{"id":19430,"date":"2025-01-27T19:35:10","date_gmt":"2025-01-27T19:35:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goedmo.com\/blog?p=19430"},"modified":"2026-02-23T11:58:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T11:58:04","slug":"top-strategies-for-increasing-student-retention-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goedmo.com\/blog\/top-strategies-for-increasing-student-retention-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Strategies for Increasing Student Retention in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Student retention is a looming concern for the university\u2019s admissions department, given the fact that new challenges are cropping up in the higher education domain.  In 2024, first-year enrollment dropped by 5%, following a 3.4% increase in 2023. In 2022, first-year enrollment decreased<\/a> by 4.7%, and in 2021, there was a 3.1% decline.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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While attracting new students is important, it\u2019s equally important for colleges to focus on retaining current students to maintain enrollment. The good news? Retention rates are improving. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s talk about statistics! <\/span>USA\u2019s National Center for Education Statistics\u2019s 2019 data stated that:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The <\/span>overall retention rate for first-time and full-time undergraduate degree students who took admissions in 4-year degree-granting colleges in Fall 2019 was <\/span>82%. But the important thing to note here is that the retention rates were highest only in a few selective institutions that have low acceptance rates. Public higher education institutions\u2019 retention rate, which is also selective in nature was an impressive <\/span>96%, whereas the colleges which are known for higher acceptance rates and advocated an open admissions policy were only<\/span> 59%. Similarly, the retention rate at private non-profit 4-year institutions was 92% at the most selective institutions and 64% at the least selective institutions.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a recent report, the national persistence rate for students who started college in the fall of 2022 has risen to 76.5%, and the retention rate has increased to 68.2%, the highest in a decade. This progress shows that with accurate student retention strategies, colleges can keep students engaged and perhaps, maintain a successful record for retaining them as well. Wondering how to improve student retention in higher education? Let\u2019s dive into the top strategies for boosting student retention in 2025!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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How Can Universities improve the retention of students?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Student retention is an important factor for universities striving to maintain growth and stability. Using the right<\/span> student retention strategies can ensure that students stay engaged and complete their education. Let\u2019s see how universities can improve retention rates through AI.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use AI Chatbots for Personalized Support<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

AI chatbots provide instant, personalized assistance to students, answering their questions and guiding them through academic processes. By offering 24\/7 support, chatbots ensure students receive timely information, which boosts their confidence and engagement.<\/span> New York University partnered with EDMO<\/a> <\/strong>to implement <\/span>Violet, an AI chatbot, to streamline student support. Violet improved response times, enhanced operational efficiency, and reduced the workload. This allowed NYU to manage more student inquiries effectively. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use AI to Predict and Assist At-Risk Students<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

AI can evaluate student data to identify those who are at risk of dropping. By looking at factors like attendance, grades, and engagement, AI systems can predict which students need support. Early identification helps colleges to intervene before the situation worsens. While only <\/span>40% of colleges use predictive AI for enrollment and retention today, the potential for AI in this area is vast. By expanding its use, colleges can support students, improving retention rates. Research shows that early intervention can reduce dropout rates by as much as 25%.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make Learning Interesting with Gamification<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Gamification has proven to be a powerful tool for increasing student engagement. By using game-like elements\u2014such as points, badges, and challenges learning becomes more interactive. A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that gamified learning experiences can increase retention rates by as much as 90%. Additionally, a PwC study showed that gamified environments can increase<\/span> learner engagement by 60%. When students feel motivated and rewarded for their achievements, they are more likely to remain enrolled.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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Offer Flexible Paths to Graduation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Credit transfer allows students to bring academic credits from one institution to another, offering flexibility in their education.  AI helps universities quickly check and approve credits, saving time and effort. This flexibility helps students stay on track to graduate. With <\/span>EDMO’s Document Intelligence<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, universities can automate credit evaluations with precision. Institutions using EDMO complete transfer credit evaluations in <\/span>under 4 hours, ensuring a seamless process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building Connections Through Technology <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Research highlights the importance of social connections in boosting student persistence. A 2024 Student Voice survey found that 28% of community college students believe that opportunities for social engagement significantly affect their academic success. To address this, colleges can use technology to create virtual student organizations and mentorship programs. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As we enter 2025, it\u2019s clear that student retention is an essential area of focus for colleges and universities. Colleges can use effective <\/span>student retention strategies by creating a sense of belonging, using AI to provide personalized support, predicting and assisting at-risk students, using gamification in learning, and offering flexible paths to graduation. These <\/span>student retention strategies can help colleges not only keep students enrolled but also ensure they are engaged and motivated to graduate, ultimately leading to better results and financial stability for colleges. At EDMO, we are proud to be the only CRM-integrated AI solution in the market for student enrollment, helping institutions improve engagement and retention.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also Read:<\/strong> EDMO inks partnership with Anunaad Public School to assist potential study abroad students<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

K-12 Guide | Empower your advisors with the Power of Technology<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fisher College collaborates with EDMO to boost their student engagement and admission strategy<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

EDMO Partners with Tinsukia Commerce College to Simplify Study Abroad Applications<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Student retention is a looming concern for the university\u2019s admissions department, given the fact that new challenges are cropping up in the higher education domain.  In 2024, first-year enrollment dropped by 5%, following a 3.4% increase in 2023. In 2022, first-year enrollment decreased by 4.7%, and in 2021, there was a 3.1% decline. While attracting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":25280,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","two_page_speed":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1047],"tags":[1076,63,1072,1104,1087,1121,678,1120,1075],"class_list":["post-19430","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ai-in-education","tag-ai-in-education","tag-higher-education","tag-recruitment","tag-student-enrollment","tag-student-retention","tag-student-retention-hacks","tag-student-success","tag-student-success-hacks","tag-technology"],"acf":[],"modified_by":"Anjali Mishra","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goedmo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19430","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goedmo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goedmo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goedmo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/35"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goedmo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19430"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/goedmo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19430\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25009,"href":"https:\/\/goedmo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19430\/revisions\/25009"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goedmo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25280"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goedmo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19430"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goedmo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19430"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goedmo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19430"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}