Why Do Faculty Leave or Stay?: COACHE Faculty Retention and Exit Survey Highlights Top Factors

Salary, quality of colleagues, and the reputation of the department or institution are the top reasons given by faculty to either leave or stay in their position in higher education. 

The findings are according to results from the 2021-2022 COACHE Faculty Retention and Exit Survey — the only multi-institutional survey of faculty retention and departure in US higher education.  

Salary was far and away the strongest factor for faculty to leave their roles (33% of respondents) while only 18% of respondents indicated it as a reason for them to consider staying. Department or institution reputation also presented itself as a stronger reason to leave than to stay (22% vs. 14% respectively). In contrast, quality of colleagues was a stronger factor in faculty choosing to stay at 22%, vs. 20% who cited it as a factor in considering leaving. 

Other key reasons to leave or stay cited by faculty overall included potential for professional growth and intellectual stimulation (20% vs. 8%, respectively), proximity to family (14% vs. 13%), employment opportunity for spouse/partner in the region (13% vs. 10%), and opportunity to collaborate with colleagues (both 11%).  

The weighting of factors did vary by age, career stage, and area of teaching.  

Findings from the COACHE Faculty Retention and Exit Survey provide understanding into activities and actions that support faculty retention, providing higher education leadership with opportunities to proactively prevent the loss of top talent before they consider or accept offers elsewhere. COACHE partners also have the opportunity to tap in to COACHE’s best-in-class researchers, leading institutions’ case studies, and COACHE’s community of practice. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the COACHE Faculty Retention and Exit Survey, please contact Deborah Ruiz.