ERIC Number: EJ1322181
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Feb
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1521-0251
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Undeclared versus Declared: Who Is More Likely to Graduate?
Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, v23 n4 p945-964 Feb 2022
Increasing graduation rates continues to be a high priority for administrators at many institutions of higher education. With longitudinal data from a large research university in the Western United States, the purpose of this study was to examine the potential relationship between matriculating with or without a major declared and degree completion. There exists a perception that an early decision about a major is an integral step in ensuring students graduate. Previous research about undeclared students and degree completion, however, is lacking and dated. Conceptually framed within Astin's (1993) input-environment-output model, logistic regression analyses were conducted using institutional records for the Fall 2010 cohort of 4,489 full-time enrolled, first time in college students. Matriculating as undeclared versus declared was not found to increase, or decrease, the likelihood of graduating in 4 years. With 6-year rates, however, undeclared students were more likely to graduate.
Descriptors: Majors (Students), Decision Making, Undergraduate Students, Full Time Students, Research Universities, Graduation Rate, Time to Degree, Student Characteristics, Predictor Variables, Educational Attainment, Academic Achievement, Academic Persistence, College Freshmen
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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Author Affiliations: N/A