A Cohort Analysis on the Academic Programs in Um Panabo: Basis for Enhancement

This study provides a comprehensive cohort analysis of student enrollment, retention, completion, and graduation trends at UM Panabo College over a five-year period, aiming to evaluate institutional effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. The analysis reveals that the College maintains a consistent average of 1,046 freshmen enrollees annually, with sustained growth attributed to its commitment to providing accessible, quality, and affordable education. The most popular programs include BSBA-Human Resource Management, BSBA Marketing Management, BSBA-Financial Management, and BSED-English. However, significant gaps persist between enrollment and graduation rates, with the overall average graduation rate at 42.37 percent and dropout rates averaging 10.90 percent. Board programs, such as BSED-English and BSED-Mathematics, recorded lower cohort completion rates, primarily due to rigorous licensure requirements and competency appraisal exams, while non-board programs performed better in terms of student progression. The data further indicate that departments such as BEED, BSED-Filipino, and BSED-Mathematics require enhanced academic support due to their lower on-time completion rates. Contributing factors to student attrition include academic preparedness disparities resulting from open admission policies, limited program offerings, and financial constraints that drive students toward tuition-free institutions like Davao del Norte State College. The study recommends adopting data-driven, student-centered strategies such as early warning systems, personalized academic advising, faculty training, and mental health support to improve student outcomes.

education, cohort analysis, graduation rate, academic programs, UM Panabo College SDG # 4: (Quality Education)

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