Analysis of the Effects of Institutional Characteristics and Student Enrollment on University Dropout Rates in South Korea

University dropout remains a critical challenge in South Korean higher education, with over 100,000 students leaving annually. This study investigates the structural and institutional factors influencing dropout rates across 211 four-year universities in South Korea, using publicly available data from the Korean University Information Disclosure System. Three research hypotheses were tested through independent samples t-tests, Pearson correlation analysis, one-way ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis. The results indicate that private universities exhibit significantly higher voluntary withdrawal rates than public institutions (t=−3.86, p<0.001), and non-metropolitan universities show significantly higher overall dropout rates than their metropolitan counterparts (t=−4.52, p<0.001). Furthermore, a significant negative correlation was found between student enrollment rates and dropout rates at the regional level (r=−0.561, p=0.019), with this relationship being particularly pronounced in non-metropolitan areas (r=−0.592, p=0.026). Multiple regression analysis revealed that institutional type (public vs. private) and regional enrollment rate are significant predictors of dropout rates, explaining 19.8% of the variance (F=17.01, p<0.001). These findings suggest that policy interventions should target private and non-metropolitan institutions, where structural vulnerabilities amplify dropout risks.