Student Demographics and Retention in Online Learning Environments
Abstract: As the growth of online programs continues to rapidly accelerate, concern over retention is increasing. Models for understanding student persistence in the face-to-face environment are well established, however, the many of the variables in these constructs are not present in the online environment or they manifest in significantly different ways. With attrition rates significantly higher than in face-to-face programs, the development of models to explain online retention is considered imperative. This study moves in that direction by exploring the relationship between student demographics and interactions, and retention at a large online university, with an n of 20,569. Analysis of data illustrated the importance of transfer credit and consistency of activity in predicting continued enrollment.