Kean ranked low in freshman retention
By Rafaela Teixeira | Published by Oct. 3, 2018
Kean came second to last in NJ.com’s list of colleges where students are more likely to drop out with a freshman retention rate of 72.8 percent.
According to the article published in May, “colleges with the lowest freshman retention rates are those with the most low-income students, who often come least prepared for college and have no financial safety net.”
It later explains that the poor retention rate isn’t a “reflection of the college itself,” but a reflection of the students it caters to.
However, Margaret McCorry, Director of Media Relations, says that Kean’s retention rate has improved and is “close to the national average for comparable public colleges and universities.”
“A four-percent jump in retention in one year, from 2015-2016 to 2016-2017, demonstrates the University’s commitment to addressing student success,” said McCorry.
Dr. Neva Lozada, Director of Student Success and Retention, confirmed McCorry’s statement.
“It is also important to note that Kean has made tremendous growth in the area of retention since last year (the previous fall 2015-fall 2016 retention rate was 72.6%),” said Lozada. “An increase of nearly four percent in one year exemplifies Kean’s commitment to retaining its students.”
Freshman in their first semester have already planned to continue their education and graduate from Kean in 2022.
“Kean University was my first choice because they have an incredible program for the major I’m pursuing,” said Chelsea Ramos, a freshman majoring in Speech Language Hearing Sciences.
Ramos was offered an athletic scholarship at Rutgers University, however, chose to decline because the school does not offer a program in her intended major.
“I decided not to go since we have to pay for our education and it’s more important than athletics in my perspective,” said Ramos.
Other students decided to enroll at Kean because of the environment and campus visuals.
“At first, Rutgers was my number one choice, but once I came to Kean’s open house, I fell in love with the campus,” said Alisson Rodrigues, a freshman majoring in Psychology. “After that, Kean was the school I was dying to get into.”
Ramos continued to give insight on the different students enrolled at Kean.
“Students [might not] want to go to Kean because they have plans and goals set at a different school, or maybe Kean doesn’t have the requirements they need to pursue their major,” said Ramos. “… They [might] have the mindset to continue their education in a different college or maybe cost is a problem they can’t handle.”
According to Lozada, students that are prone to dropping out, transferring or taking fewer credits is becoming common among top colleges and is a struggle they all face.
“Today’s college students bring more complex backgrounds and pathways to their plans for degree completion, such as an increased likelihood of balancing work, family, and finances alongside their schooling, which sometimes may take priority,” said Lozada.
Lozada and McCorry encourage students of all levels to take advantage Kean’s tutoring and support programs that are targeted towards student success.
“The Office of Student Success and Retention partners with other departments and divisions to implement more proactive initiatives in an effort to understand and respond to students’ needs before they exhibit risk factors that may impact their academic performance or overall college persistence,” said Lozada.