A Causal-Comparative Study Of Full-Time Student Retention Rates Among Public Land-Grant Universities Based On Carnegie Engagement Classification Status And Availability Of Mental Health Counseling Services

Author

• Natriez B. Peterson, Prairie View A&M University

Date of Award

12-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Discipline

Education Leadership

Abstract

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data, in 2019–2020, public four-year institutions had a retention rate of 81.5%, compared to 68.8% at private, for-profit institutions. Public universities use such metrics to address concerns about institutional effectiveness and educational value (Kelchen, 2018; Stryker, 1999; Tinto, 2017). This causal-comparative quantitative study examined whether full-time student retention rates differed significantly between Carnegie Community Engagement Classified Institutions and non-classified public land-grant universities, while controlling for the availability of institutional social support services. A two-way ANOVA tested the effects of Carnegie Engagement Classification Status and the presence of institutional social support services on student retention. By assessing the interaction between Carnegie Community Engagement Status and the availability of mental health counseling services, this study sought to confirm how institutional community engagement influenced student retention. Findings may inform higher education leadership on strategies for enhancing student success and community-university collaboration. The analysis revealed a statistically significant interaction effect between the availability of mental health counseling services and Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, F (1, 55) = 4.46, p = .039, η²ₚ = .08. However, the main effect of Carnegie Community Engagement Classification alone was not statistically significant, indicating that Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, by itself, did not significantly influence full-time student retention rates among the public land-grant universities in the study.

Keywords:Morrill Act, land-grant universities, community engagement, student retention, social support, student involvement theory

Committee Chair/Advisor

Jerral Moore

Committee Member

Stella Smith

Committee Member

E. Joahanne Thomas-Smith

Committee Member

William Parker

Publisher

Prairie View A&M University

Rights

Date of Digitization

6/15/2026

Contributing Institution

John B Coleman Library

City of Publication

Prairie View

MIME Type

Application/PDF

Recommended Citation

Peterson, N. (2025). A Causal-Comparative Study Of Full-Time Student Retention Rates Among Public Land-Grant Universities Based On Carnegie Engagement Classification Status And Availability Of Mental Health Counseling Services. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.pvamu.edu/pvamu-dissertations/137