Variables Involved in Withdrawal During the First Two Years of College: Preliminary Findings from the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972

Abstract

This study investigated the process of withdrawal from four-year and two-year institutions of higher education. Data were drawn from the base year and the first and second follow-ups of the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972. Results indicate that (1) women students are more likely to withdraw only in two-year colleges; (2) white students are more likely than black students to withdraw when other variables are controlled; (3) high school program, college grades, and educational aspiration account for most variance of withdrawal behavior; and, (4) the receipt of financial aid is not significantly related to college persistence.