Resumen de Variables Influencing University Dropout: a Machine Learning-Based Study

Susana Irene Díaz Rodríguez , Ana Belén Bernardo Gutiérrez, María Esteban García, Luis José Rodríguez Muñiz

• University dropout is a growing problem having considerable aca-demic, social and economic consequences. It may depend on several factors,such as for example the knowledge area. In previous works we studied dropoutand transfer paths using machine learning, obtaining several key factors that arepredictive for analyzing drop out and transfer paths patterns. In this work wedelve into this topic, making a more exhaustive study using again machinelearning. Results show that Polynomial SVM is the method that obtains thehighest performance for predicting university dropout. On the other hand, it ispossible to identify the key factors affecting university dropout, showing inaddition different factors depending on thefield of study.