{"id":2442,"date":"2026-09-26T02:37:39","date_gmt":"2026-09-26T02:37:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/knowacademia.com\/?p=2442"},"modified":"2026-09-26T02:37:41","modified_gmt":"2026-09-26T02:37:41","slug":"lost-revenue-due-to-differences-in-attrition-rates-for-part-time-and-new-students-at-private-colleges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/knowacademia.com\/?p=2442","title":{"rendered":"Lost Revenue Due to Differences in Attrition Rates for Part-Time and New Students at Private Colleges"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n

As private colleges move toward enrolling more part-time students, they may discover that their retention rate is much lower than full-time students. Table 1 shows the difference in attrition rates for full and part-time students for the first spring and the second fall of enrollment. By the first spring, the report indicates that more than 25% of part-time students have left the college and by the second fall 50% of those students are no longer enrolled. On the other hand, the attrition rate for full-time students is much lower. Table 1 and Table 2 set out the respective attrition rates and lost tuition revenue for full and part-students.<\/p>\n

Table 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

First Spring and Second Fall Attrition Rates for Full and Part-Time Students <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

First Spring Attrition<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Second Fall Attrition<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Full-Time<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Part-Time<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Full-Time<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Part-Time<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2015<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7.2%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

24.8%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

18.8%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

45.0%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2016<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7.4%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

24.9%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

19.1%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

46.2%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2017<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7.7%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

25.6%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

19.7%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

46.5%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2018<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7.6%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

26.8%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

19.7%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

49.0%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7.7%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

28.2%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

20.8%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

50.0%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2020<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9.3%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

27.4%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

21.0%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

53.6%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2021<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8.2%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

27.9%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

20.1%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

52.2%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8.1%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

29.4%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

20.1%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

53.1%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2023<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7.6%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

31.7%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

19.9%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

54.6%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2024<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7.6%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

27.7%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

20.2%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

52.0%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Average<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7.8%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

27.4%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

19.9%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

50.2%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Table 2 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Comparison of Part-Time Lost Students and Tuition Revenue Given Attrition Their Respective Attrition Rates <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Starting Fall Enrolled<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Retention Rate<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

End of First Semester<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Retention Rate<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Net Enrollment<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Lost Students<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

If Net Tuition is $12,000<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Lost Revenue First Year <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Full-Time<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

100<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

92%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

92<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

80%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

74<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

26 <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

$12,000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

$313,774 <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Part-Time<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

100<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

73%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

73<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

50%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

36<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

64 <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

$12,000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

$766,142 <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Table 2 is especially instructive of the difficult work that faces private colleges. As they increase part-time students, they could lose more than twice the tuition revenue compared to full-time students. The demographic cliff is enough of a problem for private colleges without contending with lost tuition revenue from part-time enrollment.<\/p>\n

The volatility of part-time student enrollments could also distort class scheduling and misallocate other academic resources. Moreover, the marketing cost of enrolling part-time students will be substantially higher if the college expects to match the net revenue of full-time students.<\/p>\n

\"Ratio<\/p>\n

Persistence and Retention Report<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Persistence and Retention Report<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

National Student Clearinghouse: Persistence and Retention<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Retention if they remain at their institution of initial enrollment<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS), \u201cFall Enrollment in Colleges and Universities\u201d surveys, selected years 1970 through 1985; Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), \u201cFall Enrollment Survey\u201d table 303.70<\/strong><\/p>\n

Persistence and Retention Report<\/a><\/p>\n

National Clearing House Research Center June 25, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Appendix<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

National Center for Education Statistics<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

National Clearing House Research Center<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Differences Between the Two<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Full-time<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Part-time<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Total<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Full-Time<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Part-Time<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Total<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Full-Time<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Part-Time<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Total<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

2015<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8,092,346<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,454,866<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,547,212<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

409,574<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

16,653<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

426,227<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7,682,772<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,438,213<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,120,985<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

2016<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8,120,721<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,661,510<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,782,231<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

413,630<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

16,825<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

430,455<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7,707,091<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,644,685<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,351,776<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

2017<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8,144,539<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,675,726<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,820,265<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

430,560<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

16,585<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

447,145<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7,713,979<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,659,141<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,373,120<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

2018<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8,155,104<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,708,304<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,863,408<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

441,452<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

17,729<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

459,181<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7,713,652<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,690,575<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,404,227<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8,165,320<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,801,508<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,966,828<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

432,337<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

17,789<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

450,126<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7,732,983<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,783,719<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,516,702<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

2020<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8,034,478<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,918,401<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,952,879<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

404,308<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

22,967<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

427,275<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7,630,170<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,895,434<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,525,604<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

2021<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7,854,922<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,908,810<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,763,732<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

431,770<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

20,011<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

451,781<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7,423,152<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,888,799<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,311,951<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7,808,684<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,932,814<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,741,498<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

429,031<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

22,664<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

451,695<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7,379,653<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2,910,150<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,289,803<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

2023<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8,036,349<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3,072,885<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11,109,234<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

431,827<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

24,511<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

456,338<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7,604,522<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3,048,374<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10,652,896<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

2024<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8,337,103<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3,351,875<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11,688,978<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

427,846<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

21,347<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

449,193<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7,909,257<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3,330,528<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11,239,785<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As private colleges move toward enrolling more part-time students, they may discover that their retention rate is much lower than full-time students. Table 1 shows the difference in attrition rates for full and part-time students for the first spring and the second fall of enrollment. By the first spring, the report indicates that more than […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"coauthors":[24],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/knowacademia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/knowacademia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/knowacademia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/knowacademia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/knowacademia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2442"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/knowacademia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2446,"href":"https:\/\/knowacademia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442\/revisions\/2446"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/knowacademia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/knowacademia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/knowacademia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2442"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/knowacademia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcoauthors&post=2442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}