Motivational Factors Influencing Honors Student Attrition: An Expectancy–Value Perspective

Authors

• Nina Marijanović, Western Kentucky UniversityFollow
• Naomi Rowland, Western Kentucky University
• Morgan Flanagan, Western Kentucky University
• E. Myo Zin, Western Kentucky University
• Megan Bailey, Western Kentucky University

Date of this Version

Spring 2025

Document Type

Article

Citation

Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council (2025) 26(1): 173–207

Abstract

This study investigates the motivational factors underlying student withdrawal from an honors college using expectancy-value theory (EVT) as a guiding framework. Drawing on qualitative analysis of self-reported withdrawal forms (n = 1,110) collected between 2018 and 2023 at a midsize public university, authors identify the core drivers of attrition across three constructs of EVT: expectancy (belief in one’s ability to succeed), value (perceived benefits of participation), and cost (perceived burdens or tradeoffs). Findings indicate the most common motivations as value-related concerns, including misalignment with academic goals or career trajectories. Cost-related factors, such as workload demands, scheduling conflicts, and financial considerations, also play a significant role, as does reduced expectancy stemming from diminished confidence in completion. The authors suggest that motivational factors rarely operate in isolation and often intersect within personal, structural, and institutional contexts, and they offer evidence-based recommendations to support retention, including expanding flexible pathways, fostering sustained advising, and aligning honors participation with diverse student aspirations. This study contributes to the growing application of EVT within honors education and highlights the need for holistic, student-centered retention strategies.