New Report says Success Measures for Community Colleges are more than Degrees

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released a report entitled “Community College Students: Goals, Academic Preparation, and Outcomes,” which shows that degree and certificate attainment may not be the best measures of community colleges’ success.

Southern Compass

Completion rates among students who enroll with the intention of earning a credential or of later transferring to a four-year college are about 50 to 60 percent. Another factor that muddies the water is that many students attain their goals without earning a credential or degree. For instance, only about one-fifth of students who are ultimately aiming toward a bachelor’s degree earn an associate’s degree before transferring.

The report is available at http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2003164