The Determinants of Success and Failure of Italian University Students. Evidence from administrative data

We use unique administrative data from a large private Italian University to estimate whether individual characteristics before enrolment, academic performance, geographical mobility and family size may affect completion or not. Several outcomes are taken into account, namely probability of withdrawal both for voluntary or involuntary reasons, of graduating within the minimum period and with top marks. Our estimates highlight that all these dimensions drive the outcomes analysed. Especially poor high school backgrounds increases the chances of noncompletion and graduation beyond the legal length. Higher final high school marks, more academic oriented diploma, living in a small family and being commuters entail a large probability of getting a degree with top marks and within the minimum period, as well.