Student retention 8% higher with parent engagement

On average, student retention was 8% higher for a student when their parent or guardian had data access compared to students with a parent who did not have access

CampusESP recently conducted an exploratory study of parent engagement and student retention based on 6,438 students enrolled at nine universities in the Fall of 2020. Results showed that students whose parent had financial and academic data access in CampusESP had higher retention rates than average.

Additionally, the data showed that the impact of parent engagement on retention is highest for students of color.

For the purpose of this study, "data access" refers to parents or family members having access to and in some cases receiving alerts about student records, including new holds, bills, and unmet financial aid requirements, via CampusESP.

These results complement earlier studies initiated by CampusESP on the impact of parents on student retention and persistence, including a 2017 Tarleton State University which showed that students whose families are involved with academic support are more likely to persist, and a 2018 study with Abilene Christian University that confirmed that parent engagement improves student persistence.

The results are clear and encouraging: parent engagement matters in student retention. Providing families with critical financial and academic information allows them to support their student, encourage them to stay on track, and ultimately contribute to their long-term success.