A Quantitative Approach to Analyzing Student Dropout in Higher Education in Southeastern Mexico

Abstract

Student dropout occurs in different educational systems and levels worldwide, particularly in higher education. This paper reports on the findings obtained from a descriptive explicative study that aimed to explain the phenomenon and the causes that led students to abandon their studies in a public university located in southeastern Mexico. The findings three main types of causes, namely: academic, economic, and personal. However, there is also a connection between these causes, which points to the multi-factorial and complex nature of student dropout. This paper offers recommendations to reduce and prevent student dropout in higher education.