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Retention Rate

Understanding Retention Rate in Higher Education

 Retention rate measures the percentage of students who continue their studies at an institution from one academic year to the next.

Glossary Terms
Term
Description
Retention Rate

The proportion of students who stay enrolled at the institution year-over-year.

First-Year Retention

The percentage of freshmen who return for their second year.

Attrition Rate

The percentage of students who leave an institution before completing a program.

Retention Strategies

Institutional efforts to support student persistence.

Why It Matters

High retention indicates student satisfaction, academic support effectiveness, and institutional performance. It’s also a key accreditation and funding metric.