What Drives part-time Retention? Impact of Institutions, Geography and COVID

Session Abstract: Part-time enrollment at both two- and four-year public institutions has increased substantially over the past decade, yet research on part-time student success remains limited, particularly at highly accessible, affordable institutions such as regional public universities (RPUs) and community colleges (CCs). Using the institutional performance in graduation rate (IPGR) framework, this study examines how student background, student finance, academic environment, and social environment impact part-time retention at 449 RPUs and 858 CCs from 2017 to 2023 -spanning pre‑, during, and post‑COVID periods. Using the institution-level panel data and two-way fixed effects models, we identify how predictors of retention shifted across these periods. These findings extend and validate the IPGR framework, offering actionable insights for institutions seeking to strengthen part‑time student retention both during crises and in more stable periods.

Keywords: part-time students, regional public universities, community colleges, COVID, retention