Examining the Factors Influencing Student Retention in Higher Education Institutions in Liberia

Abstract

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are currently dealing with growing concerns of student retention, non-completion, drop-out, and inter-university movement as part of the quality assurance challenges that are affecting numerous universities throughout the world. The process of quality assurance includes improvements to higher education facilities, teaching and learning quality, diversity, infrastructure development, and learning environment diversity. While it has been demonstrated that students’ retention and completion of studies at HEIs are based on financial and educational quality dimensions, there are other soft components and factors that are likely to influence students’ intentions to stay at a specific university, drop out, and transfer to other universities. This research investigates the factors that influence student retention and their intentions to stay and study at selected Liberian universities rather than transfer to other universities outside the country. For this study, a quantitative cross-sectional research approach was used, using a self-structured online questionnaire delivered to a specific university platform. Multiple linear regression was conducted using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The data demonstrated that institutional, social, family, and financial factors all have a favorable and significant impact on student retention. Thus, higher education institutions and other stakeholders should devise strategies to support and promote the country’s education sector.