How Do Their Initial Goals Impact Students' Chances to Graduate? An Exploration of Three Types of Commitment

Although previous research has not consistently shown that uncertainty about academic major negatively impacts graduation, commitment is largely believed to affect college students' success. We investigated the impact of institutional commitment, commitment to an educational goal, and commitment to an academic major on the probabilities of graduation for a cohort of first-time first-year students. Results indicate that students with high institutional commitment and commitment to an educational goal were the most likely to graduate within 6 years, while commitment to an academic major was negatively associated with probabilities of degree completion. Suggested implications for advisors include fostering educational development, enhancing a student's bond with the institution, and encouraging students to explore academic major options.