Trends and Causes of Student Dropouts in a Public Higher Education in Northern Philippines: A Data Visualization Approach

Abstract

This research utilized a quantitative research design and secondary data from the Registrar's Office of a State University in Northern Philippines. The main objective of the study was to analyze the trends and causes of student dropouts over four academic years, from 2019-2020 to 2022-2023 using data visualization techniques.

The findings showed that some programs had higher dropout rates in certain years, which could be attributed to factors such as program difficulty, financial constraints, personal reasons, and others. However, the study also identified programs with consistently low dropout rates, indicating the effectiveness of academic programs and support systems provided by the colleges.

In addition, the findings revealed that CPAD had the highest dropout rate in the initial year, but it had the highest decrease in dropout rate over the four-year period. The College of Human Kinetics had the lowest dropout rate initially but experienced a significant increase over the years. The College of Industrial Technology consistently maintained a low dropout rate.

Furthermore, the study identified financial difficulties as the most common reason for student dropouts, despite the Free Tuition Act, followed by transferring to another institution and health issues.

The study emphasized the importance of understanding these trends and causes to implement appropriate measures for improving student retention. The results can serve as a basis for future actions and recommendations to enhance student success and reduce dropout rates in the university.