Online education continues to grow in popularity and is an attractive option for individuals of all ages, but particularly for adults who must balance work, family, and school responsibilities. Attrition rates in online courses are high for a variety of personal and institutional reasons. Some of the personal reasons attributed to retention in online courses and degree programs focus on non-cognitive factors related to persistence, a growth mindset, and grit. Prior research has demonstrated that higher grit scores could equate to higher achievement in multiple areas of a person's life--professionally and personally, and in academic settings. However, to mindfully improve retention of online learners, faculty need training and should implement strategies such as deliberate practice, which requires full engagement, repeated attempts at success, openness to taking risks, and reflection on learning and failures. Thus, it makes sense that grit, a growth mindset, and deliberate practice strategies may improve retention of online students. Identifying reasons for high attrition rates in online courses and non-cognitive traits that lead to academic success will offer a foundation for more research to identify ways to increase student persistence in online degree programs.