A Study on Reasons for Student Dropouts in a Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Program

High dropout rates are a common challenge in higher education, particularly in computer science degree programs. These dropouts impede our ability to produce a greater number of graduates in this highly demanded field due to the limitation of the capacity of students enrolled in the first semester. Identifying the reasons behind dropout is a complex task, as the individuals involved are often inaccessible or unwilling to reflect on their lack of success. This paper aims to investigate the factors contributing to dropout rates in computer science degree programs. Through a comprehensive literature survey and qualitative interviews, we have identified the underlying causes of dropout in our computer science bachelor’s degree program. Our findings reveal a range of reasons, with time constraints and misaligned expectations of the degree program emerging as the most frequently mentioned factors in our interviews. Based on these insights, we present several recommendations aimed at reducing the dropout rate.