Abstract
This study was designed to compare factors that contributed to the retention of minority students at a Predominantly White Institution (PWI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Colleges and universities throughout the United States are faced with the task of making sure students successfully matriculate and graduate; when specifically looking at minority students this is even more of a challenge. In this study, the retention rate of the freshman to sophomore population of students at a PWI in the state of Georgia and an HSI in California was examined, specifically focused on minority students. The study included a review of current research and an analysis of data. Data collected from an online student survey and focus groups was used to determine what works, what does not work, and how these factors compare across the different types of institutions. In the quantitative phase of this study, data were collected through online surveys. The survey was sent to ethnic minority students who were freshman in 2013 and returned to the institution in 2014. The questions were divided into three groups. The groups were individual/student level factors, institutional level factors, and social/external level factor. The topics that emerged from the surveys given at both institutions were similar. They were academic preparedness, self-motivation, professors, family, and friends. In the qualitative phase of this study, students from the online survey were selected to participate in focus groups based on their survey responses. The discussions in the focus groups were developed from the topics that emerged from the survey results. From these topics, more specific themes were developed. Based on those themes, recommendations were made to assist universities with retaining minority students. Some recommendations dealt with ways to determine the motivation of students and their level of academic preparedness. Other recommendations dealt with how professors, family, and friends play a role in student retention and success.