Analysis of Graduation and Retention Rates in US Online Colleges

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Economics and Quantitative Analysis
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Contents
Purpose:...........................................................................................................................................3
Background:.....................................................................................................................................3
Method:............................................................................................................................................3
Results..............................................................................................................................................5
Discussion:.......................................................................................................................................8
Recommendation:............................................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................10
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In this report, different aspects will be studied for analysing the rate of Graduation and the
retention.
Purpose:
The purpose of preparing this assignment is that the relationship between the two variables
which are graduation rate and the retention rate can be ascertained. In this report through the
different aspects such as the scatter diagram, through the calculations of the mean, mode and
median the relationship between these two variables will be analyzed. The objective and the
motive of this assignment is that the relationship between the two rates and in this dept relation
and their co-relations can be ascertained.
Background:
Graduation rate can be defined as the students who have taken their degree within the specific
period of time after completing their particular course. Retention rate can be defined as the
numbers of the students who are enrolled in the college are continuing their degree in the same
college.
Different universities are using these two rates so that the correlation between the rate of the
retention and the graduation rate can be discussed and analysed (Koo and Li, 2016). These two
rates can be improved in any university by taking into consideration all the key major points of
the studies. As per the senior expertise, there is no as such relations has been seen in these two
variables but in this report, the relationship between the two variables will be analysed.
Method:
In this report, the analysis of the data will be done for the 29 colleges of the United States online
so that the interpretation can be done of two variables. In every college, two rates will be
analysed which are retention rate and the graduation rate (Koo and Li, 2016). In this report, the
calculation of these two variables will be analysed through the evaluation of the median, mode
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and the standard deviation. The relationship also explained with the help of the scatter diagram to
understand the relationship between the rate of retention (%) and the rate of the graduation (%)
In this report, the study of the regression is also done so that the dependence level of the rate of
graduation on the retention rate can be ascertained. By evaluating and ascertaining the
correlation coefficient and the other numerical calculations the relationship between the two
variables are identified. In the correlation coefficient, the value generally lies between the 0 and
1. If the correlation coefficient is 0 then there is no relationship between the retention and the
graduation rate but if the correlation coefficient is 1 than it is considered that these two variables
rely on each other.
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Results
a)
The analysis of the population has been given below:
b)
In this scatter diagram the one variable rely on the other which is shown below and the
correlation between the retention rate and the graduation rate is analysed.
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
RR v/s GR
GR(%)
Linear (GR(%))
RR
GR
Figure: The Co-relation between the two variables.
This diagram is representing the correlation between the rate of retention and the rate of
graduation. In this scatter diagram it is clearly stated that if there sit eh change in the retention
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rate than the graduation rate will also be get affected (Crawford, 2015). Through the help of this
diagram, it is clearly acquired that the relationship between the two variables is positive and they
have a strong relationship which can appear through the linear line.
c)
Regression equation: Y= a+ b X
Where:
Y = dependent variable (Graduation rate)
X = Independent variable (Retention rate)
a = Intercept at y-axis
b = slope of the line.
a (Y-intercept) = 25.423
b = 0.285
Equation = (Y = 25.423 + 0.285 X)
d)
Regression Equation = (Y = 25.423 + 0.285 X)
The correlation and the interconnection between the retention rates and the graduation rate are
ascertained through the regression line by defining the slope of the coefficient. The slope is
highlighting the positive relationship between the two variables which is representing the
equation of the 0.285 (Simpson, 2013). Both the variables are interconnected with each other as
an increase in the rate of 1% in the retention rate will result in the increase in graduation rate by
the 1.285%. The slope of the equation is lower than the numeric value 1 which is stating the
remote relationship between the two variables.
e)
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Regression Statistics
Multiple R 67%
R Square 45%
Adjusted R Square 43%
Standard Error
746
%
Observations 29
From the above, it is interrupted that retention rate is affected by the graduation rate and it relies
on that by the 45%. The R square is indicating the percentage of the 45%. The adjusted R Square
is representing 43% (Simpson, 2013). There is a moderate association between them as retention
rate gets affected by the rate of the graduation.
f)
It is concluded that the percentage rate of R Square is 45% which is moderating the good
relationship between the two variables of the graduation rate and the retention rate. The value
gets half of the graduation rate of the retention rate and the change is not fit of the approx 55%.
g)
The number of the retention rate is greater in South University as compared to the graduation
rate (Crawford, 2015). The university has a large number of students who are enrolling to the
studies which are not an ideal situation for the university.
h)
The number of the graduation rate is greater in the University of the Phoenix in comparison with
the other universities (Soria, et. al., 2013). The university has a lower number of the rate for the
retention which is showing the positive factor for the university as the number of students who
are graduating is higher in comparison to the students who are enrolling.
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Discussion:
By interrupting the data of the 29 UK Online universities of the study has been carried out to
evaluate the relationship between the rate of retention and the rate of graduation. In this report
through the help of the scatter diagram, mean, mode and median, through the evaluation of the
correlation coefficient, the interrelationship between the two variables are analyzed.
By interrupting the data of all the universities it has analyzed that the retention rate is greater
than the graduation rate because the rate of the enrolment of the students is greater than the
number of students who are graduate (Soria, et. al., 2013). The higher rate of the retention is
100% and the lower rate is 4% while the higher rate of graduation rate is 61% and the lower rate
is 25%. The percentage of R Square is 45% which is showing the positive relationship between
the two variables. In this rate of graduation is half of the rate of retention.
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Recommendation:
The rate of retention is higher than the rate of the graduation in the South University which is not
ideal for the university so for improving this the university has to take the certain implementation
and make some good strategies so that students start completing their degree and not just enroll
in the college.
The number of the graduation rate is higher than the number of the retention rate in Phoenix
University as a comparison to other colleges. So for improving the retention rate of the
university, they have to modify the good working environment and appoint the well-qualified
lecturers so that the number of the enrolling students can be increased.
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References
 Crawford, G. A. (2015). The academic library and student retention and graduation: An
exploratory study. portal: Libraries and the Academy, 15(1), 41-57.
 Keller, R. R., & Lacy, M. G. (2013). Propensity score analysis of an honors program’s
contribution to students’ retention and graduation outcomes.
 Koo, T. K., & Li, M. Y. (2016). A guideline of selecting and reporting intraclass correlation
coefficients for reliability research. Journal of chiropractic medicine, 15(2), 155-163.
 Simpson, O. (2013). Student retention in distance education: are we failing our students?. Open
Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, 28(2), 105-119.
 Soria, K. M., Fransen, J., & Nackerud, S. (2013). Library use and undergraduate student
outcomes: New evidence for students' retention and academic success. portal: Libraries and the
Academy, 13(2), 147-164.
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