Markov Chain Analysis and Student Academic Progress: An Empirical Comparative Study

Abstract

An application of Markov Chain Analysis of student flow at Kuwait University is presented based on a random sample of 1,100 students from the academic years 1996-1997 to 2004-2005. Results were obtained for each college and in total which allows for a comparative study. The students’ mean lifetimes in different levels of study in the colleges as well as the percentage of dropping out of the system are estimated.