Determining factors that influence Dropout Rates in Agricultural College at Razi University

Currently, agricultural higher education is facing retention problems among students in agricultural colleges in the country. This dilemma is more serious when dropout rates show an increasing rate. This qualitative study sought to investigate the reasons behind college dropout in College of Agriculture at Razi University. A purposive sample of 101 students who dropped out of college during 1390-1392 participated in this study. Data was collected using telephone interviews. Content analysis of telephone interviews showed diverse reasons behind student dropout. A total of 11 categories emerged as factors influencing student's dropout: 1) Being hopeless towards agricultural job market in the future, 2) having no interest in agricultural discipline, 3) receiving negative feedback from advisors when choosing major, 4) having family with financial problems, 5) low social acceptance towards agriculture in the society, 6) agriculture being a male dominated discipline, 7) family economic problems, 8) not interested in continuing education, 9) being pre-occupied with military service, 10) not being aware about agriculture as a discipline, and 11) choosing a wrong major. Results of this study can have implications for agricultural higher education policy makers in general and Razi University in particular. They can use the results in planning for creating a positive image of agriculture major and developing effective orientation programs for freshmen entering agricultural disciplines.