What Do They Suffer? An Examination of Personal, Program, and Environmental Factors Impacting Nontraditional Undergraduate Students' Dropout.

This article investigates factors influencing program dropout among nontraditional university students—defined as adult learners typically over age 24 with multiple responsibilities—using institutional database records and an online survey at a Midwestern public university. Logistic regression analysis identified age and academic experience variables as significant predictors of dropout, while survey responses highlighted financial difficulties, work changes, family challenges, and program-related issues such as course availability and unmet expectations as primary reasons for departure. The study underscores the complexity of dropout decisions, involving personal, academic, and environmental factors, and emphasizes the need for institutions to use systematic data management and tailored support services to improve retention among nontraditional students. Limitations include the study's focus on a single institution and the absence of some demographic and socioeconomic variables, suggesting further research across diverse settings is warranted.