Beyond the Grades: Understanding Why Students Drop Out of College

To effectively support student persistence, educators must first develop a thorough understanding of the underlying factors that contribute to student attrition. Drawing on an extensive review of the literature, this session introduces a conceptual framework categorizing the primary non-academic reasons students withdraw into four domains: Economic, Sociological, Psychological, and Institutional (ESPI). Engage in an in-depth examination of each of these domains to better inform strategies that promote student retention and success.