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Most community college students plan to get 4-year degrees. Few actually do (www.npr.org)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Community college is often touted as an affordable start for students who want to earn bachelor’s degrees. Yet only 13% of community college students actually go on to earn degrees from four-year institutions within eight years, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Education in 2023

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With their open enrollment policies and low tuition, community colleges offer crucial access to higher education. They educate 41% of all U.S. undergraduates, according to the Community College Research Center. And when those students enroll, 83% plan to transfer to four-year schools, according to the Center for Community College Student Engagement.

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Two-thirds of community college students take classes part time. And they often juggle jobs, caregiving and other obligations that can disrupt their education.

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Research suggests statewide policies to make transferring easier can help students earn bachelor's degrees and avoid taking unnecessary classes.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Most of the traditional "4-year" college students don't graduate in 4 years, either.

https://hechingerreport.org/how-the-college-lobby-got-the-government-to-measure-graduation-rates-over-six-years-instead-of-four/

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

that's not what this is about. this is about community college attendees leaving empty-handed due to classes not transferring.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

Oh man I thought I was just doing school wrong. A lot of my buddies with a leg up over me (parental help with college mostly) were able to get their 4 year degrees in 4-6 years.

I couldn't afford that and went to community college. The advisors didn't really know a lot, I came prepared and they couldn't really answer my questions. I had a lot going on but I persisted. Then some of the transfer scholarships were no longer offered by the 4 year college I wanted to transfer to. (That tripled my cost right there.) And I had to fight them on how credits transferred. (Which would have cost me if I didn't challenge them.) And they would only take a certain number of transferred credits. (Which again... Cost more money.)

I was still able to get my "4 year" degree it was an incredibly difficult process. It was worth it because it enabled me to get a six figure job.

I'm glad for this article because honestly I thought I was just... Really bad at making life decisions seeing how much easier it seemed my peers could get a degree. Sad though for the rest of my homies with limited support.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I went part time and got two Associate's degrees, and I'm making great money without debt. Seems like more students are wising up to the fact that many good jobs don't need Bachelor's degrees.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I'm guessing you didn't read the article because that's not remotely what it's about.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The article implies that only 13% of community college students actually go on to earn degrees from four-year institutions within eight years specifically because of transfer woes. I am suggesting that the reason may instead be that students are wising up to only needing an Associate's for many good jobs. Hope that clears up the confusion.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

I hope that's the case and not that they're giving up because it sucks ass having to juggle everything and then getting stuck with extra costs and classes which is what i received from the article. I wouldn't consider "leaving empty handed" to mean they got an associates degree. I struggle with it and i don't even have a family.

"Two-thirds of community college students take classes part time. And they often juggle jobs, caregiving and other obligations that can disrupt their education."
'"You could have the best designed programs,” Baber said, “but that gets rendered meaningless if somebody needs to stop out because they need to take a job to pay the bills of their household.”'