The Effect of Gateway Course Completion on Freshman College Student Retention

Abstract

This study measured the rate of retention to the second semester among first-time, full-time freshman college students who attempted a gateway course within their declared major during their first semester of college compared with students who declared a major, completed a course, but not the gateway course in their major and students who did not declare a major and completed any course. The findings in this study suggest that first-time, full-time freshman students who declared a major and successfully completed the gateway course were more likely to persist than students who were unsuccessful with the gateway course or students who declared a major, completed a course, but not the gateway course in their major. To improve retention of first-time, full-time freshman students, the results of this study indicate that changes are warranted in the way students are advised with regard to which courses they should complete in their first semester of college.