Exploring Students’ Pathways in the College of Education: Entry, Retention and Attrition Patterns

Student journeys in the College of Education, marked by high dropout rates, uneven retention, and various entry factors, lead to lower graduation rates, longer time to degree completion, and a shortage of qualified teachers despite intervention efforts. This research examines enrollment patterns, transfer and dropout rates, graduation rates, and primary factors influencing student attrition in the Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED) and Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSED) programs at a prominent tertiary institution in Ozamiz City, Northwestern Mindanao, from 2013 to 2023. The respondents included current students, alumni, and academic advisors affiliated with these programs. Quantitative analysis of historical enrollment records, transfer, dropout, and graduation rates utilized descriptive statistics and documentary analysis to identify trends, patterns, and potential reasons for fluctuations in these metrics. The BEED enrollment remained relatively stable, while BSED experienced significant volatility. Both programs showed varying dropout and transfer rates with no consistent trends. Graduation rates for BEED and BSED programs fluctuated significantly. Student attrition was primarily due to personal factors, with financial, administrative, and employment challenges also playing significant roles. These findings underscore the need for targeted strategies to enhance student retention and success. Fluctuations in enrollment, dropout, transfer, and graduation rates in the BEED and BSED programs from 2013 to 2023 were influenced by personal, financial, academic, and employment factors, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to enhance student retention and success. Future researchers may conduct thorough analyses of enrollment, dropout rates, student transfers, and graduation rates, implementing targeted interventions such as recruitment strategies, academic support programs, and enhanced student services to optimize educational outcomes in teacher education programs.