The Role of Academic and Non-Academic Factors in Improving College Retention - ACT Policy Report

Oct 9, 2026

Globalization and shifting workforce demands increase pressure on postsecondary institutions to enroll and help students complete degrees promptly. Despite progress in high school graduation, college retention remains insufficient, with notable gaps in completion rates among demographic groups and an overall low six-year bachelor’s degree completion share. The report analyzes how academic and non-academic factors influence persistence and outlines retention strategies and recommendations to improve college retention outcomes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages41

Reading Time1 h 43 min

AccessFree to download

ACT Policy Research

Policy Research Advisory Panel

Preface

Executive Summary

1 Introduction

2 The ACT Study

3 Retention Strategies

4 Recommendations

Bibliography

ACT Policy Reports

The Role of Academic and Non-Academic Factors in Improving College Retention ACT POLICY REPORT VERONICA A. LOTKOWSKI STEVEN B. ROBBINS RICHARD J. NOETH ACT policy reports can be viewed and printed from ACT’s website ([www.act.org/research/policy/index.html](www.act.org/research/policy/index.html)). For additional information about ACT’s policy research work, copies of ACT policy studies, or to contact the ACT Office of Policy Research staff, please e-mail us at [policy@act.org](policy@act.org). THE ROLE OF ACADEMIC AND NON-ACADEMIC FACTORS IN IMPROVING COLLEGE RETENTION ACT Policy Report Veronica A. Lotkowski Steven B. Robbins Richard J. Noeth © 2004 by ACT, Inc. All rights reserved. IC 050804060 5608 CONTENTS ACT Policy Research ...................................... iv Preface .................................................. v Executive [Summary ....................................... vi](Summary ....................................... vi) [1 Introduction ............................................ 1](1 Introduction ............................................ 1) [2 The ACT Study ......................................... 4](2 The ACT Study ......................................... 4) [3 Retention Strategies ..................................... 11](3 Retention Strategies ..................................... 11) [4 Recommendations ...................................... 20](4 Recommendations ...................................... 20) [Bibliography............................................. 25](Bibliography............................................. 25) [ACT Policy Reports ....................................... 31](ACT Policy Reports ....................................... 31) ACT POLICY RESEARCH Policy Research Advisory Panel John C. Barnhill Director of Admissions Florida State University Julie D. Bell Program Director of Education National Conference of State Legislatures Don W. Brown Commissioner of Higher Education Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Antonio R. Flores President Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Patricia M. McDonough Professor UCLA Graduate School of Education Suellen K. Reed Superintendent of Public Instruction Indiana Department of Education Carolynn Reid-Wallace Former President Fisk University Gerald N. Tirozzi Executive Director National Association of Secondary School Principals Molly J. Tovar Chief Operating Officer American Indian Graduate Center Office of Policy Research Staff Richard J. Noeth Director Veronica A. Lotkowski Senior Research Associate Diane L. Schnelker Senior Research Associate George L. Wimberly Research Associate Braden J. P. Rood Administrative Assistant PREFACE This study, The Role of Academic and Non-Academic Factors in Improving College Retention, reflects ACT’s interest in analyzing the critical issues affecting persistence in college. It builds on extensive ACT research on retention that includes three national studies on retention practices, six national studies on academic advising (the latest published as a monograph by the National Academic Advising Association), and 20 years of data collection and reporting of college retention and degree completion rates through ACT’s Institutional Data Questionnaire. This policy report has greatly benefited from the contributions of many individuals. Several external-to-ACT educators provided considerable help in shaping the study and reviewing draft manuscripts. These individuals include John Braxton (Vanderbilt University), Andrew Cinoman (University of Iowa), Greg Hickman (Center for the Future of Arizona), and Mary Stuart Hunter (University of South Carolina). We are also grateful to Steve Hipple (Bureau of Labor Statistics) for his assistance in obtaining unpublished tabulations of unemployment data. The ACT Policy Research Advisory Panel provided recommendations about the formulation of the study and reviews of dr

FAQs

What problem does the report focus on?

The report focuses on improving college retention so more students persist and complete degrees in a timely way, despite shortcomings in current retention and completion outcomes.

Which factors does the report examine to improve retention?

It examines both academic and non-academic factors that affect students’ persistence in college.

What major outputs does the report provide?

It presents an executive summary, outlines the ACT study, provides retention strategies, and concludes with recommendations, followed by a bibliography and a list of ACT policy reports.

Oct 9, 2026

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