New York College Learning Skills Association

RTDE Issue Contents

Research and Teaching
in Developmental Education

Volume 19, Issue 1, Fall 2002

The Retention of Developmental Education Students at Four-Year and Two-Year Institutions
By Randy Moore, Murray Jensen, and Jay Hatch, The University of Minnesota

Abstract
The nationwide retention rate of developmental education students in higher education is approximately 33%. Retention rates at four-year institutions (private, public, and research universities) exceed the average, whereas those at two-year institutions (community colleges and technical colleges) are less than average. Retention rates of white students exceed those of Latino and African-American students at two-year institutions, public universities, and research universities. Only at private four-year institutions do retention rates of African-American students exceed the national average and that of white students. These results indicate that developmental education students have the best chance for success when they attend four-year institutions. We discuss these data relative to a new and more successful model for developmental education.