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Degree Completion Among Nontraditional College Students

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  • Hiromi Taniguchi
  • Gayle Kaufman

Abstract

Objective. With the growing number of older students attending college, one major issue concerning these nontraditional students is their overall low completion rates. We examine factors affecting nontraditional students' degree completion. Methods. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, we examine the effects of student characteristics on the probability of finishing college with event history models. Results. Part‐time enrollment significantly deters college completion, whereas the number of prior enrollments facilitates it. Being relatively young, having high cognitive ability, and a high‐status occupational background also increase the chance of completion, but these effects partly differ by gender. On the other hand, being divorced and having young children, the factors often negatively associated with women's socioeconomic status, suppress degree completion for both genders. Conclusions. Based on these results, we discuss how higher educational institutions and employers might be able to help increase the rate of completion among nontraditional students.

Suggested Citation

  • Hiromi Taniguchi & Gayle Kaufman, 2005. "Degree Completion Among Nontraditional College Students," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 86(4), pages 912-927, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:86:y:2005:i:4:p:912-927
    DOI: 10.1111/j.0038-4941.2005.00363.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Susan M. Dynarski, 2003. "Does Aid Matter? Measuring the Effect of Student Aid on College Attendance and Completion," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 93(1), pages 279-288, March.
    2. Eric Bettinger, 2004. "How Financial Aid Affects Persistence," NBER Chapters, in: College Choices: The Economics of Where to Go, When to Go, and How to Pay For It, pages 207-238, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jin Chen & Don Hossler, 2017. "The Effects of Financial Aid on College Success of Two-Year Beginning Nontraditional Students," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 58(1), pages 40-76, February.
    2. Peter Riley Bahr & Claire A. Boeck & Phyllis A. Cummins, 2022. "Is Age Just a Number? A Statewide Investigation of Community College Students’ Age, Classroom Context, and Course Outcomes in College Math and English," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 63(4), pages 631-671, June.
    3. Peter Riley Bahr & Claire A. Boeck & Yiran Chen & Paula Clasing-Manquian, 2024. "Less is more, or is it? Age and Gender Differences in How Students Build Momentum toward College Graduation," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 65(8), pages 1771-1803, December.
    4. Patrick Denice, 2017. "Back to School: Racial and Gender Differences in Adults’ Participation in Formal Schooling, 1978–2013," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 54(3), pages 1147-1173, June.
    5. Zavale, Nelson Casimiro & Santos, Luísa A. & Manuel, Lourenço & da Conceição L. Dias, Maria & Khan, Maida A. & Tostão, Emílio & Mondjana, Ana M., 2017. "Decision-making in African universities demands rigorous data: Evidence from graduation rates at Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 122-134.
    6. Martin Hällsten, 2011. "Late Entry in Swedish Tertiary Education: Can the Opportunity of Lifelong Learning Promote Equality Over the Life Course?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 49(3), pages 537-559, September.
    7. Paul Attewell & David Monaghan, 2016. "How Many Credits Should an Undergraduate Take?," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 57(6), pages 682-713, September.

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