persistence rate

Definition

The percentage of students who continue their studies from one term or year to the next, tracking academic stick-to-itiveness. It's retention's more specific cousin, measuring whether students keep showing up rather than just whether they eventually graduate.

Example Usage

The first-year persistence rate dropped to 78%, prompting the university to investigate whether students were leaving due to academic struggles, financial issues, or the campus food.

Origin

Developed in higher education research to measure shorter-term student continuation patterns

Fun Fact

High persistence rates don't always mean high graduation rates—students can persist for years without finishing, creating 'super seniors' who become campus fixtures.

Source: Higher education statistics and institutional research terminology

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