Freshmen Persistence and Retention Rates Are Up. Here’s How You Can Sustain the Trend.
Freshmen retention and persistence has remained a constant challenge for institutions across the country. Reasons for freshmen dropouts range from not being academically prepared to financial stress to feeling a lack of belonging. On the surface, these issues seem addressable, yet freshmen persistence and retention rates have held relatively steady for years. But for the first time ever, freshmen persistence has risen above 75%; it appears some of the post-COVID measures institutions put in place are starting to bear fruit. This begs the question: What are institutions doing to improve freshmen persistence and retention and how might these measures be bolstered to improve rates in the future?
The latest retention (defined as when a student returns to the same institution) and persistence (defined as when a student returns to any institution) numbers were released in a recent report by the National Student Clearinghouse. The report revealed that the national persistence rate for students who started college in the fall of 2022 rose to 76.5% and the national retention rate was 68.2%.
Below, we explore which key measures institutions are taking to support student retention as well as how these measures can be strengthened to ensure persistence and retention trends continue their upward trajectory.
1. Committing to Early Intervention and Personalized Support
The first year of college is a critical period for student persistence, and if institutions can recognize which academic, financial, and personal difficulties are impacting their students, they are more likely able to implement earlier intervention measures. Many institutions have already done this by using retention software with early alert systems and using their student data to identify specific trends impacting their unique student bodies.
But community colleges in particular are going a step further—which is perhaps why these institutions have seen the most dramatic increase in first-year retention and persistence. Because of their more localized nature, many community colleges are implementing food pantries, emergency fund programs, and even daycare initiatives to help students overcome obstacles that would otherwise impede their academic success.
Other institutions can follow these and similar trends to further support their retention programs. Personalized approaches that cater to unique student cohorts will likely improve the overall college experience—one of the biggest factors that contribute to retention at a particular institution.
2. Fostering Belonging Beyond the Classroom
Stepping onto a college campus can be a daunting experience for freshmen; they’re navigating a new environment, facing academic challenges, and often grappling with unfamiliar feelings of isolation. Feelings of isolation in particular rose sharply in the wake of the pandemic, as many higher education environments shifted online. In response, many institutions implemented programs that focused on fostering student belonging. Initiatives like peer mentoring programs and freshmen-specific faculty office hours and social events increased opportunities for interaction and community engagement outside of academic settings.
While many institutions have made great inroads into improving peer connections on campus, many still struggle to improve student/staff relationships. This is due, in part, to staffing shortages and heavy workloads, which have made it difficult for staff to find time to interact with students. Something as simple as finding new ways to improve staff efficiency can go a long way towards fostering first-year student belonging. The more relationships students build with campus staff and faculty, the more connected they’ll become to campus.
3. Improving First-Year Student Experience Programs
First impressions matter, and the freshman year often sets the tone for the entire college experience. This is why many institutions are revamping their first-year student programs. Since the pandemic, many have retooled orientation programs, turning optional summer weekend orientations into week-long programs geared toward preparing freshmen to succeed in their first year. These programs go beyond the usual campus tours and institute sessions that teach freshmen how to use campus technology, introduce them to peers, and instruct them in unique campus traditions.
But there are even further steps institutions can take to improve first-year student experience programs. For instance, they can invest in faculty development programs that focus specifically on those who teach first-year courses. These programs can provide teaching strategies that foster inclusive classrooms, and they can instruct educators on how to conduct more impactful office hours and advising sessions.
By implementing strategies that better identify student struggles, promote a sense of belonging, and bolster first-year experiences, institutions can foster an environment that supports student success and sets them on the path to graduation. And as institutions continue to strengthen these programs on campus, there is little doubt that persistence and retention numbers will continue to rise.
