The Eduventures 2015 Retention Ratings: Chutes and Ladders
Boston, Massachusetts (PRWEB) March 20, 2015 -- Eduventures, Inc., the leading research and advisory firm that is focused exclusively on analyzing the forces that are transforming higher education, today revealed the results of their 2015 Retention Ratings. College student retention rates – the percentage of full-time, first-year students who return the following year – can be a telling statistic for prospective students. The Eduventures rating scale is based on analyzing over 1,100 colleges and univerisites within Eduventures' retention model. This model for predicting full-time retention rates is based on factors that have been shown to have primary influence on retention: academics, affordability, and the social environment, also key factors that prospective students and parents use in choosing a college.
It is not surprising that retention has gained increasing focus at institutions across the country. Federal and state policymakers are exploring new measures to hold colleges and universities accountable for their performance including first year retention and overall graduation rates. The 2015 Retention ratings provide institutions with a realistic barometer of their retention rates and leverages a proprietary quantitative methodology to compare a college's performance against itself. By comparing these predictions to institutions’ actual retention rates, it was determined which institutions were high-performing and which were underperforming. Additionlly, Eduventures has research to help institutions make sense of their rating through indentifying common retention practices among institutions by student population. Interviews with “Outperformers” determined what practices contributed to the success of high performing colleges and universities.
Winners include fifteen schools that have made at least a three step improvement in their retention rating from the 2013 ratings.
See attached graphic for Top 15 Movers
According to Heather O’Leary, Principal Analyst at Eduventures, “It is crucial for an institution to scrutinize retention rates. Not only does low retention have a detrimental impact on the financial sustainability of a college, but there is also increased scrutiny from students, parents and key stakeholders specifically on outcomes such as retention and graduation rates. As institutions fight for every student, there is real risk from a cost and reputation standpoint that could impact recruiting outcomes in the future.”
Full rankings from the 2015 Report can be found at http://www.eduventures.com/retention/
About Eduventures
Eduventures is the leading research and advisory firm that is focused exclusively on analyzing the forces that are transforming higher education. Building on twenty years of success in working with education leaders, Eduventures provides forward-looking and actionable research based on proprietary market data, and advisory services that support both strategic and operational decision-making. Our recommendations and personalized support enable clients to understand the top traits of leaders in critical disciplines and to evaluate the opportunities presented by new technologies. For more information about Eduventure’s research, practice areas and team, visit us at http://www.eduventures.com.
Members of the media who wish to speak to the author of this research can contact Ellen Slaby, Vice President of Marketing at eslaby(at)eduventures(dot)com.
Ellen Slaby, Eduventures, Inc., http://www.eduventures.com, +1 617 532 6051, [email protected]
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