2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This complete research paper details the impact of several factors on student retention in engineering through surveys administered in the first year and longitudinal enrollment records. Student retention in engineering programs has been a major focus in higher education in recent years as attrition rates are rising compared to other academic disciplines. Studies have shown that factors such as academic preparedness, self-efficacy and identity, sense of belonging, engaging learning experiences, and certain demographics contribute to student retention in engineering. Our previous work suggested that these factors may interact, combining to either support or hinder to retention. For example, first-generation students lack strong role models, which impacts engineering identity, and could contribute negatively to their persistence in engineering disciplines. In addition, we previously found that factors differ significantly across declared engineering majors. This work seeks to quantify the intersectional relationships between factors that impact retention in engineering.
A deeper understanding and examination of these factors can enhance the likelihood of student success and persistence in engineering and computer science disciplines. The primary factors explored in this study include: the level of confidence students had in selecting their specific engineering major, the factors influencing that decision, students’ perception of their engineering identity, their sense of community and belonging, and demographic variables including gender, race, and first-generation status. Surveys were administered in a first-year engineering course, Introduction to Engineering, in Fall 2023 and Fall 2024 at the beginning and the end of the semester. This allowed for investigating the effect of the course specifically, and the effect of students’ first semester experience as engineering students more broadly. There was a total of 126 students in 5 sections of the course in Fall 2023, and a total of 95 students in 4 sections of the course in Fall 2024. The engineering majors offered at this university include electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, environmental engineering, and computer science.
Longitudinal enrollment records were obtained from the university administration, documenting each student’s major and enrollment status since entry into the institution. This study will focus on examining potential correlations between student retention or attrition and the data collected through student surveys over the two academic years. The results are expected to provide insight into retention in engineering majors and possibly guide the future development of first-year experience. The details may help inform strategies for supporting students, such as improving their sense of belonging, creating pathways to engage with role models, cultivating robust engineering identities, and ensuring success in their academic pursuits.