Influences on Student Outcomes at Small Thai Private Universities

This research rigorously examines the determinants shaping undergraduate student outcomes within two small private Thai universities, specifically Asia-Pacific International University and Krirk University. The emphasis on small private universities is deliberate, given their heightened vulnerability to institutional instability. This susceptibility primarily stems from their intrinsic characteristics: limited enrollment capacities, significant dependence on sustained student persistence, and tuition revenue for operational continuity. Utilizing a quantitative approach, the study surveyed 371 students and analyzed the data using a mediated structural equation model (SEM). This model delineates relationships between key independent variables—academic integration, instruction, emotional distress, institutional support, satisfaction, and social integration—and student outcomes, namely student persistence, voluntary withdrawal, and institutional transfer. Academic integration directly affected satisfaction (β = .214) and indirectly influenced persistence (β = .138). Emotional distress significantly affected institutional transfer (β = .454) and voluntary withdrawal (β = .51). Furthermore, a substantial relationship was observed between instruction and academic integration, with a β value of .849. These findings offer invaluable insights into the multifaceted dynamics potentially influencing student experiences and decisions in the context of small private Thai universities. Institutions seeking improved retention rates should note the importance of balancing academic and social elements in an integrated environment.