Retention in a small liberal arts institution : the commuter student experience

Abstract

Research indicates that students who reside on campus are more likely than commuter students to persist in their studies until graduation. The purpose of this study is to explore factors that may influence retention for commuter students. Data were collected from 20 commuter students at a primarily undergraduate four-year institution, in three stages: administration of a brief questionnaire, individual in-depth interviews, and a focus group. The qualitative data gained was coded and analyzed, and a grounded theory entitled “the commuter student experience” was developed. The theory contains three main categories, various subcategories, and a mediating variable. The results and findings of this study provide validation for existing areas of research on commuter students; however, they also suggest areas for further exploration.