Ensuring Success and Retention: A Review of Key Factors for Diverse Online Scholars

The widespread adoption of online learning in higher education necessitates a critical understanding of factors that promote the retention and academic success of diverse student populations. This paper provides a synthesis of existing research investigating the numerous elements that influence the educational experiences of distinct student cohorts, with a particular focus on literature pertaining to non-traditional Latina students in postsecondary online learning environments. This review critically examines established scholarship to comprehend the array of challenges and prospects these students encounter, identifying critical determinants of their academic trajectories as established in prior studies. Key determinants frequently cited in the literature include socioeconomic status, cultural background, access to college readiness initiatives, institutional engagement strategies, and the pivotal role of faculty and institutional support personnel. Existing scholarship indicates these elements collectively exert considerable influence on student persistence and academic performance. The consolidation of this body of research yields actionable recommendations for educators, institutional administrators, and policymakers. This analysis underscores the importance of a comprehensive understanding of the difficulties Latina online students frequently navigate (as documented extensively in the literature), alongside effective support mechanisms identified, to inform the development of targeted institutional strategies. The objective is to thereby foster improved retention and the attainment of educational objectives for this demographic. Ultimately, this review contributes to the broader discourse on digital and online pedagogy by identifying evidence-based approaches for cultivating more equitable and supportive educational ecosystems, particularly for non-traditional Latina students. Drawing upon this synthesis of existing scholarship, it is recommended that subsequent research endeavors employ diverse methodological approaches—such as integrating quantitative metrics of student achievement with qualitative narratives of lived experiences—to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the factors that genuinely promote success within this student population.