Analysis of student retention, graduation, and employment status in undergraduate programs, academic years 2020-2024, Mahasarakham University

Student retention, graduation, and employment are major outcomes in higher education. They reflect the effectiveness of the institution in shaping the future workforce. Thus, this study examined undergraduate retention, graduation, and employment in 2020-2024. The Divisions of Academic Affairs, Registration, and Planning provided secondary data on 9 issues: admission plans, enrolment reporting, course registration, leave of absence, academic results, loss of student status, retention, graduation, and employment status. The study found that most students who lost status were from large northeastern institutions and were reported for portfolio round enrolment. They had low entrance academic performance. Most students in this cohort had GPAXs between 0.00 and 0.99 in 2024, with the lowest being 1.19. The Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies lost the most students. Mahasarakham Business School had the most, mostly first-year students. Many retained students came from big northeastern schools and reported for enrolment in the Portfolio round, followed by the Quota round. The mean entrance GPAX was 3.27, and the mean current GPAX was 2.34. The Faculty of Nursing had the greatest retention rates in the second and third years. Pharmacy and veterinary sciences had the highest retention rates in the fifth year and above. Most students who graduated within the curriculum's timeframe came from major northeastern schools and reported for portfolio round enrolment. Most students graduated on schedule, usually in the second semester. Large-school graduates worked largely in the northeast. The Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies had the greatest employment rate, whereas Mahasarakham Business School had the most employed graduates. Overall, 94.92% of graduates found work within a year. At 100.00%, the Faculty of Medicine achieved the greatest employment rate in its field.