel supported by the people around them?
-
Belonging Certainty: Do students feel like they belong in the classroom and campus community?
-
Self-Efficacy: Do students believe they can succeed in their courses?
The following case studies highlight how institutions across the country are using Ascend to create more motivating and effective learning environments, and improve student outcomes.
CSU Fullerton
At CSU Fullerton, Ascend was integrated into large introductory courses to support early engagement and persistence. Instructors used feedback from Ascend to adjust their messages to encourage students, clarify expectations, and foster a more inclusive classroom climate. As students began to feel more connected and supported, instructors saw improvements in attendance and assignment completion. Both of these are key early indicators of stronger student retention.
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico used the Ascend program to better understand the student experience in courses with historically high withdrawal rates. Faculty gained insights into how students perceived their learning environment, then made targeted changes to increase motivation and cultivate a sense of belonging. These efforts led to measurable improvements in course persistence and completion, as well as students' confidence in their academic abilities.
Sacramento City College
At Sacramento City College, Ascend empowered instructors to hear directly from students, many of whom were the first in their families to attend college. Students shared that being asked for feedback made them feel recognized and respected. In response, instructors were able to strengthen relationships with students and address students’ needs more effectively. This feedback loop fostered a culture of care, contributing to increased persistence and improved retention across key courses.
Getting Started with Ascend
If you're looking for actionable insight into how to improve student retention in higher education, Ascend gives colleges a clear, scalable way to do just that. The Ascend program measures and strengthens key classroom conditions that impact retention, such as social connectedness, belonging certainty, and self-efficacy. The implementation process is simple and scalable: instructors receive student feedback through a short, research-based survey and gain actionable insights they can apply right away to build more positive and effective learning environments.
Colleges that implement Ascend benefit from step-by-step onboarding, robust training, and expert support from the PERTS team. PERTS provides the tools and guidance educators need to improve instructional practices and create classrooms where all students are more likely to persist and succeed.