Postsecondary Student Persistence and Pathways: Evidence From the YITS-A in Canada

Abstract

The Youth in Transition Survey is used to follow the postsecondary education (PSE) pathways and outcomes of Canadian youth over the mid 2000s. Separate analyses are done for students who started at community colleges and those who started at four year universities. First program outcomes are reported, showing that significant numbers of students leave their first programs but remain in PSE by switching to other programs, institutions, or levels. Multinomial regression is used to estimate the correlates of students’ first program switching and leaving decisions. Five year graduation rates are calculated to show the importance of different pathways (across programs, institutions, and levels) to earning a PSE credential; in the aggregate and for subgroups of students. Differences between institution specific and system wide measures of persistence, PSE leaving, and graduation rates are shown throughout.