Determinants of dropout in higher education: a competitive risk approach

Abstract

High college dropout rates can represent an individual cost as well as a cost for the society due to the potential loss in human capital accumulation. This paper analyzes the factors associated with Brazilian higher education dropout using a competing risk survival model. We use longitudinal data to analyze the 2010 student newcomers, using data from 2010 to 2017. The results show that women, whites, older students and students using Fies loan or Prouni scholarship present a lower dropout risk. Differences between categories within the same group (gender, racial, courses etc.) appear in the first year and increase over time.