Abstract: Student attrition and completion rate for 8 years (during 1994-2001) of two distance education programmes (Postgraduate Diploma in Distance Education and Master of Arts in Distance Education) of IGNOU and the reasons for attrition were investigated. Relevant admission and completion data of these two programmes were analysed to note the percentage of students who have taken admission in a year but

(i) have withdrawn before completing the assignments (continuous assessment), (ii) have not completed the term-end examination after completing the assignment component, and (iii) have completed the programmes. Two hundred fifty (150 PGDDE and 100 MADE) withdrawn students were randomly selected to study the reasons for attrition. A structured questionnaire was developed and sent to the withdrawn students by post. Altogether 103 (74 PGDDE and 29 MADE) students responded. The findings revealed that completion rate for MADE programme was comparatively better than that of PGDDE. PGDDE students had identified lack of time due to family commitment and work commitment as the most important factor for attrition, whereas, MADE students had ~Uentified lengthy and difficult course content and lack of academic support as the most important factors for attrition.