Factors Affecting Adult Student Dropout Rates in the Korean Cyber-University Degree Programs

Few empirical studies of adult distance learners’ decisions to drop out of degree programs have used large enough sample sizes to generalize the findings or data sets drawn from multiple online programs that address various subjects. Accordingly, in this study, we used a large administrative data set drawn from multiple online degree programs to investigate meaningful factors (derived from a conceptual model for adult dropout) affecting adult distance learners’ decisions to drop out of online degree programs in a cyber-university. The findings indicate that adult students who have a low level of basic scholastic aptitude, the studying motive to go on to graduate school, more physical constraints, less learner-content interaction, frequent learner-instructor interaction, low level of satisfaction, and low GPA are more likely to drop out of degree programs. Surprisingly, this study found that learner-instructor interaction has a significant, but negative, effect on student persistence.