Persistence of Nontraditional Undergraduate Online Students: Towards a Contemporary Conceptual Framework

Since the mid-1970s, researchers have provided theoretical frameworks that continue to be used today to explain persistence and attrition of nontraditional undergraduate students in higher education. Previous frameworks emphasized specific skills nontraditional undergraduate students need upon admission into an online program to support their persistence. Recent research has confirmed the importance of these skills to student persistence in an online program. While these frameworks remain relevant, none reflect advancements and developments that have shaped today’s online learning environment. The characteristics of nontraditional undergraduate online students and programs have evolved over the years. Hence, this article introduces a modified Contemporary Persistence Model, predicated on existing frameworks, and informed by the results of recent research into nontraditional undergraduate online students. The projected growth in online learning, coupled with the increased interest among nontraditional undergraduate students to enroll in online programs, necessitates a persistence model that is aligned with the contemporary needs of students.