Retention & Persistence

Thomas More University monitors retention and persistence rates for the first-time, full-time, bachelor-degree-seeking cohort as indicators of student success and institutional effectiveness. 

Retention is defined as the percentage of first-time, full-time students who are enrolled full-time in the fall term and return full-time for the subsequent fall term. Persistence is defined as the percentage of first-time, full-time students who are enrolled full-time in the fall term and remain enrolled full-time in the subsequent spring term. These measures provide insight into students’ continued enrollment and progression within the University. The institutional goal for retention of the first-time, full-time cohort is 75 percent, and the institutional goal for persistence of this cohort is 90 percent. These data are reviewed regularly to support assessment, planning, and continuous improvement.