A Not-So-Sweet 16 Percent: Transfer Rates Stagnate
A recent study highlights a concerning statistic regarding transfer student success. Despite the efforts of transfer advocates and various initiatives aimed at supporting transfer students, only 16 percent of community college students manage to complete a bachelor’s degree within six years. This figure is even lower for vulnerable populations, including low-income, Black, Hispanic, and older students.
The research, conducted jointly by the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, and the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, reveals that although nearly 80 percent of first-time community college students aspire to earn a bachelor’s degree, the majority fall short of achieving this goal.
This lack of progress is disheartening, to say the least, considering the dedicated work that has been done over the years to enhance transfer student success. Efforts have included raising the visibility of transfer, implementing streamlined transfer processes, providing advising and orientation programs, and advocating for fair treatment of transfer students. Despite these measures, the completion rate for community college students remains disappointingly low.
Read the full article at Inside Higher Ed:
We recently returned from the annual meeting of the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS), an organization exclusively focused on the needs of transfer students, especially those who wish to move from a community college to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree…
