Exploring the Relationship Between Non-Cognitive and Affective (NCA) Factors and First-Year Retention of Undergraduates in Engineering

In this work in progress research paper, we investigated whether non-cognitive and affective (NCA) factors that predict academic success through GPA may relate to other forms of success such as student retention in engineering programs. Studies show that most students leave engineering within the first two years, making national retention rates in engineering less than 50%. Furthermore, the students who leave engineering are often academically talented, indicating a need to examine other success measures beyond GPA such as non-cognitive and affective (NCA) factors. Using data from a single institution (n = 540), we explore the NCA differences between students who remained in engineering after their first year and those who are no longer enrolled in engineering, or even in college at all. Results show that only one demographic and five NCA measures are statistically significant predictors of continued enrollment. Overall, a better understanding of student success as measured by retention using NCA profiles might assist researchers and practitioners with developing interventions and supportive environments that promote students’ academic success and thriving in engineering.