The pressing question of how to improve college student retention is at the forefront of every campus leader and community health coordinator's mind. To address this, it's crucial to investigate what university has the highest retention rate and learn from their successful practices. 

Retention rates at higher education institutions have declined significantly in recent years, particularly among first-generation students, who are largely made up of individuals from underrepresented groups. This problem extends beyond poor enrollment numbers; it’s a crisis that often leaves students saddled with debt and no degree, while universities struggle with damage to their reputations.

Potential students enter queries like “what university has the highest retention rate?” while determining which institutions to apply to. Low retention rates send a clear message that “students struggle here.”

How to Improve College Student Retention: Start with Health Education

You are already aware of the importance of student engagement, academic support, and mental health support; however, you may not fully understand the crucial role that basic thyroid health screening and education play regarding student retention. 

The American Thyroid Association estimates 12% of people in the U.S. develop thyroid disorders at some point in their lives. Most of these cases go undiagnosed since routine screening falls short in diagnosing thyroid dysfunction. Hypothyroidism often leads to symptoms like fatigue, impaired concentration, and mood swings. All three are significant factors that can contribute to early departure from campus. 

You can give students the opportunity to learn about an often-overlooked root cause of academic struggles by incorporating thyroid health education into your first-year orientation events or community health initiatives. This isn’t just good for the health of your campus; it’s a proven retention strategy. 

The Unique Difficulties People with Thyroid Dysfunction Face

Undiagnosed hypothyroidism is masterful at disguising itself, often mimicking mental health disorders like depression and anxiety with symptoms like crushing fatigue, brain fog, mood swings, and difficulty concentrating. 

The treatment landscape is also problematic, as many diagnosed individuals are prescribed levothyroxine (synthetic T4), despite growing research suggesting this one-size-fits-all approach is insufficient or even harmful for many. 

Critical education for patients on iodine intake is severely lacking, resulting in patients continuing to consume excess iodine from their diet.

Iodine is essential for thyroid function, but it operates on a U-curve of benefit: consuming too little causes problems like goiter, while consuming excessive amounts is a significant trigger for thyroid dysfunction, including hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's). This isn't new science, it's been established for decades.

Why Thyroid Screening Belongs in Academic Retention Plans

Some of the reasons why thyroid education and screening can help boost retention plans include: 

• Academic toll of thyroid dysfunction: Hypothyroidism slows down cognition and may make students lethargic. Research suggests that students with untreated thyroid issues are more likely to fail academically than their peers with healthy thyroid function on cognitive tests. 
• Dietitians’ blind spot: Dietitians are largely unaware of iodine excess issues based on our surveys from patient-led education. Other professionals, such as functional medicine doctors may default to recommending supplements when clients complain about low energy without screening for iodine excess or deficiency, yet iodine has a classic U-curve of benefit, and excessive intake can trigger thyroid dysfunction. This can also be an opportunity to educate future dietitians on campus about the relationship between iodine and thyroid health. 
• Seaweed snacks and salt fortification: The burgeoning seaweed market among Gen‑Zers increases their iodine exposure. Dough conditioners are common in US fast food and can possess more than four times the recommended daily allowance of iodine in one fast food burger bun. Couple that with iodine‑fortified salt and packaged foods, and some students could easily exceed a healthy level of iodine in their diet. You can mitigate that by educating them about iodine-rich foods and snacks. 

What University Has the Highest Retention Rate—and What They’re Doing Differently

When you type “What university has the highest retention rate” into Google, the University of Chicago, Yale University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology top the list at 99%. What do they share? A multi‑pronged approach that blends academic rigor, mental health support, and proactive community health screenings. 

Boost Retention Rates with Thyroid Screening and Education

As a community health coordinator, you have the power to significantly impact student retention rates by addressing thyroid health. Your actions can make a real difference. Here are some simple steps you can take to incorporate thyroid screening and education into your initiatives. 

Audit Your Orientation Program

Add a 10‑minute thyroid‑health screen or questionnaire to your orientation program. Go beyond standard blood panels. Advocate for or provide accessible TSH, Free T4, Free T3, and thyroid antibody testing during student health physicals, especially for students reporting fatigue, low mood, or concentration issues. Don't wait for students to crash.

Educate Powerfully

Launch targeted campaigns to:

• Demystify the thyroid: Explain its role concerning energy, mood, and focus using relatable scenarios that students can easily understand.
• Shine a light on iodine: Teach the U-curve of iodine benefits. Emphasize that while deficiency is harmful, excess can also be a major thyroid disruptor.
• Map the minefield: Identify popular sources of iodine, such as seaweed snacks, iodized salt, certain breads/buns, some supplements, dairy products, eggs, fortified dairy products, and packaged snacks, and highlight healthier alternatives. 
• Promote thyroid-supportive eating: Focus meal plans on dishes rich in selenium, zinc, iron, and vitamin D, crucial co-factors for thyroid health. 

Partner with Experts

Integrate thyroid health education into nutrition counseling, first-year experience programs, athlete support, and mental health services. Ensure that campus dietitians are experts in this field, moving beyond supplement promotions to foundational thyroid nutrition.

Stop Missing the Low-Hanging Fruit

Many universities invest millions in retention initiatives while ignoring the widespread impact of potential undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction and rampant iodine excess among students. A more cost-effective approach would be to target low-hanging fruit, such as iodine-induced or iodine-worsened thyroid disorders, which can hinder students' ability to learn.

Don't let thyroid dysfunction be the hidden anchor pulling your students down. Watch our on-demand course as we break down the science, discuss risks, and provide actionable steps for university health teams. 

Learn from registered dietitian Vincci Tsui, who specializes in thyroid health, and Marion Davis, a patient experience consultant who navigated this journey as a former educator.

Need a custom solution for your campus? Contact us today! We design tailored educational workshops, materials, and campaigns that combine clinical expertise with lived experience to help your university address this critical aspect of the retention puzzle.