Attrition rates for students in online programs can soar above 60 percent. But according to a recent survey from EducationDynamics, something can be done to combat this.
There will always be the main issues, among them family or work obligations monopolizing too much time, but one of the biggest and most hidden problems uncovered by this survey is that not enough online learners seek any sort of help or let anyone know before dropping out.
Among those who dropped out of their degree or certificate programs, 40 percent failed to seek any help or resources before abandoning their programs, according to the information gleaned from a survey of nearly 150 respondents who visited EducationDynamics’ Web properties eLearners.com and EarnMyDegree.com.
What are the main reasons for dropping out?
The survey was designed to identify students’ motivations for deserting their online degree or certificate programs. The results were as follows:
· Financial challenges – 41 percent
· Life events – 32 percent
· Health issues – 23 percent
· Lack of personal motivation – 21 percent
· Lack of faculty interaction – 21 percent
What could help?
Part of the survey asked what resources online institutions could have provided to improve the online student experience and potentially prevent drop out. The answers were as follows:
· More online student services and Web-based academic advising –53 percent
· Self-help, time management and organizational advice – 46 percent
The survey also captured the school-student communication methods students prefer, and new media avenues proved to be the most popular among respondents: 90 percent of respondents preferred connecting with others online, through discussion forums and social networking communities.
“These survey results confirm the fact that schools can play a more active role in retaining students by identifying their key life issues, such as important personal events and financial issues, and creating compelling interactive content that addresses them,” says Peter Tomassi, senior vice president of product development for the Enrollment and Retention Services Division of EducationDynamics.
What does the future hold?
The experts at EducationDynamics believe that the future should be viewed optimistically. “While students tend to drop out prior to utilizing retention resources, we believe they are generally interested in such assistance so long as services are available in convenient, easily accessible formats,” says Tomassi.
Amazingly, nearly half (47 percent) of the students who dropped out did so before ever completing even one online course. However, online schools should be encouraged to read that, of the students who dropped out, 71 percent plan to resume their online education within the next two years.
In order to retain those students, as well as the next crop of learners, online programs need to implement accessible Web-based tools that let students feel connected to the institution and to their peers, and that allow them to seek help in as convenient a means as possible.
For more information on how best to implement some of these resources, contact EducationDynamics’ Enrollment and Retention Services at 201-377-3329 or partner@educationdynamics.com.