Dropout rate among first year college students rises to 15%

Figures from the Higher Education Authority for the 2021/2022 academic year show the rate increased from 12 per cent the previous year
Dropout rate among first year college students rises to 15%

Muireann Duffy

Almost 7,000 third-level students did not progress to the second year of their course in the 2021/2022 academic year.

New figures from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) show the non-progression rate of first year students was 15 per cent.

This is up from 12 per cent for the 2020/2021 academic year.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) notes that 'non-progression' relates to those who did not re-enrol in any course in the same third-level institution for the following academic year (2021/2022). Therefore, it does not include students who transferred or began a new course within the same college.

The percentage of students dropping out within the first year was highest among those studying Level 7 courses (31 per cent), followed by Level 6 students (25 per cent) and Level 8 (14 per cent).

Of those who did not progress to second year, 40 per cent were found to have enrolled in another education course after one year, while a similar number were in employment.

Just 7 per cent of those who did not progress were noted as neither being in education nor employment, while 5 per cent were recorded as 'not captured'.

Non-progression rates were found to be higher among students from disadvantaged backgrounds, with 23 per cent of these students not continuing on to second year, compared to just 12 per cent of their more affluent peers.

By study area, the HEA found that over one quarter (28 per cent) of first years studying a services course did not progress into second year, while engineering, manufacturing & construction had a non-progression rate of 20 per cent.

Overall, the research found males, those coming from disadvantaged areas, and students with lower Leaving Certificate points on entry are at a higher risk of dropping out during the first year of their third-level course.

more CSO articles

Tourism In Dublin Over 528,000 foreign visitors came to Ireland in April 2025, down by 4%
Child boy playing games on a smartphone,kids education technology,addiction Ireland will need dedicated clinic to deal with phone addiction, says professor
Cost of living crisis Cost of living in Ireland: How quickly are prices rising?

More in this section

Tributes paid to ‘absolute gentleman’ (81) killed in Kerry cycle accident Tributes paid to ‘absolute gentleman’ (81) killed in Kerry cycle accident
Police Stock American woman dies following crash in Northern Ireland
Ballymena Protest Years to ‘rebuild what has been broken’ after Ballymena unrest, warns minister

Sponsored Content

Digital advertising in focus at Irish Examiner’s Lunch & Learn event  Digital advertising in focus at Irish Examiner’s Lunch & Learn event 
Experience a burst of culture with Cork Midsummer Festival  Experience a burst of culture with Cork Midsummer Festival 
How to get involved in Bike Week 2025 How to get involved in Bike Week 2025
Us Cookie Policy and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited

Add Echolive.ie to your home screen - easy access to Cork news, views, sport and more