Tables (Data); Technical Institutes; Two Year Colleges

To determine factors influencing attrition and retention at Pennsylvania College of Technology, a survey was conducted of the 688 students who were enrolled in spring 1996 but neither graduated nor enrolled in fall 1996. Responses were received from 437 former students and were compared to findings from a Similar survey of 482 leavers in 1994. Study findings included the following: (1) overall, the college had a retention rate of 72.5 % in 1996, compared to 71.7 % in 1994; (2) the retention rate for low-income students, however, was only 69%, while for minority students besides Asian Americans it was 63%; (3) approximately 3096 of the leavers in both years had achieved their objectives, while their unemployment and graduation rates were comparable to graduates; (4) for both years, 17 % cited personal or family reasons as their primary reason for leaving, 12% transferred, and 10 % cited tuition and costs; (5) 1996 respondents rated their overall educational experience at 3 on a 4-point scale, down from 3.2