First-Year Engineering Student Persistence Amidst COVID-19 Interruptions: Evidence from Two Diverse Institutions

Abstract

This study examined first-year engineering students' persistence pre- and mid-COVID-19 interruptions and whether their characteristics (race/ethnicity, financial need status, first-generation status, SAT scores) predicted their persistence at a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). We employed logistic regression modeling to compare the persistence of three cohorts (i.e., cohorts 1 and 2: pre-COVID-19 cohorts; cohort 3: mid-COVID-19 cohort) at both institutions. Results revealed that engineering students at the HSI in cohorts 1 and 2 were less likely to exit engineering compared to those in cohort 3. Controlling for other variables, Asian students were more likely to persist compared to their White counterparts in cohort 3, but not in cohort 1. Persistence at the HBCU was not related to cohort, financial need, or first-generation status and these relationships were consistent across cohorts. Additionally, students with higher SAT math scores (HSI) and higher SAT composite scores (HBCU) were less likely to exit engineering.