A Study of Factors Influencing Retention Rates at Wright State University: Differences in the Reported Degree of Importance and Satisfaction Rates of Caucasian and African-American Students in University College (UVC) Classes

by Espinoza, Claudia Valentina

This study examined the importance first-year students enrolled in University College (UVC) classes at Wright State University assigned to factors considered by scholars to influence student retention. Espinoza expected to find significant differences in the importance that African-American and Caucasian students assign to those factors, as well as to identify potential attrition rate in the two groups. The analysis of the data confirmed that the two groups assign different degrees of importance to certain factors, and consistent with research literature, the potential attrition rate for African-American students (10.03%) was slightly higher than that for Caucasian students (9.8%).